Projects per year
Personal profile
Research Interests
I am a Professor of Energy & Environmental Sciences within Lancaster Environment Centre and Director of Energy Lancaster, a university-wide group of energy researchers.
My research focuses on the implications of the low carbon energy transition on the local environment, including ecosystem function, properties and service provision. I use a range of desk, field, laboratory and modelling approaches to resolve understanding, taking a positive approach – we need to decarbonise energy supplies and there will be more land take for renewable energy infrastructure but how can we do this whilst maximising environmental co-benefits? Working collaboratively with stakeholders from across sectors is central to my work. I look to use the understanding developed to inform policy and practice, with the underpinning aim of promoting the delivery of environmental benefits, beyond that of low carbon energy, from the energy transition. Previous to my energy research, I focused on the response of peatland carbon cycling to land management perturbations.
Given the real world applicability of my research and passion to ensure environment features strongly in the energy transition, I communicate my findings to industry, policy and the wider public.
Current Teaching
I teach one undergraduate module: LEC282 Energy, Economy & Environment
Collaborations and top research areas from the last five years
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Defra Research and Development Fellowship 25/26 - Hollie Blaydes
Armstrong, A. (Principal Investigator)
9/04/25 → 30/03/26
Project: Research
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Network Plus for Sustainable Solar Energy Systems (SES)
Armstrong, A. (Principal Investigator)
Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council
1/07/24 → 31/12/26
Project: Research
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Integrating Finance and Biodiversity (IFB): Phase II Programme
Armstrong, A. (Principal Investigator)
1/01/24 → 31/03/26
Project: Research
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DSI: Trustworthy and Accountable Decision-Making Frameworks for Biodiversity - A Virtual Labs based Approach
Armstrong, A. (Co-Investigator), Knowles, B. (Co-Investigator) & Bebbington, J. (Principal Investigator)
12/08/22 → 11/02/26
Project: Research
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IAA: CMS Floatovoltaics
Armstrong, A. (Principal Investigator)
Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council
Project: Research
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Developing and managing solar farms to benefit soils
Carvalho, F. & Armstrong, A., 3/03/2025Research output: Other contribution
Open Access -
Ecological impacts of single-axis photovoltaic solar energy with periodic mowing on microclimate and vegetation
Li, Y., Armstrong, A., Simmons, C., Krasner, N. Z. & Hernandez, R. R., 6/02/2025, In: Frontiers in Sustainability. 6, 1497256.Research output: Contribution to Journal/Magazine › Journal article › peer-review
Open Access -
Floating photovoltaic solar energy decreases water temperature and near-surface dissolved oxygen
Cagle, A. E., Narwold, B. P., Sadro, S., Pasquale, G., Di Blasi, M. L. V., Armstrong, A. & Hernandez, R. R., 31/12/2025, In: Environmental Research: Infrastructure and Sustainability. 5, 4, 045004.Research output: Contribution to Journal/Magazine › Journal article › peer-review
Open Access -
Global assessment of solar park impacts on ecosystem services
Treasure, L., Sharp, S. P., Smart, S. M., Parker, G. & Armstrong, A., 1/07/2025, In: Progress in Energy. 7, 3, 032002.Research output: Contribution to Journal/Magazine › Review article › peer-review
Open Access -
Impacts of photovoltaic solar energy on soil carbon: A global systematic review and framework
Krasner, N. Z., Fox, J., Armstrong, A., Ave, K., Carvalho, F., Li, Y., Walston, L. J., Ricketts, M. P., Jordaan, S. M., Abou Najm, M., Hartmann, H. M., Lybrand, R. & Hernandez, R. R., 28/02/2025, In: Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews. 208, 115032.Research output: Contribution to Journal/Magazine › Journal article › peer-review
Open Access
Activities
- 1 Participation in workshop, seminar, course
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Agrivoltaics Agenda Workshop
Taylor, S. (Organiser), Fernandes, J. (Participant), Treasure, L. (Speaker) & Armstrong, A. (Participant)
13/05/2025Activity: Participating in or organising an event types › Participation in workshop, seminar, course
Press/Media
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Lancaster Professor named among UK's most influential environmental scientists
12/06/25
1 Media contribution
Press/Media: Newspaper Article
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New UK initiative aims to supercharge solar workforce and drive Net-Zero goals
6/01/25
1 Media contribution
Press/Media: Newspaper Article
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Appropriate Management of Solar Farms Can Boost Soil Carbon Levels
Morrison, N., Carvalho G Da Silva, F. & Armstrong, A.
28/11/24
1 Media contribution
Press/Media: Newspaper Article
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Scientists call on Government to change policies to boost nature on UK solar farms
Morrison, N., Armstrong, A., White, P. & Carvalho G Da Silva, F.
1/08/24
1 item of Media coverage
Press/Media: Newspaper Article
Datasets
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Weather effects on solar PV efficiency
Armstrong, A. (Creator) & Waterworth, D. (Creator), UK Energy Research Centre Energy Data Centre (UKERC EDC), 2020
DOI: 10.5286/ukerc.edc.000009, https://ukerc.rl.ac.uk/cgi-bin/dataDiscover.pl?GoButton=detail&dataid=7372efed-bf17-4602-97a6-90f8960b2c39
Dataset