Impacts Generated by a Large-Scale Solar Photovoltaic Power Plant Can Lead to Conflicts between Sustainable Development Goals: A Review of Key Lessons Learned in Madagascar

Carole Brunet, Oumarou Savadogo, Pierre Baptiste, Michel A Bouchard, Jean Chrysostome Rakotoary, Andry Ravoninjatovo, Céline Cholez, Corinne Gendron and Nicolas Merveille
Additional contact information
Carole Brunet: Department of Mathematics and Industrial Engineering, Polytechnique Montreal, Montreal, QC H3C 3A7, Canada
Oumarou Savadogo: Department of Chemical Engineering, Polytechnique Montreal, Montreal, QC H3C 3A7, Canada
Pierre Baptiste: Department of Mathematics and Industrial Engineering, Polytechnique Montreal, Montreal, QC H3C 3A7, Canada
Michel A Bouchard: Civil, Geological and Mining Engineering Department, Polytechnique Montreal, Montreal, QC H3C 3A7, Canada
Jean Chrysostome Rakotoary: National Office for the Environment, Antananarivo 101, Madagascar
Andry Ravoninjatovo: National Office for the Environment, Antananarivo 101, Madagascar
Céline Cholez: Grenoble INP Institute of engineering, Grenoble Alpes University, 38031 Grenoble, France
Corinne Gendron: Strategy and social and environmental responsibility Department, University of Quebec in Montreal (UQAM), Montreal, QC H3C 3P8, Canada
Nicolas Merveille: Strategy and social and environmental responsibility Department, University of Quebec in Montreal (UQAM), Montreal, QC H3C 3P8, Canada

Sustainability, 2020, vol. 12, issue 18, 1-33

Abstract: In a context of energy transition towards renewable energies, this case study situated in Madagascar allows us to verify the extent to which an on-grid photovoltaic solar power plant represents a vector for sustainable development. The article proposes a model for assessing sustainability from a qualitative multi-criteria perspective. This analysis fits into the theoretical question of the science of sustainability by challenging the theory of endogenous development. The innovation of this research is based on the use of a qualitative approach to a technological issue filling a literature gap in the major issue of the effective sustainability of renewable energy (particularly in the context of an island state). The study emphasizes that the plant can only represent a vector for sustainable development with the collaboration of the concerned parties, which implies considering the electrification needs at the local level. The article confirms that the impacts generated by the power plant can lead to conflicts between different sustainable development goals. Theoretically, the study emphasizes that the evaluation of the sustainability of solar power plants should follow a process that: (i) uses a preferably qualitative methodology likely to understand the local conditions of the communities in which they are established; (ii) identifies dissociated indicators while taking into account the context; and (iii) analyzes the possible negative interactions between the impact areas by highlighting the key areas linked to land management and the well-being of women within a poverty reduction approach.

Keywords: renewable energy; solar; photovoltaic; sustainability; multi-criteria analysis; sustainable development goals; endogenous development; poverty; developing country (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (6)

Downloads: (external link)
https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/12/18/7471/pdf (application/pdf)
https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/12/18/7471/ (text/html)

Related works:
This item may be available elsewhere in EconPapers: Search for items with the same title.

Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text

Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:12:y:2020:i:18:p:7471-:d:411898

Access Statistics for this article

Sustainability is currently edited by Ms. Alexandra Wu

More articles in Sustainability from MDPI
Bibliographic data for series maintained by MDPI Indexing Manager ().