The report ‘Local Environmental Impacts and Benefits of Large-scale Solar PV Plants’ analyses how large-scale photovoltaic solar plants interact with the environment and what opportunities they offer for more sustainable deployment. Their global expansion is rapid and decisive for the energy transition, but it also entails local impacts that require attention. Land occupation, although limited at a global scale, can create tensions in areas with land scarcity or high ecological sensitivity, especially during the planning and construction phases, when changes occur in vegetation, soil, and habitats.

The document highlights that these effects depend largely on the project’s location and design. Appropriate site selection, together with rigorous environmental assessments, makes it possible to avoid or reduce most impacts. Moreover, in suitable contexts, solar plants can support the recovery of degraded soils, increase moisture, and improve vegetation cover, generating benefits for biodiversity. The report also emphasises models such as combining solar plants with agriculture or grazing, which enables more efficient land use and local economic benefits.

Even so, the adoption of sustainable practices is progressing slowly due to the lack of standards, additional costs, and limited coordination between energy and environmental policies. The report proposes integrated regulatory frameworks, incentives, and greater technical capacity to promote solar projects that operate in harmony with the territory.