The development of renewable energy resources and landscape: arguments for the implementation of the European Landscape Convention in the energy policy of Spain
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Abstract
The landscapes «emerging» from the development of renewable energy have become an important point of discussion in many European countries, since the European Union initiated a process of energy policy reform. Spain is characterized by a generally successful renewable power implementation. However, as wind turbines and solar farms are spreading in Spain an important visual impact and consumption of productive agricultural soil are producing on a larger and larger scale. And these changes suppose decrease of social acceptance of renewables. This paper explores the relation between renewable power implementation and landscape policies evolution. We first analyse development of renewable power policy. Then we study new democratic forms of land planning projected by the European Landscape Convention. Finally we explore how are landscape concerns taking more and more prominent place in current approaches to renewables through the pilot study of two cases of new more sustainable strategies of renewable power planning which could reduce its landscape impact.