How does renewable and other energy infrastructure impact carbon rich soils in Scotland?
Background
Question Group: Focused on safeguarding and enhancing Scotland’s natural resources, its air, soils, land, water, plants and wildlife, by addressing the drivers of nature loss and environmental degradation. Emphasises restoration of degraded ecosystems, sustainable use of wild species, minimising of pollution, improving the management of invasive non-native species. Targets sustainable use of resources to support thriving communities, nature, and the economy in a changing climate.
Sub-questions: -How do the different designs and construction methodologies of solar farms affect their impact on peatland and upland habitats?
-How can we quantify current and projected impacts of energy transition and associated infrastructure on Scotland’s peatlands and carbon-rich soils, including carbon loss, habitat change, and other ecosystem services?
-How can we minimise harm to peatlands and carbon-rich soils from energy transition activities through effective tools, guidance, and innovation, and what evidence is needed to support these approaches?
-How can energy transition activities create opportunities to restore and enhance peatlands and carbon-rich soils?
Next steps
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Source
This question was published as part of the set of ARIs in this document:
Environment natural resources agriculture research strategy 2027 2032
Topics
Research fields
Related UKRI funded projects
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Solar Park Impacts on Ecosystem Services: a Framework for Best-Practice (SPIES)
Ensuring there is sufficient energy is a global challenge, caused by increasing demand and the need to move to low carbon energy to avoid dangerous climate change. Photovoltaics, including those mounted on buildings and ...
Funded by: NERC
Lead research organisation: Lancaster University
Why might this be relevant?
Partially relevant as it focuses on impacts of solar parks but not specifically on peatlands and upland habitats.
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Strategically integrated renewable energy and environment systems (SIRE)
For most societies, energy underpins all aspects of life and many people consider access to abundant and uninterrupted energy a basic need and right. Energy is currently responsible for ~75% of global greenhouse gas emis...
Funded by: NERC
Lead research organisation: Lancaster University
Why might this be relevant?
Partially relevant as it addresses the impacts of wind and solar energy on the environment but not specifically on peatlands and upland habitats.
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UK - Solar parks impacts on ecosystem services: implementation
Within the UK, energy underpins all aspects of life, with most people reliant on access to abundant and uninterrupted energy for the provision of basic needs (e.g. heating and cooking), and to enable work (e.g. reliance ...
Funded by: NERC
Lead research organisation: Lancaster University
Why might this be relevant?
Partially relevant as it focuses on solar park impacts on ecosystem services but not specifically on peatlands and upland habitats.