Germany's restored peatland hosts solar farm that boosts bird diversity

A study by the British Ecological Society, reported by New Scientist, examined a 30‑hectare solar farm installed on a re‑wet peatland in Germany. After the company Wattmanufaktur built sand‑gravel access roads in 2020, drainage was cut, water returned and the former agricultural field gradually reverted to peatland. Researchers recorded a markedly higher diversity of bird species on the solar site compared with nearby fields, including wet‑land and forest birds such as grey waders, reed buntings and ash‑winged grebes.

The experiment suggests that solar installations on restored peatlands can simultaneously generate renewable electricity, aid climate mitigation by preserving one of the world’s largest terrestrial carbon stores, and enhance biodiversity. Economic and regulatory challenges remain: deeper foundations increase costs, construction is limited to dry periods, and the model currently yields only electricity revenue, leaving farmers in need of compensation for lost agricultural income.