WABSI Big Issues in Biodiversity Science Webinar Series
Thursday 23rd July 2026
4.00pm – 5.00 pm (Australian Western Standard Time)
Join us as we explore a critical and often overlooked question in the global energy transition: How do we scale solar photovoltaic (PV) energy while safeguarding biodiversity?
Solar PV is now the second-largest renewable energy source worldwide, yet our scientific understanding of its ecological effects has not kept pace. This webinar presents results of a comprehensive review of current knowledge on the impacts of PV infrastructure on biodiversity, together with existing mitigation measures.
It provides an overview of the available research in Oceania, key knowledge gaps and the strong geographical biases in the literature, which has focused on desert ecosystems in North America. The gaps are particularly relevant in agricultural landscapes, where much of the recent and projected PV expansion is taking place in Europe, yet ecological evidence remains limited.
The session will explore examples of current research focusing on key questions that remain. For example, species’ responses to PV infrastructure across spatial scales, nesting ecology, and potential mechanisms underlying bird collisions with solar panels, such as the ‘lake effect’ hypothesis. The examples will illustrate how research is being designed to address critical uncertainties and support the reconciliation of bird
conservation with the expansion of renewable energy.
Bridging science with decision-making is critical and our guest speakers will share recent initiatives for transferring scientific knowledge to different stakeholders involved in the energy transition.
GUEST SPEAKERS
Assistant Professor Julia Gómez-Catasús and David González del Portillo
Department of Ecology, Terrestrial Ecosystem Ecology and Conservation Research Group, Center for Research on Biodiversity and Global Change, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid
Julia’s work centers on conservation biology, with an emphasis on understanding how human activities affect biodiversity and how this knowledge can inform practical conservation solutions. More recently,
her research has focused on renewable energy infrastructure, including wind and solar power, and their associated transmission networks, examining both their ecological impacts and strategies to
mitigate them.
David Gonzalez del Portillo, Researcher
David’s research focuses on steppe bird ecology, particularly the ecological requirements and conservation of the little bustard (Tetrax tetrax), analyzing habitat quality across multiple spatial scales through GPS-tracking, spatial modeling, and climate analyses. He is actively involved in the UAM-CTFC-TotalEnergies Steppe Forward Chair, evaluating photovoltaic plant impacts on agro-steppe biodiversity.
David combines advanced statistical modeling and spatial analysis to develop evidence-based conservation strategies for Europe’s most threatened farmland birds.
Download the webinar flyer