I. Grigorescu, A. Vrînceanu, M. Dumitrașcu, I. Mocanu, C. Dumitrică, B. Mitrică, G. Kuscicsa, P. Șerban. REGIONAL DIFFERENCES IN THE SPATIAL DISTRIBUTION AND ENVIRONMENTAL CONSEQUENCES OF PV FARMS IN SOUTHERN ROMANIA

DOI: 
https://doi.org/10.15407/ugz2019.03.060
Ukr. geogr. z. 2019, N3:60-69
Ukrainian Geographical Journal 2019 (3)
Language of publication: 
English
Full text: 
PDF icon UGJ-2019-3_60-69.pdf
Authors: 

Ines Grigorescu - Institute of Geography, Romanian Academy, Bucharest;
Alexandra Vrînceanu - Institute of Geography, Romanian Academy, Bucharest;
Monica Dumitrașcu - Institute of Geography, Romanian Academy, Bucharest;
Irena Mocanu - Institute of Geography, Romanian Academy, Bucharest;
Cristina Dumitrică - Institute of Geography, Romanian Academy, Bucharest;
Bianca Mitrică - Institute of Geography, Romanian Academy, Bucharest;
Gheorghe Kuscicsa - Institute of Geography, Romanian Academy, Bucharest;
Paul Șerban - Institute of Geography, Romanian Academy, Bucharest.

Abstract: 

Along with wind energy, photovoltaics (PV) are the main technology options for the shift to a decarbonised energy supply towards a low-carbon economy. Thus, the increasing share of solar energy has been one of the main instruments to be considered under the EU energy efficiency targets, Romania has also assumed. Romania has important solar energy resources to be exploited in the lowlands and low hills in southern and south-eastern parts of the country mainly in relation to the high values of the radiation and sunshine duration parameters. However, apart from the clean and sustainable energy they provide, PV farms also involve some environmental consequences (e.g. land degradation, soil erosion, biodiversity loss). The current paper is seeking to identify and analyse the main regional differences and environmental consequences of PV farms installation and use in Southern Romania based on several indicators: the share/surface of PV farms at County level; the share of PV farms of each land use/cover category; distance to forests, waters, protected areas (SCI, SPA); share of PV farms of main soil types. The resulted statistics enabled the authors to identify the existing and the potential environmental impacts of PV farms on specific natural and man-made environmental components (e.g. land use/cover, soils, water bodies, forests, settlements, roads).

Key words: 
solar energy resources, solar energy, PV farms, Romania
Pages: 
60-69
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