AbstractThe focus on expanding the sector coupling and binding the electricity system and end-user sectors like the transport and industry bring attention to environmental trade-offs. Otherwise, unintended environmental impacts could potentially impede the transformation process. Given that, this paper aims to identify and discuss environmental burdens that should require government attention. For that, the approach of coupling Life Cycle Assessment with the electricity market model (ELTRAMOD) is presented. Results show that the large impact on land use occupation as a regional issue requires attention due to diversified permitting mechanisms and eligibility criteria for solar fields among European member states. Metal and ozone depletion bring the challenge that transformation processes need attention on global limits related to finite resources and fugitive losses of anthropogenic substances.
Unintended Environmental Impacts at Local and Global Scale—Trade-Offs of a Low-Carbon Electricity System
