Comparing the territorial performances of renewable energy sources' plants with an integrated ecosystem services loss assessment: A case study from the Basilicata region (Italy)

Territorial transformations are currently influenced by the combination of multi-scale processes that generate complex change dynamics. In particular, we focus on the emerging conflicts between CO₂ reduction policies and the preservation of natural and ecosystem values on a the local scale. Global policies stimulate a generalized effort in promoting the transition towards a low carbon economy, and a relevant component of such a development process is connected with Renewable Energy Sources (RES). Such technological settlement processes in low density areas generate relevant impacts.

This paper discusses an ex-post-impact assessment methodology based on cumulative ecosystem services losses in a specific study area: the Melfi municipality in the Basilicata region (Italy).

The proposed methodology, starting from a temporal evolution of RES plants, considers the ecosystem services estimation based on InVEST tools in order to deliver spatial multicriteria maps of the resulting territorial impacts. These results allowed to clarified the limits of a local sectorial planning approach and highlighted the opportunities offered by performance-based planning in assessing alternative transformation scenarios.

The conclusions regard policy implications towards a multidimensional performance-based planning system where alternative low carbon transition scenarios could be compared in order to take into account territorial specializations and identity assets as a tool to drive decision-making in a sustainable planning perspective.