Solar power plants in terms of landscape protection and repair: activities of local governments in İzmir
Abstract
Objective: The aim is to reveal depending on the location choices of solar power plantsthe landscape protection strategies and what needs to be done in terms of landscape restoration after the operations of the power plants are completed.
Material and Methods: Seven solar power plants owned by local governments in İzmir constituted the main material of this study. In this context, observations were made in the research areas, the characteristics of the installed solar power plants were determined and their environmental effects were evaluated within the scope of landscape protection and repair.
Results: The installation years, locations, installed capacity, and installation areas of the solar power plants, which are the subject of the research differ from each other. Therefore, their environmental impacts are different from each other. In order to evaluate the environmental impact, the profiles of the power plants within the scope of the research were examined by taking into account the standards of electricity generation from solar energy, and their distances to different uses and transportation axes were measured as bird flights. In addition, the areas covered by the installed power plants were revealed and the usage areas of the produced energy were specified.
Conclusion: Five of the seven solar power plants examined within the scope of the research are assembled roofs and the other two are land applications. Since more space is required in the area preparation, logistics, and installation of solar power plants, which are land applications, the negative impact on the environment is higher. In order to prevent or reduce these negative effects, appropriate and comprehensive landscape repair plans should be prepared with conservation decisions for the solar power plant areas that are actively working, whose activities have been terminated and will be newly installed.
Keywords
solar power plants , landscape protection and repair , Environmental impact assessment
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