Paisagem, tecnologia e desenvolvimento local: a central solar da Amareleja

Abstract

Resumo No estudo dos impactos locais das energias renováveis tem sido dada pouca atenção a tecnologias com menor peso no sistema energético. Este trabalho procura colmatar esta lacuna, através de um estudo de caso sobre a central fotovoltaica da Amareleja, assente em entrevistas com stakeholders e residentes e análise de documentação. A central tem a particularidade de ser parte de uma iniciativa municipal de desenvolvimento regional assente nas energias renováveis. Contudo, apesar de um processo de implantação pouco controverso e de um impacto importante a nível identitário, não atingiu muitas das expectativas dos habitantes a nível económico.Palavras-chave: energias renováveis, energia solar, controvérsias sociotécnicas, perceções locais.Abstract The study of the local impacts of renewable energy has given little attention to less implemented technologies. This work seeks to bridge this gap through a case study on the photovoltaic plant in Amareleja, based on interviews with stakeholders and residents and documentation analysis. The plant has the distinction of being part of a local initiative for regional development based on renewable energy. However, although the deployment process faced few controversy and there was some impact on the local identity, the project did not reach the expectation of the population in terms of economic development.Keywords: renewable energies, solar energy, sociotechnical controversies, local perceptions.Résumé L'étude des impacts locaux des énergies renouvelables n'accorde guère d'attention aux technologies qui ont moins de poids sur le système énergétique. Ce travail vise à colmater cette lacune, au travers d'une étude de cas sur la centrale photovoltaïque d'Amareleja, à partir d'entretiens avec les différentes parties prenantes et les habitants et d'une analyse de documents. La centrale a la particularité de s'inscrire dans une initiative municipale de développement régional axée sur les énergies renouvelables. Cependant, malgré un processus d'implantation peu controversé et un impact important au plan identitaire, cette centrale n'a pas vraiment répondu aux attentes des habitants sur le plan économique.

Solar photovoltaic energy infrastructures, land use and sociocultural context in Portugal

“…Part of the funds generated were earmarked for local development and allocated to a social fund that supported various projects. One was an incentive scheme for domestic rooftop solar energy generation; its funds were exhausted through local demand, and it motivated other Moura residents to seek support to install solar panels (Junqueira, Delicado, and Truninger 2017). Another was a technology park, which took the shape of a solar panel quality testing laboratory (Lógica EM) that was closed in 2019 after failing to turn a profit for several years.…”

“…While municipal representatives consider the creation of skilled jobs and the improvement of the quality of life of the local population to be major assets resulting from solar PV plants, the erstwhile mayor of the Amareleja Parish Council and the vast majority of its residents consider these effects to be rather modest (Delicado, Figueiredo, and Silva 2016). In fact, today, as in 2013-2014 (Delicado et al 2015;Junqueira, Delicado, and Truninger 2017), our online survey in Amareleja revealed a widespread idea that the PV power plant has brought few benefits to the village and its inhabitants. Respondents stated that they hold this view on the grounds that the development has created very few permanent jobs at the local level (15 earlier on, reduced to less than six by 2019); has not led to a decline in electricity prices for residents; did not promote the development of other economic activities such as tourism; and did not stop out-migration and desertification.…”