The Financial and Environmental Consequences of Renewable Energy Exclusion Zones

Abstract As countries decarbonise, the competition for land between energy generation, nature conservation and food production will likely increase. To counter this, modelling, sometimes policies, use exclusion zones to restrict deployment from deemed as important society. This paper applies spatially-explicit ADVENT-NEV model Great Britain determine cost imposed on system when either environmental or are applied. Results show that impose a of up £0.63 billion (B), £19.17 B £1.33 solar, wind, bioenergy pathways. These costs give an indication value being placed protecting these areas land. When multiple exclusions bioenergy, high pathway is infeasible indicating more flexible approach may be needed meet net zero ambitions. The also shows how ecosystem services changes applied, highlighting some increase non-market whereas others decrease them. In several cases shown social costs, opposite their intended use. For justifiable, unobserved values missing must large increases.