The Influence of Solar Power Plants on Microclimatic Conditions and the Biotic Community in Chilean Desert Environments.
Environ Manage
; 60(4): 630-642, 2017 10.
Article
in En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-28643082
The renewable energy sector is growing at a rapid pace in northern Chile and the solar energy potential is one of the best worldwide. Therefore, many types of solar power plant facilities are being built to take advantage of this renewable energy resource. Solar energy is considered a clean source of energy, but there are potential environmental effects of solar technology, such as landscape fragmentation, extinction of local biota, microclimate changes, among others. To be able to minimize environmental impacts of solar power plants, it is important to know what kind of environmental conditions solar power plants create. This study provides information about abiotic and biotic conditions in the vicinity of photovoltaic solar power plants. Herein, the influence of these power plants as drivers of new microclimate conditions and arthropods diversity composition in the Atacama Desert was evaluated. Microclimatic conditions between panel mounts was found to be more extreme than in the surrounding desert yet beneath the panels temperature is lower and relative humidity higher than outside the panel area. Arthropod species composition was altered in fixed-mount panel installations. In contrast, solar tracking technology showed less influence on microclimate and species composition between Sun and Shade in the power plant. Shady conditions provided a refuge for arthropod species in both installation types. For example, Dipterans were more abundant in the shade whereas Solifugaes were seldom present in the shade. The presented findings have relevance for the sustainable planning and construction of solar power plants.
Key words
Full text:
1
Collection:
01-internacional
Database:
MEDLINE
Main subject:
Power Plants
/
Solar Energy
/
Biota
/
Microclimate
Limits:
Animals
Country/Region as subject:
America do sul
/
Chile
Language:
En
Journal:
Environ Manage
Year:
2017
Document type:
Article
Affiliation country:
Finland
Country of publication:
United States