Integrating corporate strategy with Biodiversity: the Alcoutim pilot project as a pathway for biodiversity-positive renewables and Net Gain

The rapid expansion of renewable energy infrastructure requires approaches that simultaneously deliver climate benefits and help halt biodiversity loss. GALP Renewables business unit has adopted a corporate-level Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) strategy designed to embed ecological value creation across all phases of solar project development. This strategy provides a structured framework consisting of an Initial Environmental and Social Assessment, a rigorous Ecological Baseline Study, identification of ecosystem components (C1–C5), selection of targeted management actions, and definition of metrics and KPIs to track ecological performance. Together, these tools support the implementation of Smart Renewable Power Plants (SRPP), where infrastructure is planned and managed as an ecological component that contributes to habitat quality, ecosystem functions and social acceptance.

To demonstrate feasibility and replicability, a pilot project was implemented at the Alcoutim photovoltaic plant in southern Portugal. The surrounding Mediterranean mosaic landscape presented strong potential for ecological enhancement. Management actions included differentiated vegetation management, passive and active restoration of natural and semi-natural habitats, promotion of native shrubs and herbaceous diversity, and Nature-based Solutions such as nest boxes, bat roosts and pollinator structures. Additional measures improved ecological permeability, reduced disturbance and increased microhabitat availability within the solar array.

Monitoring during the first year revealed substantial biodiversity value and early positive ecological responses. More than 70 plant species were recorded, including habitat-forming Mediterranean taxa and four habitat types listed under the EU Habitats Directive. Arthropod sampling documented 48 aerial insect species, including key pollinators. Avifaunal surveys identified 91 bird species, with notable representation of shrubland and steppe-associated communities. Acoustic and roost monitoring registered 17–21 bat species, including regionally relevant records. Camera traps confirmed a well-structured mammal assemblage, including Iberian lynx, red fox, badger and high densities of European rabbit—a key prey species underpinning Mediterranean trophic networks.

This integrated approach illustrates how corporate strategy, ecological design and evidence-based monitoring can converge to deliver biodiversity-positive solar development. The Alcoutim case demonstrates a practical and replicable model for renewable energy operators seeking to operationalise BNG and highlights actionable pathways for scaling a biodiversity-friendly energy transition across Mediterranean landscapes and beyond.