Context of the Study
Notus Energy is a renewable energy project developer specializing in wind and solar energy. In addition to being a key player in the energy transition, Notus Energy is aware of the potential impact of its installations on biodiversity and seeks to minimize these effects.
As part of an agrivoltaics project, Notus Energy wanted to study the ecological potential of one of the plots considered for its project in order to propose arrangements that integrate both the biodiversity and agricultural functionalities of the site.
E-BIOM was therefore called upon to visit the study site and conduct a Biodiversity Assessment, supplemented by the environmental DNA (eDNA) analysis of several biotic parameters such as soil biological quality, melliferous potential, and floristic diversity.
Biodiversity Assessment
The Biodiversity Assessment is an evaluation of the ecological potential of the study site and consists of:
- A study of the ecological context in which the site is located.
- A field inventory, conducted according to a standardized scientific protocol.
- An evaluation of biodiversity issues using several ecological parameters.
The assessment highlighted the diversity of biotopes present in the immediate surroundings of the plot, which naturally promotes the diversity of species that can be observed nearby.
eDNA Analysis
[H1] eDNA Analysis
The environmental DNA (eDNA) method, complementary to traditional methods, is based on the use of DNA traces left by each species in its environment (e.g., hair, faeces, mucus, etc.).
eDNA offers two main advantages:
- Indirect detection of target species through the collection of environmental samples (water, soil, etc.)
- Extended detection period due to the stability of DNA in the environment.
As part of the mission, samples were collected using various sampling kits developed by E-BIOM: water, soil, honey, and plants.
Water Kit
Thanks to the presence of genetic sequences in a water sample, the Water Kit allows for an integrative survey of the fauna present on the site and its surroundings. It targets all vertebrates: Birds, Mammals, Reptiles, Amphibians, and Fish.
In addition to common species and those observed during field surveys, the analysis of water samples revealed the presence of several species of biological interest.
Soil Kit
The Soil Kit evaluates the quality of the soil based on several biological parameters:
- An abundance indicator, microbial molecular biomass.
- An indicator of functional imbalance (too many nitrogen inputs, lack of carbon, etc.), the fungal/bacterial ratio.
- A richness indicator, the diversity of the microorganism community.
The analyses revealed very low biomass in the studied soil as well as a high fragmentation of the microbial community, indicating a poor, even very poor, microbial community sensitive to stresses such as heatwaves, drought phases, and intense rainfall events related to climate change.
From a functional perspective, no imbalance between fungal and bacterial biomass was observed. The ratios were even slightly better than those observed in an average French field.
Honey Kit
The Honey Kit determines the floristic diversity around the sampling site and translates it into melliferous potential, particularly through the availability of forage resources throughout the year.
Notable differences were observed between the apiaries around the plot, particularly during the summer period, indicating a functional separation, probably related to wooded areas forming a geographical barrier.
Plant Kit
Plants distribute themselves in the environment according to certain physicochemical parameters. The Plant Kit determines the floristic diversity at the sampling site and translates them into environmental parameters.
The phytosociological analysis of the agricultural plot revealed the presence of an active mull humus type, loamy soil texture, and mesohydric soil conditions.
Conclusion
Given the low agricultural productivity of the plot, the agrivoltaics project allows for the diversification of land use. Based on the assessment and eDNA analyses, recommendations were made to address the ecological issues and agricultural orientations of the plot in the development of the agrivoltaics project.
The arrangements will aim to support beekeeping needs, as the operator is also a beekeeper.
The application of the eDNA analysis kits has highlighted several parameters that will help guide the agrivoltaics project and incorporate it into a multifunctional approach.
