With the end of winter, the growing season begins, and vegetation management once again becomes an important topic.

Vegetation management at ground-mounted pv-systems is not only a key aspect of the long-term, efficient operation of a ground-mounted PV system, but also serves to protect the environment. Targeted maintenance of the areas not only contributes to optimal electricity production, but also promotes biodiversity and thus creates ecological added value.

Objectives of vegetation management

Well-planned vegetation management primarily serves to ensure efficient electricity production under optimal conditions. This is achieved primarily by preventing shading of the solar modules, as even slight shading can not only significantly impair the performance of the system, but can also damage the PV modules. At the same time, targeted vegetation maintenance protects the technical components of the PV system, such as cables and inverters, from potential damage. In addition to these functional aspects, vegetation management also offers ecological opportunities: by promoting biodiversity, open spaces for PV systems can create a valuable habitat for insects, other animals and plants, thus making a positive contribution to the environment.

Challenges in vegetation management

Without regular maintenance, vegetation on a solar park can become a problem. Overgrown plants can not only shade solar modules and thus significantly reduce energy production, they can also promote corrosion on the structure and components. In hot summer months, there is a risk that uncontrolled vegetation growth will cause mechanical damage or lead to overheating, e.g. in string inverters. Another challenge is the increased risk of fire, especially in hot summer months when tall vegetation dries out and becomes highly flammable.

Methods of vegetation control

Various methods of vegetation control are available to overcome these challenges:

• One option is targeted planting with low-growing plants or wildflowers that suppress unwanted vegetation while creating habitats for insects.
• Another option is mechanical maintenance, such as regular mowing or mulching, to keep plant growth under control.
• A particularly sustainable method is grazing by sheep or goats, which act as ‘natural lawnmowers’ and keep vegetation short in a natural way without compacting the soil or producing CO2.
• The use of chemical herbicides or pesticides, on the other hand, is not recommended as it contradicts the ecological principles of renewable energies. In addition, such agents are usually not permitted or only permitted to a limited extent in Germany due to environmental regulations.

Ecological advantages of sustainable vegetation management

Environmentally friendly vegetation management offers numerous ecological advantages. The targeted promotion of wild plants can create habitats for insects, bees and other pollinators, thus actively contributing to species protection. Soil quality also benefits from adapted vegetation, as it reduces erosion and improves water retention. Ground mounted PV-systems with sustainable vegetation management therefore not only contribute to climate-friendly energy production, but also to the stabilisation and regeneration of natural ecosystems. The module tables also offer natural protection for fauna and flora, allowing sensitive plants to develop there protected from precipitation.

Aanbevelingen voor ‘best practices’

In order to make vegetation management efficient and sustainable, it is advisable to inspect the areas regularly and respond to potential problems at an early stage. In practice, a combination of several measures has proven effective – for example, combining grazing and targeted planting to achieve an optimal balance between technical efficiency and ecological benefits. Regional conditions and climatic conditions should always be taken into account in order to adapt the methods used to the specific requirements of the site.

Vegetation management in spring – reference to ProfiNRG

ProfiNRG relies on an individual approach that combines various methods to ensure optimal maintenance of ground-mounted PV systems. Early planning and targeted measures ensure that vegetation is in harmony with energy production and that both economic and ecological benefits are achieved. Paul Verhage, Director of O&M at ProfiNRG and responsible for vegetation management, has been working for many years to develop knowledge on biodiversity in ground-mounted PV systems and has developed principles for vegetation management. He explains: "The natural development of flora and fauna typical of the location is the healthy basis for sustainable vegetation management. We only promote what would occur naturally at the site. It is sufficient for us as plant operators to influence the quality of the soil, for example by adding humus in a targeted manner, in order to influence the vegetation typical of the location. Nature does the rest. Sustainable vegetation is crucial for resilient, biodiverse vegetation. The conditions are different for every site. Vegetation management must therefore be tailored to each individual site.