Landscape and Renewable Energy Sources: Exploring Potentialities of Current Land Uses in Sicily

Climate change is affecting human health and quality of life, with negative effects especially on aging population. Mitigation and adaptation strategies are key for contrasting these phenomena. The building of new PV plants is fundamental for reducing GHG emissions contributing to mitigation but it is also competing with food production and is affecting considerably the landscape, especially in Southern European Regions. An evaluation of current land use in Sicily is proposed aimed at assessing the potentialities for implanting PVs mainly in brownfields, urban settlements and marginal agricultural areas. The study proposes a methodology for taking into account, environmental, social and economic constraints. This approach is deemed fundamental for preserving greenfield areas. The proposed analysis can contribute to the definition of rigorous and clear rules to be introduced in land use planning.