Improving Decision-Making for the Energy Transition: Guidance for Using Strategic Environmental Assessment
Chapter 7 focuses on the importance of using SEA in the development of solar power to ensure sustainable and informed decision-making. SEA helps identify significant environmental and socio-economic risks related to solar power projects and helps avoid cumulative impacts.
This chapter reviews current solar power capacity around the world and explains solar power technologies, such as photovoltaic (PV) and concentrating solar power (CSP). It highlights environmental and socio-economic issues, including land use, biodiversity, water use, and waste management, emphasizing the importance of careful planning to avoid or mitigate negative impacts. Examples of solar projects are provided, including innovations like floating solar panels and solar evaporation ponds. This chapter also discusses key socio-economic impacts, such as job creation, land acquisition, and the need to engage local communities, especially vulnerable groups, in the planning process.
Solar power is growing fast, with over 1,053 gigawatts (GW) installed globally by 2022 and China is leading the way. There are two main types of solar technology: photovoltaic (PV), which turns sunlight directly into electricity, and concentrating solar power (CSP), which uses mirrors to focus sunlight and create heat to generate power. PV panels can be installed on rooftops, farmland, or even on water surfaces (floating solar).
Solar energy is very beneficial, but it also has some challenges. Large solar farms need a lot of land, which can lead to problems like habitat destruction and soil erosion. Some creative solutions, like combining solar panels with farming or using floating panels on water, can reduce land-use problems. Water is also needed to clean solar panels and cool concentrated solar power (CSP) systems, which can be a strain in dry areas. Additionally, recycling solar panels and batteries isn’t common yet, which creates waste management issues related to the hazardous material they contain.
On the positive side, solar projects create jobs and can provide economic benefits to local communities. However, large projects sometimes require buying land, which can displace people and disrupt their livelihoods, especially in rural areas. It is important for solar developers to involve local communities early on, especially those who may be vulnerable, like Indigenous people or farmers, to make sure the benefits are shared fairly.
How can SEA be helpful in solar power projects?
Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) is an important process which supports the development and implementation of renewable energy policies, plans, and programs (PPPs), especially those concerned with planning solar power projects, because it helps identify and assess the significance of potential environmental and social impacts of solar energy development before projects begin. By doing this early, it makes future environmental and social impact assessments (ESIAs) of individual projects quicker, cheaper, and more streamlined. SEA helps planners understand issues like how solar farms might affect habitats and wildlife, land use, and local communities.
Overall, careful policy development and planning using SEA can help ensure that solar power grows sustainably and that its benefits reach everyone involved.