Renewable Energy Sources and Ecosystem Services: Measuring the Impacts of Ground-Mounted Photovoltaic Panels

Europe is facing complex challenges related to rising natural gas prices and the need for energy independence due to the energy crisis of 2022. To address these challenges, the European Commission presented the REPowerEU plan, which aims to accelerate the deployment of renewable energy sources (RESs), achieve greater energy autonomy, accelerate the green transition, and facilitate investments in renewable energies by 2027. Among the different RESs, the potential of ground-mounted photovoltaic (GMPV) panels in Europe is demonstrated by the spread of large-scale solar installations. Although promoting renewable energy through GMPV technology is in line with the seventh Sustainable Development Goal, it may conflict with the 15th SDG, which aims to protect terrestrial ecosystems. To identify potential impacts that may be generated by the installation of GMPVs in relation to ecosystem services (ESs), this study explores evaluation methodologies for their integration into decision support frameworks. The research reviews different methods available to quantify and/or monetize different impacts for provisioning, regulating and maintenance, cultural ESs and compares three methodological frameworks that can be used to integrate these results into decision-making: Cost-Benefit Analysis (CBA), Multi-Criteria Decision Analysis (MCDA), and COmpoSIte Modeling Assessment (COSIMA). The outcomes could be useful in supporting public and private decision-makers to structure an evaluation framework useful in defining suitable areas where to install GMPVs according to the costs, co-benefits, and negative externalities generated.