Environmental and social impact of solar farms: Insights and perspectives from solar professionals

Abstract

Solar energy professionals, with their knowledge of ground realities regarding project impacts and deep understanding of economic and policy challenges, are uniquely positioned to provide insights into the opportunities and barriers facing the solar industry. The current study surveys 81 solar energy professionals using a structured online survey questionnaire. The survey included questions about 40 different data points in four major areas, i.e., environmental, social, economic, and policy. Environmental concerns were further classified into short-  and long-term categories. Analysis of the survey data revealed several major issues in all areas. For example, responses to environmental impact-related questions indicated that impact on biodiversity, land use, and improper solid waste management were major concerns in the short-term implementation of the project. Among longterm environmental concerns, life-cycle assessment and the disposal of solar panels at the end of life could represent major environmental concerns. For social concerns, the safety of onsite workers, awareness of solar energy, and compliance with environmental impact assessment studies and management plans were the major concerns. The economic concerns to be addressed included the high cost of investment, long payback period, and difficulty of regulatory procedures. Policy-related concerns included the support from local government, research and development needs, and the stability of government policies. All these identified areas are areas where major improvements are envisaged in the future. Overall, such types of studies help in understanding industry requirements in the day and aid planning, strategizing, and policymaking in various areas for holistic, sustainable development.