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Comparison of Environmental Impact Assessment Methods in the Assembly and Operation of Photovoltaic Power Plants: A Systematic Review in the Castilla—La Mancha Region

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  • Marichell Zarzavilla

    (Grupo de Investigación en Energética y Confort en Edificaciones Bioclimáticas (ECEB), Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, Universidad Tecnológica de Panama, Panama City 0801, Panama)

  • Andrea Quintero

    (Grupo de Investigación en Energética y Confort en Edificaciones Bioclimáticas (ECEB), Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, Universidad Tecnológica de Panama, Panama City 0801, Panama)

  • Manuela Andrés Abellán

    (Escuela Técnica Superior de Ingenieros Agrónomos de Albacete, Universidad Castilla-La Mancha, 02071 Albacete, Spain)

  • Francisco López Serrano

    (Escuela Técnica Superior de Ingenieros Agrónomos de Albacete, Universidad Castilla-La Mancha, 02071 Albacete, Spain)

  • Miguel Chen Austin

    (Grupo de Investigación en Energética y Confort en Edificaciones Bioclimáticas (ECEB), Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, Universidad Tecnológica de Panama, Panama City 0801, Panama
    Centro de Estudios Multidisciplinarios en Ciencias, Ingeniería y Tecnología (CEMCIT-AIP), Panama City 0801, Panama
    Sistema Nacional de Investigación (SNI), Panama City 0816, Panama)

  • Nathalia Tejedor-Flores

    (Grupo de Investigación en Energética y Confort en Edificaciones Bioclimáticas (ECEB), Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, Universidad Tecnológica de Panama, Panama City 0801, Panama
    Centro de Estudios Multidisciplinarios en Ciencias, Ingeniería y Tecnología (CEMCIT-AIP), Panama City 0801, Panama
    Sistema Nacional de Investigación (SNI), Panama City 0816, Panama
    Centro de Investigaciones Hidráulicas e Hidrotécnicas (CIHH), Universidad Tecnológica de Panamá, Panama City 0801, Panama)

Abstract

Solar energy is in high demand due to its environmental benefits and economic potential; however, concerns remain about the total impact it holds. In 2020, for Spain, Castilla-La Mancha was the second autonomous community with the highest photovoltaic energy production. Thus, a systematic review on 15 large-scale PV solar energy projects was carried out to assess the industry impacts, through environmental impact assessment (EIA), within the Autonomous Community of Castilla—La Mancha. An estimation of these impacts from a pre-operational approach is presented, based on primary energy needs and emissions discarded during its life cycle due to the manufacture, operation, and recycling of the photovoltaic modules. Based on both the life cycle assessment (LCA) and EIA, the approaches were compared with the results obtained. The obtained results suggest that determining the actual impacts of power plants in this region could provide justified information for the public administration and technicians in the measures for the installation and operation of PV plants and the future benefits of renewable solar technologies. Furthermore, the results indicate the possibility to recognize the relationship between the size of the plant and a high generation capacity, with a shorter time to pay for emissions from the manufacture and recycling of panels, suggesting that it is around 1.66–2.08 years for the Castilla-La Mancha region.

Suggested Citation

  • Marichell Zarzavilla & Andrea Quintero & Manuela Andrés Abellán & Francisco López Serrano & Miguel Chen Austin & Nathalia Tejedor-Flores, 2022. "Comparison of Environmental Impact Assessment Methods in the Assembly and Operation of Photovoltaic Power Plants: A Systematic Review in the Castilla—La Mancha Region," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(5), pages 1-25, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jeners:v:15:y:2022:i:5:p:1926-:d:765414
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Patryk Leda & Adam Idzikowski & Izabela Piasecka & Patrycja Bałdowska-Witos & Tomasz Cierlicki & Marcin Zawada, 2023. "Management of Environmental Life Cycle Impact Assessment of a Photovoltaic Power Plant on the Atmosphere, Water, and Soil Environment," Energies, MDPI, vol. 16(10), pages 1-26, May.
    2. Federico Minelli & Diana D’Agostino & Maria Migliozzi & Francesco Minichiello & Pierpaolo D’Agostino, 2023. "PhloVer: A Modular and Integrated Tracking Photovoltaic Shading Device for Sustainable Large Urban Spaces—Preliminary Study and Prototyping," Energies, MDPI, vol. 16(15), pages 1-35, August.

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