Impactos ambientais de usinas solares fotovoltaicas sobre a flora do Norte de Minas Gerais

Abstract

Brazil has a high incidence of solar radiation, which is contributive to the installation of photovoltaic solar plants (PVSP). Photovoltaic energy is renewable, does not emit greenhouse effect gases to generate energy, in the way fossil fuels do, and contributes to the diversification and decentralization of the Brazilian energy matrix. However, their implementation and operation has environmental impacts, such as the loss of fauna habitat, earthmoving and the removal of vegetation cover in site preparation, which are thus environmental licensing passives. The analysis of opinions from environmental agencies containing information on the resulting environmental impact may help in the policy-making for the installation and licensing of PVSP. The objective of this study was to catalogue the number and distribution of environmental licenses granted to photovoltaic businesses and to qualify and quantify their impact on the flora in the North region of Minas Gerais, Brazil, up to the year of 2022. The following data have been used: authorizations, certificates and opinions for PHSP projects with a power greater than 5MW approved by environmental agencies in Minas Gerais, Brazil. The microregions of Janaúba and Pirapora have seen the greatest number of projects approved. The first licenses were granted in Pirapora between 2015 and 2017. Pirapora had the greatest suppression of native vegetation, while most of the PVSP in Janaúba were designed in anthropized areas and only isolated trees remaining in this area needed to be cut down. The Pirapora area demanded felling a larger number of species immune to cutting or protected. The area authorized for suppression in the Cerrado Biome area was eight-fold greater than that in the Decidual Seasonal Forest. The installation and operation of PVSP in the North of Minas Gerais has had an impact on the native vegetation and on immune-to-cutting and threatened species.