Environmental Impacts of Electricity Production

1995 ◽  
pp. 51-65
Author(s):  
Richard Wilson
Keyword(s):  
Environmental Impacts ◽  
Electricity Production

scholarly journals Environmental impacts of a reduced flow stretch on hydropower plants

2019 ◽  
Vol 79 (3) ◽  
pp. 470-487 ◽  
Author(s):  
F. V. A. Souza-Cruz-Buenaga ◽  
S. A. Espig ◽  
T. L. C. Castro ◽  
M. A. Santos
Keyword(s):  
Environmental Impacts ◽  
Water Use ◽  
Electricity Production ◽  
Mountain Range ◽  
Hydroelectric Power ◽  
River Flows ◽  
Biological Communities ◽  
The Times ◽  
Ecological Flows ◽  
Reduced Flow

Abstract In Brazil, given its privileged hydrology, the unexplored economic use of water resources has many dimensions, such as hydroelectric power. This energy will face increasingly rigorous social and environmental impact assessments (40% of potential is located in the Amazon region). Hydropower inventory studies conducted over decades, with solutions such as ecological river flows, that flood smaller areas and reduce natural river flows modifications, are being reviewed. The river extension from dam to the point where the waters are returned after the powerhouse is known as the Reduced Flow Stretch (RFS). Even mega-projects, such as the 11.3 GW Belo Monte dam, are designed with deviating flows reaching an astounding 13,000 m 3/s (excavated material higher than Panama Canal). RFS requires to be carefully studied to achieve appropriate ecological flows, since RFS flows increased reduces the plant's electricity production to the same installed capacity. Balancing RFS requirements and hydroelectric power remains a challenge and, clearly, there is no consensus. Here, we performed an analysis of the main environmental impacts caused by RFS requirements, considering the multiple water use specific for each dam site. The natural variability of river flows provides diversity of habitats and maintains the richness and complexity of biological communities. Therefore, the present study has great ecological, social and economic relevance, since proper evaluation of the RFS requirements avoids potential destabilization of biological communities and even loss of biodiversity. This type of arrangement was more common in dams located in headwaters of rivers, as in the slopes of the Andes mountain range, and in regions like the Alps. There are many hydroelectric plants in South America and Europe that have this type of arrangement of engineering works. But the times are different and the environmental impacts have to be better evaluated. A final aspect also involves the maintenance of ecological flows downstream of dams. Regularization reservoirs need to keep downstream, even if they do not have a TVR, adequate flows that represent minimally the seasonality of the river, with floods and droughts, that propitiate the maintenance of the ecosystems downstream. There are cases such as the Sobradinho Plant in the São Francisco River that has been much questioned in this regard, especially when the climate is changing in the basin, with long periods of drought, and with increasing water use. So this is a very important and increasingly current issue.

Life Cycle Assessment of Photovoltaics; Update of the ecoinvent Database

2007 ◽  
Vol 1041 ◽  
Author(s):  
Niels Jungbluth ◽  
Roberto Dones ◽  
Rolf Frischknecht
Keyword(s):  
Life Cycle ◽  
Environmental Impacts ◽  
Electricity Production ◽  
Research Projects ◽  
Industry Association ◽  
Ecoinvent Database ◽  
Federal Authority ◽  
Different Types ◽  
Production Stages ◽  
Background Database

AbstractRecently, the data for photovoltaics in the ecoinvent database have been updated on behalf of the European Photovoltaics Industry Association and the Swiss Federal Authority for Energy. Data have been collected in this project directly from manufacturers and were provided by other research projects. LCA studies from different authors are considered for the assessment. The information is used to elaborate a life cycle inventory from cradle to grave for the PV electricity production in 3kWp plants in the year 2005.The inventories cover mono- and polycrystalline cells, amorphous and ribbon-silicon, CdTe and CIS thin film cells. Environmental impacts due to the infrastructure for all production stages and the effluents from wafer production are also considered. The ecoinvent database is used as background database.Results from the LCA study are presented, comparing different types of cells and analysing also the electricity production in a range of different countries. It is also discussed how the environmental impacts of photovoltaics have been reduced over the last 15 years, using the CED indicator. The consistent and coherent LCI datasets for basic processes make it easier to perform LCA studies, and increase the credibility and acceptance of the life cycle results. The content of the PV LCI datasets is made publicly available via the website www.ecoinvent.org for ecoinvent members.

Technologies that contribute to reducing environmental impacts of electrical production

2006 ◽  
Vol 17 (4) ◽  
pp. 19-24
Author(s):  
M T E Kahn ◽  
W Fritz
Keyword(s):  
Research And Development ◽  
Environmental Impacts ◽  
Distributed Generation ◽  
Alternative Energy ◽  
Power Plants ◽  
Electricity Production ◽  
Positive Contribution ◽  
Energy Applications ◽  
Energy Technologies ◽  
Active Research

The World Summit on Sustainable Development (WSSD) was attended by approximately 21 000 international delegates in Johannesburg, South Africa in 2002. The aim was to institute ecologically sound environmental management. Research has shown that fossil fuel or coal fired power plants are the major cause of air pollution in electricity generation. This paper seeks to show technologies that can contribute to reducing the environmental impacts of electricity production, via emission control systems, industry energy policy, renewable energy technologies etc. and the promotion of active research and development in alternative energy applications in Africa. Innovative energy technology research and development and applications such as smaller scale distributed generation and solid state lighting (SSL) are seen as capable of adding a positive contribution in this area.

scholarly journals Reducing the Environmental Impacts of Electric Vehicles and Electricity Supply: How Hourly Defined Life Cycle Assessment and Smart Charging Can Contribute

