GIS-based site suitability analysis and ecosystem services approach for supporting renewable energy development in south-central Chile

Abstract

Renewable energy systems have a relevant land footprint, and their development can lead to land-use conflicts and trade-offs between energy supply and ecosystem services. Accordingly, this work identified the more suitable renewable energy development areas and discussed the potential trade-offs between energy supply and priority ecosystem services, combining the Geographic Information System-based suitability analysis and ecosystem service approach. The expert consultations were carried out to assess and identify the supply capacities of priority ecosystem services in South-Central Chile. The suitability maps for four renewable energy types were generated and spatially overlapped with priority ecosystem service maps to assess the trade-offs resulting from energy development. The results showed that suitable sites for solar, wind and biomass energy showed limited capacities to supply relevant provisioning and regulatory services and medium-to-low capacity to deliver cultural services. More than half of potential hydropower stations can be located on zones with a medium capacity to supply provisioning services and a high capacity for regulation and maintenance and cultural services. In most cases, sitting energy plants on areas of cultural relevance and other adverse impacts may cause social rejection toward their installation. This work provides valuable spatial information to support land-renewable energy planning, minimizing the environmental and social conflicts on ecosystem services.