Impacts Environmental

Overview

All energy sources (fossil fuels as well as renewable energies) have some effect on our environment. Even though renewables are considered environmentally preferable to conventional sources (and, when replacing fossil fuels, have significant potential to reduce greenhouse gas emissions) it is still important to understand the impacts linked to the prodution of power from renewable sources.

The type and intensity of environmental impacts always varies depending on the specific technology used, the geographic location, and a number of other factors.

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Technologies

Solar

The sun provides a tremendous resource for generating clean and sustainable electricity without toxic pollution or global warming emissions. The potential environmental impacts associated with solar power can vary greatly depending on the technology:

• Environmental Impacts of Solar Power (UCSUSA.com)
• Environmental Impacts of Concentrating Solar Power (CSP)
• Recycling of Solar Products

Hydro

Although hydropower has no air quality impacts, construction and operation of hydropower dams can significantly affect natural river systems as well as fish and wildlife populations. Assessment of the environmental impacts of a specific hydropower facility requires case-by-case review.

• Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA)
• Environmental Protection Agency: Electricity from Hydropower - Environmental Impacts
• Foundation for Water and Energy Education - How a Hydro Project Affects a River
• Environment Assessment Related to Micro-hydro Power (MHP) Projects Ethiopia

Bioenergy

Biofuels:

In the view of the current food versus fuel debate, smallholder farmers have to make decisions on the use of their resources.

• Competing Uses: 'Food' versus 'Fuel' Debate

Biogas:

In many regions of the world, the consumption of firewood exceeds natural regrowth. This leads to deforestation and degradation of forests and woodlands with adverse effects on climate, water budget, soil fertility and natural products supply. Biogas is one of the solutions to this problem, because it substitutes firewood as a fuel and helps sustaining favourable soil conditions. It is also an important contribution to the mitigation of the global greenhouse effect.

• Environmental Frame Conditions of Biogas Technology
• Carbon Markets for Biogas Digesters - Emission Reduction of Environmental Impacts
• Biogas Basics - The Benefit of Biogas Technology
• Environmental Frame Conditions of Biogas Technology

Solid Biomass:

• NGO briefing Sustain ability issues for solid biomass in electricity, heating and cooling

Wind

Although wind power plants have relatively little impact on the environment compared to fossil fuel power plants, concerns have been raised over the noise produced by the rotor blades, visual impacts, and deaths of birds and bats that fly into the rotors (avian/bat mortality).

• Wind Energy - Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA)
• WINDEIS: Wind Energy Development Environmental Concerns

Energy Use

Improved Cooking

• Facts on Cooking Energy - Cooking Energy and the Millennium Development Goals
• Simplified Result Chain of Most Improved Cookstoves Interventions

Productive Use

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Mobility

• The Environment and Safety: Adverse Effects of Transport Infrastructure

Cross Cutting Issues

Grid

• Environmental Aspects of Grid Interconnection

Agriculture

• Microenergy-Systems and Agriculture
  

Battery Charging Systems

• Environmental Impact Assessment Battery Charging Systems (BCS)

Further Information

• Impact Portal on energypedia