# Environmental Protection in the Planning of Large Solar Power Plants
## 3 SEA as Environmental Protection Instruments in the Planning of Solar Power Plants
### Environmental Impact Assessment
#### 4.2.1 Assessment of the Impact of Variant Solutions  
Variant solutions represent different options for the spatial organization of the solar power plant, primarily of the solar panels within the solar power plant and their compliance with the results of spatial analyses and observations of biodiversity at the location. To evaluate the impact of variant solutions, matrices were created in which SEA areas were used for the evaluation. Illustrative presentation of the matrices for the evaluation of variant solutions for the agrisolar power plant complex \"Agrosolar Kula\" is given in Table 2. \begin{table}
\begin{tabular}{c c c c} \hline
**Environmental Receptors** & \multicolumn{2}{c}{**Special Goal of the SEA**} & \multicolumn{2}{c}{**Indictors**} \\ \hline \multirow{4}{*}{Protection of biodiversity} & 1. & Reduce harmful impact on fauna & - & Number and status of potentially endangered species \\ \cline{2-4}  & 2. & Reduce harmful impact on flora & - & Number and status of potentially endangered species \\ \cline{2-4}  & 3. & Preserve biodiversity and habitats & - & Species diversity \\ \hline \multirow{4}{*}{Protection of basic elements of the environment} & \multirow{4}{*}{5.} & \multirow{4}{*}{Reduce impact on climate change} & - & Number of days when the emission limit value for PM particles, CO, SO\({}_{2}\), and NO\({}_{2}\) was exceeded as a result of the construction of the solar power plant \\ \cline{2-4}  & & & - & Contribution to the change in GHG emissions (CO\({}_{2}\), N\({}_{2}\)O, CH\({}_{4}\), SF\({}_{6}\), HPC, PFC (\%)), as a result of the construction of the solar power plant \\ \cline{2-4}  & 6. & Preserve water quality & - & Serbian water quality index (SWQI) Emissions of pollutants into water bodies - & \\ \cline{2-4}  & 7. & Preserve soil quality & - & Percentage of contaminated surfaces Change in land use \\ \hline \multirow{4}{*}{Protection of the landscape} & \multirow{4}{*}{8.} & \multirow{4}{*}{Protect landscapes} & - & Number and spatial arrangement of planned solar panels \\  & & & - & Exposure/visibility of the location \\ \hline \multirow{4}{*}{Protection of cultural heritage} & \multirow{4}{*}{9.} & \multirow{4}{*}{Preserve cultural heritage} & - & Number of potentially endangered sites with cultural heritage \\ \cline{2-4}  & & & - & Sources of non-ionizing radiation of special interest \\ \cline{2-4}  & 10. & Reduce non-ionizing radiation & - & Number of buildings that may be affected by non-ionizing radiation as a result of the solar power plant project \\ \hline \multirow{4}{*}{Population and socioeconomic development} & \multirow{4}{*}{12.} & \multirow{4}{*}{Reduce population exposure to project impacts} & - & Number of buildings in a zone with increased noise levels and accident risk \\ \cline{2-4}  & & & - & Total noise indicator \\ \cline{2-4}  & & & - & Number of employees involved in the construction and operation of the solar power plant \\ \cline{1-1} \cline{2-4}  & & & - & Revenue of the local community, companies, and individuals from the project implementation \\ \cline{1-1} \cline{2-4}  & & & - & Consumption of primary energy from renewable sources \\ \hline \end{tabular}
\end{table} 
Table 1: SEA objectives and related environmental receptors [55]. Although Spatial unit 1 (354 ha) and Spatial unit 2 (360 ha) form one functional unit planned for the installation of solar panels, they are separated into two spatial units because they are physically separated by existing spatial restrictions, protective infrastructural corridors, and other modes of space use. Due to the fact that the micro-locations where the two spatial units are located here have spatial peculiarities, they are also treated as separate units in the SEA. The assessment of the impact of variant solutions took place in SEA through several stages:  
* Phase I--Initial positioning of solar panels and functional zones based on the initial desire of the investor, without spatial analysis and consideration of possible environmental impacts.