Eco-energy potential of exploded quarries and risks of its use

Abstract

Aim of paper to propose a semi-quantitative model for rapidly ranking disturbed industrial lands closed quarries as candidate sites for utility-scale solar plants or renewable «energy parks», explicitly accounting for engineering constraints and environmental–permitting risks. Method the study introduces a pre-feasibility multi-criteria screening framework and an integrated EEP score (0-100) computed from expert-rated components that reflect: solar conditions and terrain shading, geotechnical suitability, grid-connection feasibility, environmental restrictions and permitting effort, and logistics and site-related capital costs. Input evidence is derived from open-access sources and translated into risk-adjusted indicators relevant to eco-engineering decision-making. Findings – the framework was tested on two quarry sites in Ivano-Frankivsk region. The Dubivtsi site achieved EEP≈59 (moderate attractiveness) while a stricter «stop-factor» formulation yielded EEPgeo≈45, indicating barriers requiring mitigation. The Yamnitsa site demonstrated higher feasibility with EEP≈68 and EEPgeo≈46, primarily due to improved geotechnical conditions and less risky grid integration. Theoretical novelty – the paper operationalises the notion of «ecoenergy» renewable potential on degraded land by combining resource availability with infrastructure readiness and risk exposure within a single, transparent scoring construct. Practical implications – the approach supports a 1-2 week desktop screening to prioritise sites, pinpoint dominant constraints (typically grid and geotechnics), and justify targeted field investigations and EIA scoping before full feasibility studies. Originality – the proposed EEP scale and the complementary geometric («hard») aggregation enhance repeatability and penalise critical blockers, improving early-stage comparability of quarry sites. Future research should calibrate weights against realised projects, embed hydrological and slope-stability submodels.