Direct environmental impacts of solar power in two arid biomes : an initial investigation

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dc.contributor.authorRudman, Justineen_ZA
dc.contributor.authorGauche, Paulen_ZA
dc.contributor.authorEsler, Karen J.en_ZA
dc.date.accessioned2019-01-11T06:24:59Z
dc.date.available2019-01-11T06:24:59Z
dc.date.issued2017
dc.descriptionCITATION: Rudman, J., Gauche, P. & Esler, K. J. 2017. Direct environmental impacts of solar power in two arid biomes : an initial investigation. South African Journal of Science, 113(11/12), Art. #2017-0113, doi:10.17159/sajs.2017/20170113.en_ZA
dc.descriptionThe original publication is available at http://sajs.co.zaen_ZA
dc.description.abstractAccording to recent national energy plans and policy documents, the number of renewable energy developments is expected to increase in South Africa, thus contributing to the diversification of the country’s energy system. Consequently, numerous solar power developments are being deployed in the sunny arid interior – areas generally represented by the Nama-Karoo and Savanna Biomes. These developments come with a range of novel environmental impacts, providing opportunities for multidimensional exploratory research. Here, a mixed-method approach was used to identify and investigate possible environmental impacts associated with two types of solar power plants: concentrating solar power and photovoltaic. Structured interviews conducted with experts and experienced professionals, together with observations from site visits generated complementary findings. In addition to the risk of cumulative ecological impacts associated with individual solar plant developments, landscape impacts of multiple power plants and the direct impact on avifauna were found to be the most significant environmental impacts. These direct impacts appear to be most significant during the construction stage, which represents an intensive 10% of the total power plant lifespan. This investigation provides an early, broad and informative perspective on the experienced and expected impacts of solar power in South African arid regions as well as insights to possible future research areas.en_ZA
dc.description.urihttps://www.sajs.co.za/article/view/3878
dc.description.versionPublisher's versionen_ZA
dc.format.extent13 pages : illustrationsen_ZA
dc.identifier.citationRudman, J., Gauche, P. & Esler, K. J. 2017. Direct environmental impacts of solar power in two arid biomes : an initial investigation. South African Journal of Science, 113(11/12), Art. #2017-0113, doi:10.17159/sajs.2017/20170113en_ZA
dc.identifier.issn1996-7489 (online)
dc.identifier.otherdoi:10.17159/sajs.2017/20170113
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/10019.1/105293
dc.language.isoen_ZAen_ZA
dc.publisherAcademy of Science of South Africaen_ZA
dc.rights.holderAuthors retain copyrighten_ZA
dc.subjectRenewable energy sourcesen_ZA
dc.subjectEnvironmental impact assessmenten_ZA
dc.subjectMixed methods researchen_ZA
dc.subjectMixed method researchen_ZA
dc.subjectMultimethodology (Research)en_ZA
dc.subjectSavanna ecologyen_ZA
dc.titleDirect environmental impacts of solar power in two arid biomes : an initial investigationen_ZA
dc.typeArticleen_ZA
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