W&M Student Researches How Solar Farms Can Benefit Bats

WILLIAMSBURG — A research project at William & Mary is examining how solar farms can benefit local ecosystems.

Graduate biology student Bryce Donaghue is studying how vegetation beneath solar panels attracts insects and creates new hunting grounds for bats. His goal is to demonstrate that renewable energy sites can also serve as thriving wildlife habitats, supporting species that are increasingly at risk.

Donaghue’s research focuses on measuring insect activity and bat behavior across multiple solar sites in Virginia. Using acoustic monitoring equipment and insect sampling, he’s tracking how changes in vegetation management, such as planting native wildflowers or reducing mowing, affect biodiversity. The findings could help energy companies design solar farms that benefit both the enviro