Socio-ecological impacts of utility-scale solar power plants in South Karelia region
Nguyen, Hai (2026)
Diplomityö
2026
School of Energy Systems, Ympäristötekniikka
Kaikki oikeudet pidätetään.
Julkaisun pysyvä osoite on
https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi-fe20260623101948
https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi-fe20260623101948
Tiivistelmä
This thesis examines stakeholder perceptions of the socio-ecological impacts of utility-scale solar power development in South Karelia, Finland. As utility-scale solar power projects expand, concerns have emerged regarding environmental impacts, social acceptance and land-use planning.
The study aims to explore how stakeholders perceive the socio-ecological impacts of utility-scale solar power development and identify key environmental, social and planning-related concerns. This study combines a stakeholder questionnaire with document analysis of three utility-scale solar power project locations in South Karelia with a qualitative approach. The data were analyzed through thematic coding and descriptive cross-case comparison.
The findings indicate that stakeholder perceptions of utility-scale solar power development involves both environmental and social trade-offs. Regarding environmental trade-offs, biodiversity and habitat impacts, forest conversion, land-use change and landscape impacts emerged as the most important concerns. Social acceptance was closely linked to place-specific concerns, fairness and trust while planning challenges were associated with uncertainty, limited knowledge of long-term impacts and balancing renewable energy objectives with local environmental and social considerations.
The study concludes that utility-scale solar power development in South Karelia is not only a renewable energy production issue but also a socio-ecological and planning issue that requires careful consideration of environmental, social and governance factors.
The study aims to explore how stakeholders perceive the socio-ecological impacts of utility-scale solar power development and identify key environmental, social and planning-related concerns. This study combines a stakeholder questionnaire with document analysis of three utility-scale solar power project locations in South Karelia with a qualitative approach. The data were analyzed through thematic coding and descriptive cross-case comparison.
The findings indicate that stakeholder perceptions of utility-scale solar power development involves both environmental and social trade-offs. Regarding environmental trade-offs, biodiversity and habitat impacts, forest conversion, land-use change and landscape impacts emerged as the most important concerns. Social acceptance was closely linked to place-specific concerns, fairness and trust while planning challenges were associated with uncertainty, limited knowledge of long-term impacts and balancing renewable energy objectives with local environmental and social considerations.
The study concludes that utility-scale solar power development in South Karelia is not only a renewable energy production issue but also a socio-ecological and planning issue that requires careful consideration of environmental, social and governance factors.