| Popis: |
Although solar energy can undoubtedly contribute to global deep decarbonization and mitigation of climate change through emissions reductions, the potential for ecological impacts from large installations on the ground merits further discussion. Solar energy development, particularly large and ground-mounted solar energy installations in natural or other types of environments with biophysical capacity may function as a contemporary, anthropogenic driver of disturbance and land-use and land-cover change. Siting, construction, operation, and decommissioning of solar energy infrastructure may modify environmental conditions and thereby affect biota. At the landscape-level, displacive solar energy development requires land and may directly contribute to habitat loss. Once sited, disturbance associated with development, including site preparation, construction, and maintenance and operations, may negatively affect soils, plants, and animals. Meanwhile, generalist and invasive species may benefit from the same disturbance. Environmental perturbations resulting from such enterprises may impact biota directly or indirectly (e.g., by displacement of species). In contrast, integrated solar energy is that which has zero land-use and land-cover change impacts beyond those associated with raw materials acquisition and manufacturing. Thus, it has minimal to zero adverse effects on the biosphere (beyond life-cycle emissions), resources (e.g., cultural), and legal entitlements (e.g., religious rights of indigenous communities). Sustainable siting of solar energy infrastructure will depend on a better understanding of ecological responses to its development in conjunction with ongoing industry efforts to prevent and mitigate negative impacts. |
