Studying land management techniques that will improve soil conditions and ecosystems on solar farms

Argonne National Laboratory Solar and Soil-related Ecosystem Services

Ground-mounted solar facilities can offer opportunities for improving the health and function of the soil on which they’re located, if planned for and executed properly. These benefits include storing carbon, enhancing pollinator habitat, and improving soil health. As part of a grant from the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), Argonne National Laboratory partnered with our team to undertake a comprehensive, three-year program evaluating soil and land management practices that solar farm owners can use to measure and improve soil health.

We are providing standardized soil sampling guidance, soil carbon modeling, and study structure recommendations through this program. Developers of solar energy have volunteered to be part of the study from all regions and geologies across the continental US. As part of the project, Argonne National Laboratory has launched the Solar Soil Database, an ongoing repository of data on soil quality at US solar facilities. Soil data can be contributed by facility owners and operators. As a result of this project, best practices for soil management are available to the public to help in selecting proper techniques for improved soil health management at ground-mounted solar facilities in the future. Additionally, the Solar Soil Database (anonymized to a regional level) will be available to the public in 2026.

The need for cost-effective renewable energy projects and continued access to sunlight requires land use modifications, which have long-term effects on stormwater runoff, vegetation, and soil conditions. Efforts such as this can help us mitigate these impacts to the ecosystems solar farms are built in.