5:15 PM - 6:45 PM
[HCG19-P03] Impact of Wind Power Facilities on Natural Park Landscapes
Keywords:Scenic evaluation, Photomontage method, Global warming, Ecosystem conservation
[Background]
As a measure against global warming, the shift to renewable energy is proceeding on a global scale. Wind power generation, one type of renewable energy, is recognized as a particularly effective means of power generation due to its efficiency and low environmental impact, and the government's strategic energy plan also sets targets for its introduction. As a result, the amount of wind power generation is increasing, and many wind turbines have already been constructed in and around natural parks. On the other hand, it has been pointed out that there are various risks associated with wind turbines, such as noise, impact on the landscape, and ecosystems. Natural parks are intended to protect natural landscapes and the natural environment and to ensure their proper use, but it is not clear how these have been affected by the construction of wind turbines. In particular, it has been pointed out that the beauty of the landscape is diminished by the construction of wind turbines, and it is believed that the construction of wind turbines has a significant impact on natural parks from the perspective of the landscape. As described above, it is expected that a trade-off exists between the expansion of wind turbine construction in the transition to renewable energy sources, which is an ongoing effort to combat global warming, and the protection of the natural environment and landscape, which is the purpose of establishing natural parks. Therefore, this study was conducted to understand the current status of the trade-off and to clarify how changes in the landscape caused by the construction of wind turbines inside and around the natural park affect the scenic evaluation and the impression of the natural park.
[Methods]
In this study, we conducted a survey on the current distribution of wind farms and the scenic evaluation of wind turbines. In the distribution survey, we analyzed the distribution of wind farms in relation to their distance from the natural park by Arc GIS Pro. In the wind turbine scenic evaluation survey, we conducted an impression evaluation experiment using photographs of wind turbines with and without wind turbines, and compared the average values to understand the evaluation characteristics.
[Result and Discussion]
In the distribution survey, the total output of wind turbines in the surrounding area within 5 km from the park was large in relation to the area where wind farms could be installed. On the other hand, in areas more than 5 km away from the natural park, the total power output was small in relation to the area of the area where the wind farm could be installed. This indicated that wind farms were unevenly distributed in the area around the natural park. The wind turbine scenic evaluation survey showed that the construction of wind turbines decreased scores in many scenic evaluation scales. Scores also decreased for the scales of ecosystem preservation and willingness to visit, suggesting that the objectives of natural parks, such as "protection of the landscape," "preservation of the natural environment," and "promotion of use," are threatened by the construction of wind turbines. On the other hand, the score for contribution to global warming countermeasures increased, indicating a trade-off between ecosystem conservation and global warming countermeasures. The above suggests that the regulation of actions should be strengthened, and the regulated area should be expanded to prevent the expansion of construction inside and around natural parks.
As a measure against global warming, the shift to renewable energy is proceeding on a global scale. Wind power generation, one type of renewable energy, is recognized as a particularly effective means of power generation due to its efficiency and low environmental impact, and the government's strategic energy plan also sets targets for its introduction. As a result, the amount of wind power generation is increasing, and many wind turbines have already been constructed in and around natural parks. On the other hand, it has been pointed out that there are various risks associated with wind turbines, such as noise, impact on the landscape, and ecosystems. Natural parks are intended to protect natural landscapes and the natural environment and to ensure their proper use, but it is not clear how these have been affected by the construction of wind turbines. In particular, it has been pointed out that the beauty of the landscape is diminished by the construction of wind turbines, and it is believed that the construction of wind turbines has a significant impact on natural parks from the perspective of the landscape. As described above, it is expected that a trade-off exists between the expansion of wind turbine construction in the transition to renewable energy sources, which is an ongoing effort to combat global warming, and the protection of the natural environment and landscape, which is the purpose of establishing natural parks. Therefore, this study was conducted to understand the current status of the trade-off and to clarify how changes in the landscape caused by the construction of wind turbines inside and around the natural park affect the scenic evaluation and the impression of the natural park.
[Methods]
In this study, we conducted a survey on the current distribution of wind farms and the scenic evaluation of wind turbines. In the distribution survey, we analyzed the distribution of wind farms in relation to their distance from the natural park by Arc GIS Pro. In the wind turbine scenic evaluation survey, we conducted an impression evaluation experiment using photographs of wind turbines with and without wind turbines, and compared the average values to understand the evaluation characteristics.
[Result and Discussion]
In the distribution survey, the total output of wind turbines in the surrounding area within 5 km from the park was large in relation to the area where wind farms could be installed. On the other hand, in areas more than 5 km away from the natural park, the total power output was small in relation to the area of the area where the wind farm could be installed. This indicated that wind farms were unevenly distributed in the area around the natural park. The wind turbine scenic evaluation survey showed that the construction of wind turbines decreased scores in many scenic evaluation scales. Scores also decreased for the scales of ecosystem preservation and willingness to visit, suggesting that the objectives of natural parks, such as "protection of the landscape," "preservation of the natural environment," and "promotion of use," are threatened by the construction of wind turbines. On the other hand, the score for contribution to global warming countermeasures increased, indicating a trade-off between ecosystem conservation and global warming countermeasures. The above suggests that the regulation of actions should be strengthened, and the regulated area should be expanded to prevent the expansion of construction inside and around natural parks.