Unpacking spatial tensions: An interdisciplinary analysis of large-scale solar farm effects in drylands

The last decades have seen rapid growth of renewable energy globally for accommodating the urgent need of mitigating climate change. Large-scale projects like solar farms are actively financed by transnational investors to get established in drylands like Sahara. The Earth-system model simulations on large-scale solar-farm scenarios show an increased regional rainfall and vegetation cover, analogue to a “green Sahara” that happened in the past. It will not only induce local climate and ecosystem changes but also prompt remote impacts globally through atmospheric teleconnections and ocean dynamics. This suggests that spatial tensions are inherent to climate change mitigation measures, where action in one place at a particular time impacts not only this place and the short time but place at distance and time in the future. Meanwhile, case studies in social sciences seem to suggest common unintended social consequences of the ongoing projects but no systematic assessment across these projects has been done. This study thus aims to pilot an interdisciplinary investigation of the multi-dimensional effects of large-scale renewable energy projects, mainly solar farms in drylands. Our literature review of the social effects across solar farms and other major types of renewable energy projects shows that, local host communities widely bear adverse social consequences from these projects despite there are benefits at regional, national, and transnational levels. Economic redistribution and social differentiation rapidly occur through land acquisition, livelihoods, compensation, and development programs, further dividing local communities and amplifying inequalities. These social effects could be further complicated by the likely local climate and ecosystem changes as shown by our Earth-system model simulations. Based on this combined analysis, we conclude that spatial tensions in the current climate change mitigation measures challenge the assumption of global common goods and the reach of global justices. We urge interdisciplinary research to combine their different expertise for developing integrated conceptual and methodological models, for better understanding the intersected effects of renewable energy projects on drylands, and for advising fair and just climate mitigation policy and measures.