Sucre Solar Ecosystem Design

Should ecosystem services be included in future solar energy development decision-making?

This study provides a holistic assessment of incorporating ecosystem services in future solar energy development decision-making and presents an approach for minimizing trade-offs and maximizing sustainable outcomes.

How does solar energy impact ecosystem services?

In the United States, solar energy is forecasted to generate roughly 45% of the electricity by 2050. Although solar energy mitigates the negative effects of climate change by providing electricity without releasing greenhouse gases, little is known about the implications of solar energy development for ecosystem services.

Can solar suitability modeling be used in ecosystem service evaluation?

By incorporating solar suitability modeling with ecosystem service evaluation, we develop a method that provides a comprehensive understanding of potential techno-ecological trade-offs.

How do utility-scale solar installations affect ecosystem services?

Utility-scale solar installations can vary widely in their effect on ecosystem services 3: land grading and removal of vegetation beneath PV panels has the strongest and most obvious negative effects.

Can ecological understanding modify utility-scale PV designs?

Ecovoltaic arrays, designed to incorporate ecological principles and co-prioritize ecosystem services with energy generation, are conceptually appealing, but examples of how ecological understanding can modify utility-scale PV designs are lacking.

Can ecovoltaic designs improve ecosystem services?

Thus, ecovoltaic designs would alter the spacing and operation of PV panels, on the basis of ecological principles, to target specific habitat modifications and generate environmental heterogeneity as a tool to restore, maintain and perhaps even enhance ecosystem services of the ecosystems beneath.