Learning objectives
Achieve the fundamental concepts and skills for environmental consultancy and ecological analysis in the assessment and evaluation of impacts arising from the construction and operation of renewable energy plants.
Achieve the foundational concepts of technical consultancy and cooperation with other professional and technical figures.
Achieve the basic concepts of administrative procedures and the methods of interfacing with administrative bodies.
Dublin Descriptors
Knowledge and understanding: Recognizing the main ecological components differentially involved by the various types of renewable energy production plants.
Applying knowledge and understanding: Understanding which ecological factors and investigation methodologies must be considered to comply with authorization procedures.
Making judgements: Acquiring the ability to develop independent evaluations by integrating scientific criteria with methodologies applied in the administrative context.
Communication skills: Learning the basic concepts of disseminating technical-scientific content to ensure the correct transfer of information to those with non-scientific backgrounds.
Learning skills: The ability to identify, learn, and apply analytical methodologies useful for data collection or the analysis of indicators to describe the impacts or benefits associated with the development and use of plants from different renewable energy sources.
Prerequisites
Knowledge of general biology and ecology concepts. Knowledge of taxonomy and identification of animals and plants.
Course unit content
General Concepts of Environmental Analysis: Ecological and Scientific Approach Structuring Environmental Analysis: Definition and identification of ecological components to consider and main investigation methodologies. Field exercises. Principles and criteria involved in environmental consultancy activities. Consultant’s operational niche: main constraints in consultant activity. Description of the main authorization processes involved in the authorization of renewable energy plants. Analysis of ecological components: gathering basic information, collecting field information and data; synoptic analysis of the evidence. Principles and criteria for conducting administrative procedures. Analysis of the main renewable energy sources: focuses on their main features and related impacts.
Full programme
General Introduction and General Concepts Related to Consultancy Activities
Concepts of power/energy. Overview of the use of energy sources. Rate of increase in energy consumption in human history.
Seminar on administrative procedure L 241/1990. Exercise on identifying impacts in the case of a new forest track (30 minutes).
Methodologies for analyzing vegetational components: Phase 1: literature review and existing data, Phase 2: field analysis, and Phase 3: synthesis. Analysis and description of Natura 2000 habitats.
Methodologies for analyzing animal components. Review of existing literature and reconstruction of the faunal community.
Basic principles of ecology and ecosystem structure. Review of the concept of emergent properties. Concepts of ecological succession applied to terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems. Ecosystem investigation methods (River functionality analysis).
Main approaches to field information collection. General concepts of landscape interpretation. Observations on the integration of renewable energy infrastructures (hydroelectric) and the evaluation of related impacts.
Field exercise at run-of-river hydroelectric plants (completed and under construction) and at ground-mounted photovoltaic plants (completed and under construction).
Modes of anthropogenic action on ecosystems and their role in ecosystem modification. Consequences of anthropogenic actions on impact assessment. Effects of anthropogenic actions in the conduct of authorization procedures.
Analysis of the main types of impact. Brief seminar on the so-called NIMBY syndrome.
Analysis of measures to mitigate the impacts of renewable energy plants and the concept and application of environmental compensation.
Analysis of the characteristics of solar and biogas energy production plants. Structure of an environmental impact study report. Synopsis of the main ecological components involved. Considerations on potential impacts.
Analysis of the characteristics of hydroelectric and wind energy production plants. Structure of an environmental impact study report. Synopsis of the main ecological components involved. Considerations on potential impacts.
Bibliography
Materials and content from the lessons and documents referred to in them. Overarching laws, national, regional, provincial, and municipal regulations, and standards related to administrative procedures.
Teaching methods
Lectures.
Encouragement and use of continuous discussion and immersion in situations where problem-solving and collaboration with other professionals (engineers, geologists, and other technical figures) are practiced. Focus on the necessary precautions to address evaluation issues through a multidisciplinary approach.
Operational activities aimed at teaching techniques for collecting environmental data.
Simulations of authorization procedures, presenting issues and problems derived from real cases.
Assessment methods and criteria
Oral test. Three questions about the issues discussed during the lessons and field training.
Other information
Informations and data collected in real renewable power plants are provided
2030 agenda goals for sustainable development
The course aims to raise awareness of how renewable energy, along with anthropogenic activities in general, must be planned and designed according with objective and measurable compatibility criteria. The environmental assessment, understood as the evaluation of ecosystems' ability to withstand the planned actions, must be done using analytical methodologies based on the disciplines related to the study of ecology.
With these approaches, it is possible to pursue the goals of energy production (Clean Energy) that can contribute to reduce climate-altering emissions (Climate Action) and to preserve environmental conditions which that do not harm the biodiversity of terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems (Life Below Water and on Land)
