The Role of Strategic Environmental Assessment in Precautionary Protection of the Environment During the Development of Renewable Energy Projects

Abstract

Despite numerous undeniably positive effects of using renewable energy sources on space, and the reduction of energy sector environmental impact and carbon footprint, certain side effects renewable energy projects could implicate in space still pertain. The intensity of negative effects is in direct correlation with the project type (a wind farm, a solar power plant, a biomass power plants, etc.), predominantly impacting biodiversity, population (e.g. noise, shadow flicker effect), landscape, repurposing of land, etc. Such impacts often come as a consequence of inappropriate spatial positioning of power plant facilities that use renewable energy sources and/or inadequate solutions applied in the project planning stage. That is why applying the principle of precautionary protection in the earliest phase of project developing, while it is still being planned, is of utmost importance, allowing minimisation or elimination of all negative effects by opting for most favourable spatial solutions. The paper underscores the significance of Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) process in renewable energy sources project planning as a globally adopted instrument in precautionary protection of the environment and spatial planning. The focus is on the role of the SEA process in selecting the optimum solutions for preventing potential conflicts in space, simultaneously reducing risks for the investors in the project development process. Such an approach enables sustainable solutions in renewable energy use, on the one hand, and creates a sound base for investment in such projects, on the other. Of particular importance in SEA are the holistic approach and the use of semi-quantitative method of multicriteria assessment of planning solutions, but also building foundations for the implementation of EIA and ESIA processes based on precautionary environment protection solutions. That is exactly the way the EIA and ESIA processes, which are the continuation of the SEA process, can be effectively implemented in the final phases of project development, simultaneously reducing investment risks, which is of no less importance.