ABSTRACT
Italy is very densely populated country and has a strict legislation concerning nature conservation and environment protection: it is therefore highly probable that the most suitable sites either be subject to land use or environmental constraints or in any case, present competition for land use (for energy production or for other purposes).
This means that even if the installation of wind plants generally does not imply significant interactions, these must be nevertheless carefully considered.
Enel’s programs include two demonstration plants totalling 20 MW capacity, based on medium size (200-400 kW) italian generators sited respectively at Monte Arci, a coastal environment and at Collarmele, in an Apennines environment (1 000 m a.s.l.)
For the 11 MW wind farm at Monte Arci (Sardinia), the first planned large installation in Italy, extensive environmental studies were conducted. All the main interactions were considered: land planning in the area, land use and human activities, birdlife, flora, fauna, ecosystems, landscape, noise and electromagnetic interference. For each aspect a specific study was carried out, which includes the description of the environmental situation and an analysis of the effects of the project.
The results are both site-dependent and of a more general value.
The knowledges gained from Monte Arci studies have been applied to the 9 MW wind farm of Collarmele (Abruzzo) where the environmental analysis has been focused on the most significant potential impacts: noise and landscape.
The results of the environmental analysis have been used to optimise the wind farm lay-out.