2019 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
pp. 13 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael Baumann ◽  
Michael Salzinger ◽  
Simon Remppis ◽  
Benjamin Schober ◽  
Michael Held ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Life Cycle Assessment ◽  
Life Cycle ◽  
Environmental Impacts ◽  
Unit Commitment ◽  
Electricity Production ◽  
Electricity Supply ◽  
Production And Consumption ◽  
Smart Charging ◽  
Electricity Mix ◽  
Renewable Electricity Generation

Increasing shares of renewable electricity generation lead to fundamental changes of the electricity supply, resulting in varying supply mixes and environmental impacts. The hourly-defined life cycle assessment (HD-LCA) approach aims to capture the environmental profile of electricity supply in an hourly resolution. It offers a flexible connectivity to unit commitment models or real-time electricity production and consumption data from electricity suppliers. When charging EVs, the environmental impact of the charging session depends on the electricity mix during the session. This paper introduces the combination of HD-LCA and smart charging and illustrates its impacts on the life cycle greenhouse gas emissions of BEVs.

scholarly journals Environmental life cycle assessment for potable water production – a case study of seawater desalination and mine-water reclamation in South Africa

Water SA ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 45 (4 October) ◽  
Author(s):  
T Goga ◽  
E Friedrich ◽  
CA Buckley
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Energy Consumption ◽  
Environmental Impacts ◽  
Mine Water ◽  
Potable Water ◽  
High Energy ◽  
Environmental Benefits ◽  
Electricity Production ◽  
Water Reclamation ◽  
Desalination Plant

Water is becoming a scarce resource in many parts of South Africa and, therefore, numerous plans are being put in place to satisfy the increased urban demand for this resource. Two of the methods currently considered are desalination of seawater and reuse of mine-affected water based on the use of reverse osmosis (RO) membranes.  Due to their high energy consumption and associated environmental impacts, these methods have been under scrutinity and, therefore, an LCA was undertaken for both methods. To allow comparison between the two, the functional unit of 1 kL of potable water was specified. Design data were collected for both the construction and operation phases of the plants while SimaPro was used as the LCA analysis software with the application of the ReCiPe Midpoint method.  The results indicate that the operation phase carried a greater environmental burden than the materials required for the infrastructure. In particular, electricity production and consumption is responsible for the majority of environmental impacts that stem from the respective plants. The total energy consumption of the proposed desalination plant is 3.69 kWh/kL and 2.16 kWh/kL for the mine-water reclamation plant. This results in 4.17 kg CO2 eq/kL being emitted for the desalination plant and 2.44 kg CO2 eq/kL for the mine-affected plant. A further analysis indicated that replacing South African electricity with photovoltaic (solar) and wind power has the potential to bring significant environmental benefits. The integration of these renewable energy systems with desalination and membrane treatment of mine-affected water has been proven to reduce environmental burdens to levels associated with conventional water technologies powered by the current electricity mix.  

Energy Consumption and Emission of Pollutants from Electric Bicycles

2014 ◽  
Vol 505-506 ◽  
pp. 327-333 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tie Zhu Li ◽  
Fang Qian ◽  
Chen Su
Keyword(s):  
Life Cycle Assessment ◽  
Life Cycle ◽  
Energy Consumption ◽  
Environmental Impacts ◽  
Short Distance ◽  
Electricity Production ◽  
Use Stage ◽  
Electric Bicycles

Electric bicycles (EBs) are now becoming the main vehicles for short-distance trips because of their speediness, flexibility and convenience in many cities in China. However, these benefits come at a cost. This study analyzed the energy consumption and emission of pollutants at every stage of the EB life cycle (production, use, maintenance and recycling) by using Life Cycle Assessment (LCA). The environmental impacts and the energy consumption in production and use were quantified and compared with other competing modes of transport, such as bicycles, buses, motorcycles and cars. The results show that the energy consumption and emissions of pollutants by EBs occur mainly in the use stage, and specifically in the process of electricity production and battery change. The emissions of pollutants by EBs per person per kilometer are several times smaller than the values for motorcycles and cars, more or less equivalent to buses and higher than bicycles.

Life Cycle Environmental Impacts of Electricity Production by Solarthermal Power Plants in Spain

2008 ◽  
Vol 130 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Yolanda Lechón ◽  
Cristina de la Rúa ◽  
Rosa Sáez
Keyword(s):  
Life Cycle ◽  
Environmental Impacts ◽  
Power Plants ◽  
Energy Use ◽  
Thermal Power ◽  
Solar Thermal ◽  
Electricity Production ◽  
Thermal Plant ◽  
Solar Thermal Power ◽  
Whole Life Cycle

The objectives of the analysis reported in this paper are to evaluate the environmental impacts of the electricity produced in a 17MW solar thermal plant with central tower technology and a 50MW solar thermal plant with parabolic trough technology, to identify the opportunities to improve the systems in order to reduce their environmental impacts, and to evaluate the environmental impact resulting from compliance with the solar thermal power objectives in Spain. The methodology chosen is the life cycle assessment (LCA), described in the international standard series ISO 14040-43. The functional unit has been defined as the production of 1kWh of electricity. Energy use needed to construct, operate, and dismantle the power plants is estimated. These results are used to calculate the “energy payback time” of these technologies. Results were around 1yr for both power plants. Environmental impacts analyzed include the global warming impacts along the whole life cycle of the power plants, which were around 200g∕kWh generated. Finally, the environmental impacts associated with the compliance of the solar thermal power objectives in Spain were computed. Those figures were then used to estimate the avoided environmental impacts including the potential CO2 emission savings that could be accomplished by these promotion policies. These savings amounted for 634kt of CO2 equiv./yr.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document