Solar expansion in India sparks concerns over unrestricted herbicide application

In the heart of Tamil Nadu's Tiruppur district, a 40-acre solar park has raised concerns among local residents. The park, situated near the Nallamapuram Colony, uses herbicides for weed control.

Residents have reported strong herbicide smells and expressed worry about potential health risks. Vanathi, a resident, voiced her concern about chemicals seeping into their water, fearing long-term damage. A.D. Dileep Kumar, CEO of Pesticide Action Network India, warned that even at low levels, contamination could cause chronic illnesses that are difficult to cure.

The volatile components of these herbicides could evaporate into the air, polluting food, water, air, and entire ecosystems. One chemical used, glyphosate, is classified as probably carcinogenic to human health and poses long-term health risks.

The use of herbicides in solar parks has been a topic of debate. A scientific report published in 2021 indicated that clearing vegetation and using herbicides in solar parks increases emissions from land-use change (LUC). If all vegetation in designated solar park areas in India is permanently removed, the resulting LUC emissions from 2020 to 2050 would account for 2.5-3.5% of the total emissions produced by burning natural gas for electricity generation in the same period.

However, not everyone supports the use of herbicides. Swelect Energy System Limited, a solar power company, opposes their use due to environmental concerns and prefers mechanical methods for maintenance. Martin Scherfler, an advocate for solar grazing, appreciates its impact on vegetation control and its potential to restore degraded lands.

Solar grazing, as demonstrated by Sulochana Cotton Spinning Mills, uses goats for vegetation control, offering a successful alternative to herbicides. Scherfler also notes that vegetation under solar panels enhances soil health, supports better stormwater management, prevents soil erosion, and provides habitats for pollinators and other wildlife.

Moreover, Scherfler explains that the growing trend in the renewable energy sector is agrivoltaics, the integration of agriculture with solar energy. This approach, as exemplified by Cochin International Airport, where the airport still grows vegetables beneath its solar panels, could offer a sustainable solution to weed management in solar parks.

R Sabhari Girish of Sulochana Cotton Spinning Mills emphasized the importance of conserving energy, even the energy consumed by grass cutters. Dileep Kumar suggested using weed-cutting machines for sustainable weed management in solar parks.

Karthikeya Sivasenapathy, from the DMK party's environmental wing, has urged the state and central government for intervention in the issue. Government institutions and legislation seem to be supporting the continued use of herbicides in solar parks, according to Dileep Kumar.

The landowner of the solar park in Kuttapalayam village in Tiruppur district is the family of Siva. Dileep Kumar proposes the design of solar panels at a height to allow grazing, similar to developed countries, as a potential solution to this issue.

This story was published with permission from Mongabay.com. It underscores the need for a balance between renewable energy production and environmental conservation, a debate that continues to resonate in Tamil Nadu and beyond.