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The Influence of Solar Power Plants on Microclimatic Conditions and the Biotic Community in Chilean Desert Environments

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Abstract

The renewable energy sector is growing at a rapid pace in northern Chile and the solar energy potential is one of the best worldwide. Therefore, many types of solar power plant facilities are being built to take advantage of this renewable energy resource. Solar energy is considered a clean source of energy, but there are potential environmental effects of solar technology, such as landscape fragmentation, extinction of local biota, microclimate changes, among others. To be able to minimize environmental impacts of solar power plants, it is important to know what kind of environmental conditions solar power plants create. This study provides information about abiotic and biotic conditions in the vicinity of photovoltaic solar power plants. Herein, the influence of these power plants as drivers of new microclimate conditions and arthropods diversity composition in the Atacama Desert was evaluated. Microclimatic conditions between panel mounts was found to be more extreme than in the surrounding desert yet beneath the panels temperature is lower and relative humidity higher than outside the panel area. Arthropod species composition was altered in fixed-mount panel installations. In contrast, solar tracking technology showed less influence on microclimate and species composition between Sun and Shade in the power plant. Shady conditions provided a refuge for arthropod species in both installation types. For example, Dipterans were more abundant in the shade whereas Solifugaes were seldom present in the shade. The presented findings have relevance for the sustainable planning and construction of solar power plants.

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Acknowledgements

The authors would like to thank Solar Pack and Subsole for their collaboration and support in this study. Fundación Chile and Eduardo Soto Sepúlveda (Phineal), who helped with ideas and logistic support, are also gratefully acknowledged. Funding for A. Suuronen was supplied by the Academy of Finland [grant no 269468].

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Biological and Environmental Science, University of Jyvaskyla, P.O. Box 35, Jyvaskyla, FI-40014, Finland

    Anna Suuronen, Anssi Lensu, Markku Kuitunen & Jussi V. K. Kukkonen

  2. Doctoral Program of Systematics and Biodiversity, Department of Zoology, Faculty of Natural Sciences and Oceanographics, University of Concepción, Concepción, Chile

    Christian Muñoz-Escobar

  3. Department of Ecosystems and Environment, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile

    Natalia Guajardo Celis & Marcelo Miranda

  4. Centro de Estudio y Muestreo Biológico, CEMABIO, Iquique, Chile

    Pablo Espinoza Astudillo & Marcos Ferrú

  5. Department of Ecology Sciences, Faculty of Sciences, University of Chile, Santiago, Chile

    Andrés Taucare-Ríos

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  1. Anna Suuronen
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Correspondence to Anna Suuronen.

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Suuronen, A., Muñoz-Escobar, C., Lensu, A. et al. The Influence of Solar Power Plants on Microclimatic Conditions and the Biotic Community in Chilean Desert Environments. Environmental Management 60, 630–642 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00267-017-0906-4

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