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Wind farm and solar park effects on plant–soil carbon cycling: uncertain impacts of changes in ground-level microclimate
Author: | Environment, Meteorology
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Translate: FROM English | TO English
Abstract – Global energy demand is increasing as greenhouse gas driven climate change progresses, making renewable energy sources critical to future sustainable power provision. Land-based wind and solar electricity generation technologies are rapidly expanding, yet our understanding of their operational effects on biological carbon cycling in hosting ecosystems is limited. Wind turbines and photovoltaic panels can significantly change local ground-level climate by a magnitude that could affect the fundamental plant–soil processes that govern carbon dynamics. We believe that understanding the possible effects of changes in ground-level microclimates on these phenomena is crucial to reducing uncertainty of the true renewable energy carbon cost and to maximize beneficial effects. In this Opinions article, we examine the potential for the microclimatic effects of these land-based renewable energy sources to alter plant–soil carbon cycling, hypothesize likely effects and identify critical knowledge gaps for future carbon research.
Alona Armstrong, Susan Waldron, School of Geographical and Earth Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK
Jeanette Whitaker, Nicholas J. Ostle, Centre for Ecology and Hydrology, Lancaster Environment Centre, Lancaster University, Lancaster, UK
Global Change Biology
Volume 20, Issue 6, June 2014, Pages 1699-1706
doi:10.1111/gcb.12437
This material is the work of the author(s) indicated. Any opinions expressed in it are not necessarily those of National Wind Watch.
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Tags: Wind power, Wind energy
