When we talk about renewable energy, it’s easy to focus just on clean power, the panels, the carbon savings, the megawatts. But at Sonaura, we believe sustainability goes beyond electricity generation and every project is a chance to enrich the land it sits on.
That’s where Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) comes in, a principle designed to make sure that development not only avoids harming nature but improves it.
What BNG Actually Means
BNG means ensuring that when a project is complete, the site has more biodiversity value than it started with. So, more habitats, more wildlife, and a healthier, more resilient ecosystem.
It’s now a legal requirement for most new developments in England, but for us, it’s simply good practice.
For example, before we design a single layout for a project, we bring in ecologists to carry out a Preliminary Ecological Appraisal (PEA). This gives us a clear picture of the flora, fauna, and habitats that already exist on site. This provides a baseline allowing us to design a renewable energy project, that protects what’s there and enhances what’s missing. That might mean new wildflower meadows, improved hedgerow connectivity, bat boxes, bird nesting sites, or shallow scrapes and ponds to support amphibians and invertebrates.
Renewable Energy and the Land
Taking a solar PV project as an example, there’s a common misconception that this would take productive farmland out of use. But actually, they often give the land a chance to rest and recover, in much the same way as a festival can take a fallow year to give the land a break.
Once panels are installed, the land is largely undisturbed for decades. Heavy machinery is gone, pesticides and fertilisers are no longer needed, and grazing, often by sheep, helps maintain a low-impact, nature-friendly environment.
Over time, these spaces become vibrant ecosystems. Wildflowers bloom, attracting bees, butterflies, and other pollinators. Small mammals like voles and shrews return, providing food for barn owls and kestrels. The shaded and sunny areas beneath and between panels create a mix of microclimates that support a surprisingly diverse range of species.
We’ve seen examples across the UK where solar projects have become unexpected biodiversity hotspots, supporting rare species such as skylarks, bumblebees, and grass snakes. With the right management, a solar site can evolve into a haven for nature, all while still producing clean, reliable energy!
Our Approach to Sustainability
BNG is one part of a much wider sustainability story at Sonaura. We look at the full picture not just what’s installed on site, but also how it fits into the local environment and community.
Here’s how we do it:
- Design with care: We avoid the most sensitive areas and work closely with planners to make sure layouts fit naturally into the landscape.
- Enhance what’s there: We improve biodiversity through planting, seeding, and long-term habitat management.
- Manage responsibly: Our maintenance teams include ecological checks and habitat management in their schedules. This is not as an afterthought but as part of operations.
- Give back locally: Through community funds, we support local projects that strengthen environmental and social sustainability like tree planting, habitat restoration, or local parks.
Sustainability is a Team Effort
BNG isn’t just about ticking a planning box, we believe it’s about building something lasting and so by combining renewable energy generation with ecological restoration, we can create multi-purpose landscapes that support local biodiversity, provide stable income for landowners, and deliver renewable energy to businesses and communities.
It’s a model that proves we don’t have to choose between energy and ecology. We can have both and in doing so, we create something even stronger: a landscape that gives back.
At Sonaura, we’re proud to be part of that change. We’re not just generating power; we’re regenerating land too. By working with our partners, we’re working towards a future where clean energy, thriving wildlife, and healthy rural economies grow side by side.
Polly is an Associate Development Manager at Sonaura. Polly manages the development process on our projects, specialising in planning, permitting, site development and sustainability integration across the company’s portfolio.