Bees and solar panels

[Nige.Coll]

I've been asked to move my bees into a solar farm when it's built.
The area of the site will be 70 acres.
My concerns are
No forage in the area.
Bees messing all over the panels and ruining them.
Possible disturbance from electrical buzzing 13.8 MW sounds a lot.
Glare from panels.


Can anyone see any possible problems I am missing ?

I'm a little miffed about this as I can see it being a pain in the butt for me and my bees have been used a sweetener for the planning people due to high press atm.
From what I have seen there will not be a dedicated apiary area the plans show hives dotted around between the rows of panels... sod that..

 

[Finman]

No forage in the area.



Can anyone see any possible problems I am missing ?

..

You have noticed that food problem and that is more than enough.

 

[Oscarmonster]

70 acres is a small field round here. Bees still manage to find forage.

 

[oliver90owner]

Not enough information.

Are these panels going to be mounted at ground level on an aggregate base, or elevated somewhat. If elevated, they are not likely to be growing monocrops underneath?

Certainly better if hives are isolated to certain areas for more than one reason.

Forage area for bees is roughly 1.5 kM diameter. Rather more than 30 ha.

The high tension A/ C will be in one place or few.

 

[Dishmop]

Ask them to pay you....

 

[Nige.Coll]

ground mounted max height 2.5 m not sure it they are going to track the sun or not.
there will be transformers and a connection to the grid housed in metal containers.
Panel rows will be around 4 m apart
The panels will be managed by a third party I have no idea what weed control they intend to use. Probably chemical.
My bees are 1/4 of a mile away from this site atm and have done ok but not great.
There is a village 1 mile away from the site that has well kept gardens.
The other farm land around the site grows potatoes and other root veg or has grazing land with sheep and horses mainly on it. Not much use to me.
There maybe a pond and a small wetland nature reserve included on the site.
The site will be secure with cctv and locked gates.

 

[dn170221]

Ask them to pay you....

I would have thought this would be an option even in the form of a grant!

And what evidence will they want about how many stocked hives you have on-site?

 

[yeogi75]

Site looks good to me with security, will you have key and can you get them to sow clover, are there going to have sheep there to graze down under growth

 

[Dishmop]

Ah...

Keep them in ignorance...

Dont tell them that just because these panels are in a field doesnt mean that they need pollinating.

 

[Jimy Dee]

Nige - take the site. Communicate your concern with plot owners and use it to get involved in the planting for the over all area. Have your arguments lined up for your planting regime - low ground covering plants that will not interfere with the solar panels etc - ask the forum for the best available and plant for spring summer and autumn. Clover. rose bay willow herb etc. Around perimeter with suitable trees. Go to owners with a plan. They get the added benefit of planting a bee friendly site - all ties in with the green agenda. You could be the envy of your beekeeping friends.

 

[user 6228]

I've been asked to move my bees into a solar farm when it's built.
The area of the site will be 70 acres.
My concerns are
No forage in the area.
Bees messing all over the panels and ruining them.
Possible disturbance from electrical buzzing 13.8 MW sounds a lot.
Glare from panels.


Can anyone see any possible problems I am missing ?

I'm a little miffed about this as I can see it being a pain in the butt for me and my bees have been used a sweetener for the planning people due to high press atm.
From what I have seen there will not be a dedicated apiary area the plans show hives dotted around between the rows of panels... sod that..

Forage:Tell them plant bee friendly and mow bee friendly otherwise their PR will be egg on their face.
Glare: Bees get used to it quick. I have no problems with reflective hives.
Bee poo: Birds are a bigger problem than bees. its all to do with the area of each individual shadow compared to the size of a single solar cell.
13.8 Mw over 70Acres ... thats very low density (rab is right thats just a inverter box or few boxes in one corner /end of row,the rest is DC and doesnt hum). BTW Bees have been shown to nest in large substations on this forum.
Weed control: A troublesome weed is one casting shadows on the panels, that allows plenty of bee friendly stuff not to be "weeds"

 

[Nige.Coll]

I don't think they will plant anything between the panels.
I'm trying to negotiate a storage shed and dedicated apiary area.
The whole site will have deer fences around it.
Will have to see how they like cleaning bee poop off the panels.

No livestock in the solar farm area at all.

As far as I know bees being on site is part of the planning application.
Not sure what numbers he has submitted for hives.
I don't want anymore hives atm it's got out of hand already.

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

Weed control: they dont want weeds casting shadows on the panels, that allows plenty of bee friendly stuff.

Or lashings of herbicides?

 

[user 6228]

Or lashings of herbicides?

herbicide? too expensive ... one guy with a ride on mower and strimmer/brush cutter twice a year.

 

[Jimy Dee]

Nige -google gorilla gardening. Always worth considering.

 

[Nige.Coll]

13.8 Mw over 70Acres
might have been GW I can't remember .
They won't put the rows closer than 4 m because of shading.

 

[Sean.]

As already mentioned, discuss your concerns with them. They need you more than you need them frankly. Be reasonable, and work out what you need to have and any added items as a wish list, and get that in writing - to protect both parties.

Not much point in a site if you can't get access or of little use as they cut the grass so low there is no forage. Also ask about insurance, in case you accidentally damage something - it's a just in case scenario.

 

[Margaret Elisabeth]

As already mentioned, discuss your concerns with them. They need you more than you need them frankly. Be reasonable, and work out what you need to have and any added items as a wish list, and get that in writing - to protect both parties.

Not much point in a site if you can't get access or of little use as they cut the grass so low there is no forage. Also ask about insurance, in case you accidentally damage something - it's a just in case scenario.

And their insurance in case your hives or colonies are damaged by any of their activities.

 

[Finman]

.
About pastures...how much the surrounding allready has beehives.

 

[Nige.Coll]

.
About pastures...how much the surrounding allready has beehives.

I know of another beekeeper with 2 hives in his garden a mile or so away but thats the only one I know.

No. of other apiaries within a 10KM radius: 58 from beebase