Incorporating Ecosystem Services into Solar Energy Siting to Enhance Sustainable Energy Transitions

Solar energy is expected to play a large role in decarbonization of the energy sector globally. In the United States, solar energy is forecasted to generate roughly 45% of the electricity by 2050. Although solar energy mitigates the negative effects of climate change by providing electricity without releasing greenhouse gases, little is known about the implications of solar energy development for ecosystem services. In this study, we developed a spatially explicit, techno-ecological solar suitability model consisting of six scenarios designed to evaluate the trade-offs between ground-mounted solar energy generation and multiple ecosystem services. By incorporating solar suitability modeling with ecosystem service evaluation, we develop a method that provides a comprehensive understanding of potential techno-ecological trade-offs. To test our methodology, we used Connecticut (USA) as a study site for analyzing the potential trade-offs of future solar energy facilities, but the methods can be widely applied. Our results suggest that well-sited solar energy development can decrease sediment and nutrient export while offsetting carbon emissions from power plants. This study provides a holistic assessment of incorporating ecosystem services in future solar energy development decision-making and presents an approach for minimizing trade-offs and maximizing sustainable outcomes.