Abstract
Although the Energy Sector Development Strategy of the Republic of Serbia until 2015 envisages an increasing share of renewable energy (RE) in the total energy balance of the country and although there are plenty of wind energy initiatives resulting in the elaboration of planning and project documentation, no wind farms have yet been built in Serbia. One of the significant problems in the realization of these projects is the unjustifiable resistance of a part of local authorities and population, particularly related to the possible environmental impacts of the planned projects. In this context, the paper addresses the possibility of using the Leopold matrix in carrying out the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) for “Kladovo” Wind Farm in Serbia (case study). The Leopold matrix is a framework method for assessing the environmental impact of a project. The novelty in this method, presented herein, refers to the evaluation of planned project activities relative to a group of criteria related to: significance (spatial dispersion), probability and duration of impact. The obtained EIA results have enabled the precise identification of possible environmental impacts of “Kladovo” Wind Farm project, as well as removal of dilemmas and problems related to the public resistance to the realization of the project through a transparent relationship with stakeholders.
Highlights
In 2005, the National Assembly of the Republic of Serbia adopted the Energy Sector Development Strategy of the Republic of Serbia (“Official Gazette of the Republic of Serbia”, No 44/05) defining the elements for determining the energy sector strategy of Serbia
Taking into account the problems in the realization of the wind farm project in Serbia that are caused by the resistance of a part of stakeholders resulting from the fear of negative effects on the environment, the idea of the research was to supplement the current methodology used in Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA)
It has been decided to carry out an EIA because it presents an instrument for environmental protection which is, according to the Serbian legislation, the most transparent to stakeholders since they are involved in all phases of the elaboration of this document
Summary
In 2005, the National Assembly of the Republic of Serbia adopted the Energy Sector Development Strategy of the Republic of Serbia (“Official Gazette of the Republic of Serbia”, No 44/05) defining the elements for determining the energy sector strategy of Serbia. There are several major reasons why precisely this approach to EIA has been chosen as appropriate for further development: The Leopold matrix presents a framework approach to impact assessment of a project because of which it is possible to creatively work on its further development; It is widely applicable in carrying out an EIA for different types of projects Given that it has been used for many decades its major principles are known to scientific and professional circles, thereby implying that the elaboration of the obtained results will be understandable to many scientists and experts; The way of presenting the results can be appropriate for overcoming the existing problems in the realization of wind farm projects in Serbia because descriptive and rough assessment of possible impacts is avoided in the practice of carrying out an EIA; Leopold matrix fits in the framework MCDM method. This matrix is two-dimensional, where the stages of almost any type of construction project (actions) are assessed in relation to the existing environmental characteristics and conditions that may be affected during the execution of those actions
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