International solar farm biodiversity expert Dr Josh Ennen from the Renewable Energy Wildlife Institute (USA) will be in New England this month as part of a visiting fellowship coordinated by University of New England (UNE).
The visit supports collaborative research between the Renewable Energy Wildlife Institute and UNE’s Renewable Energy Hub, who are investigating similar approaches in the Australian context.
On Tuesday June 24, Dr Ennen will join UNE’s Dr Eric Nordberg for a public talk and a panel bringing together practical experience across the farming, land management and energy sectors.
Hosted at NOVA, Armidale’s Smart Region Incubator and supported by Community Power Agency, this event welcomes Traditional Owners, industry and government representatives, farmers, researchers and community groups. The event will explore practical strategies to enhance biodiversity and natural capital such as perennial pasture grasses under solar panels.
As Australia’s renewable energy sector accelerates, this timely event will explore how solar farms can be designed to support shared land uses. Presentations and panel discussions will cover key themes including designing solar farms for biodiversity, balancing energy and agricultural production with conservation, the role of cultural land management, and strategies for stakeholder and community engagement. Speakers will also explore lessons from international practice, how they can be adapted locally, and the policy settings and research needed to support better outcomes.
“This is a unique opportunity to learn from international experience and shape the future of solar development in our region,” says UNE researcher Dr Eric Nordberg, who will also provide an overview of the work he and his research team have been undertaking in regional NSW.
In addition to Drs Ennen and Nordberg, panellists include local farmer and solar farm grazier Richard Munsie, ecologist David Carr from Stringybark Ecological, Steve Ahoy from Iwatta Aboriginal Corporation, UNE Associate Professor Melanie Filios and Martine Holberton, who has a background in renewable energy development with companies such as Tilt Renewables and Pacific Hydro.
Community Power Agency’s Regional Partnership Coordinator Heidi McElnea is looking forward to facilitating the discussion on how we can work collaboratively to set a new standard for shared land use on solar projects.
“This event brings together those with expertise in ecology, energy, farming and cultural land management, to build knowledge and work collaboratively to design better solar projects,” Ms McElnea said. “We are incredibly lucky to be able to gain insights from Dr Ennen’s international experience and consider what we can implement here in regional NSW.”
For more information on the event and to RSVP, please visit https://events.humanitix.com/enhancing-biodiversity-on-solar-farms
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Eleanor Buckley
