The environmental

impacts of renewable
energy

Prof. Luigi Toro

Sapienza University of Rome
Dept. Of Chemistry
Zero–impact illusion

 Every type of energy utilization for

electricity generation has
environmental consequences,
including renewable energies
 manufacture processes
 aesthetic impact
 use of large areas of land
 impact on the eco-system
 Issues to be addressed in
the EU-MENA energy project
 Manufacture processes - 1
 Due to the large size of the systems involved, manufacture, installation, maintenance and ultimately disposition of all the system components are to be optimised and subjected to an LCA analysis.
 Each of these processes require some energy input, which might significantly reduce the overall energy balance.

 ACTIONS REQUIRED:
 a) Development of rigorous process and activities
 integration
 b) Rigorous and quantitative LCA analysis
 Issues to be addressed in
the EU-MENA energy project
 Manufacture processes - 2 Should photovoltaic cells be considered, the hazardous materials contained in them (arsenic and cadmium) can pose a serious problem in areas subject to dust abrasion, such as deserts. Even silicon
dust might pose a health problem.

 ACTIONS REQUIRED:
 a) Study of the rates of removal of hazardous materials from atmospheric agents
 b) Development of reliable regional models for the atmospheric dispersion and dry and wet settling of particulates generated from solar modules
 Issues to be addressed in
the EU-MENA energy project
 Aesthetic impact -1
 The construction of wind turbines towers may reduce property values and natural amenities, damaging or preventing the development of tourist resort in both South European and North African coastlines .

 ACTION REQUIRED:
 a) Contingent analysis to identify the locations suitable for the construction of wind turbine towers

 Issues to be addressed in
the EU-MENA energy project
 Aesthetic impact -2
 The construction of overhead transmission lines and other facilities of a HVDC grid (pylons and transmission towers) in scenic areas (i.e. across the Alps) can run into the strong opposition of local communities.
 This may require the underground siting of additional energy infrastructure elements. (This is already part of the plan for the upgrading of the electricity grid in Piedmont)
 ACTIONS REQUIRED:
 a) Consider tunneling and micro tunneling, using the technology borrowed from oil field exploration
 b) Consider the simultaneous underground of additional facilities (pipelines, captured CO2 ducts, etc.) to reduce costs.
 Issues to be addressed in
the EU-MENA energy project
 Use of land
 While wind power does not pose any significant problem, solar energy does, unless on worthless soil (deserts).
 The use of energy crops sent prices soaring and created the 3F-conflict (Food - Feed - Fuel).

 ACTIONS REQUIRED:
 a) Use wastes, refuses and lignocellulosic products or energy crops harvested in off-years
 b) Optimise the production of electricity, fuels and chemicals in integrated biorefineries
 Issues to be addressed in
the EU-MENA energy project
 Impact on ecosystems
 The major impact reported for wind towers is bird deaths from electrocution or collisions with spinning rotors.
 Large extensions of concentrating solar systems might disturb migratory birds.

 ACTION REQUIRED:
 a) Identify areas which are not included in migratory paths
 Conclusions

 A quantitative analysis of the overall

environmental impact of the EU-MENA
energy project has not been carried out in
detail yet.
 A number of actions have been identified for
inclusion in a comprehensive environmental
feasibility study