Environmental and socio-economic impact comparison of solar and hydroelectric systems: A case of a real investment

Abstract Most of the energy produced from renewable energy sources in the world is generated from hydraulic and solar energy sources. This study compares the socio-economic and environmental impacts of hydroelectric power plants, which have the largest share in total energy production, and solar power plants, which have recently increased their installed capacity rapidly and will soon have the largest energy potential in the world. For this purpose, Cardakli Hydroelectric Power Plant (HEPP) and Ekinozu Solar Power Plant (SPP) projects, which have same installed capacity in Turkey, were analyzed in terms of (i) initial investment cost, (ii) energy production values, (iii) operating costs and (iv) socioeconomic and environmental impacts. As a result, it is concluded that solar power plants in Turkey are more advantageous than hydroelectric power plants due to ease of construction and operation, low environmental impacts, more secure energy income, low initial investment costs, high electricity sales prices, and short payback period.