Photovoltaics

What is a photovoltaic farm?

Photovoltaic farms are solar power plants that convert solar radiation energy into heat or electricity. They can be both in the micro scale, e.g., panels on the roofs of buildings, and in the macro scale, occupying several thousand hectares. In the domestic environment, most farms have an area of ​​up to several hectares.

Potential impacts

The negative impact of solar power plants on the natural environment may be potentially small and is mainly caused by the occupation, transformation and exclusion from use of the land on which the investment is planned. The scale and significance of these negative impacts depends on the size and location of the power plant. If the investment is properly located, it may be marginal and irrelevant for the functioning of local plant and animal populations. On the other hand, the benefits of investments, not only financial ones, are fundamental. First of all, they rely on zero emissions during their operation. Photovoltaic farms produce clean energy, making a significant contribution to reducing greenhouse gas emissions and air pollution.

solar panels environmental impact assessment

Environmental decision and investment location

The choice of the investment location is one of the most important elements in the implementation of a solar farm construction project. It determines the administrative path of the investment implementation; it can have a decisive impact on the final decision on the possibility of its implementation. When looking for a place for a solar power plant, we should avoid areas of natural value, i.e., located in areas falling under area forms of nature protection, within wildlife corridors, characterized by high biodiversity and high natural values, wetlands, river valleys, etc. An environmental decision may also be issued for investments within protected areas, but it may require more in-depth research.

Possible paths to follow

  • Project Information Card – farms in areas subject to nature protection and having an area of more than 0.5 ha or in other areas and having an area of more than 1 ha.

Buffer zone

It’s important not to focus only on the area of the farm itself, but also on the neighboring areas, because we must always adopt a buffer for the impact of the investment. Preferred areas for photovoltaic farms are monoculture areas, such as arable land on low-class soils, ruderal areas and areas heavily transformed by humans. However, it should be remembered that some areas, although they look poor in terms of nature, may be places where valuable and protected species of plants and animals can be found. Therefore, before choosing the investment site, it is worth consulting an expert naturalist and conducting a nature screening of the potential area.

How can we help?

We prepare both Project Information Sheets and full Environmental Impact Reports (EIA) and ecological surveys for the above-mentioned documents. During field research and material analysis, we follow the applicable methodology and guidelines. We draw on current industry publications on impact assessments. In addition, we follow the latest foreign reports and specialist publications. Thanks to this, we are one step ahead of the domestic sources. We provide a full range of services, including ones at the investment planning stage, i.e., consulting on the location of photovoltaic farms.