Environmental impacts of electricity generation at global, regional and national scales in 1980-2011: What can we learn for future energy planning?

Laurent, Alexis; Espinosa, Nieves

Publication:
Environmental impacts of electricity generation at global, regional and national scales in 1980-2011: What can we learn for future energy planning?

dc.contributor.author	Laurent, Alexis
dc.contributor.author	Espinosa, Nieves
dc.contributor.department	Física
dc.date.accessioned	2024-02-08T11:59:38Z
dc.date.available	2024-02-08T11:59:38Z
dc.description.abstract	The generation of electricity has been known to cause important damages to ecosystems and human health. The recognition of the global challenges posed by climate change and energy security has guided several countries to change their electricity policies over the past decades. However, have such changes entailed reduced or increased environmental impacts? Are there any identifiable patterns that could serve for steering future energy planning? To address these questions, we applied life cycle assessment to quantify a whole spectrum of environmental impacts caused by electricity generation in 199 countries for the period 1980– 2011, with national differentiation of energy sources and, wherever possible, technology efficiencies. The results show that (i) environmental impact burden-shifting has occurred in the past for several countries as a result of national policies, (ii) all environmental impacts have globally increased since 1980 but with faster increase rates over the last decade, and (iii) important variations exist in the impact trends across countries and across impact categories. Our findings therefore demonstrate the need for integrating quantitative assessments of all relevant environmental impacts associated with foreseen energy systems when identifying the most sustainable energy pathways. We provide recommendations on the use of life cycle assessment for such purposes with a strong focus on application at the country level so that it can directly support national energy policy-making.	en
dc.format	application/pdf	es
dc.format.extent	13
dc.identifier.citation	Journal Energy & Environmental Science, Volume8 , 689–701
dc.identifier.doi	https://doi.org/ 10.1039/C4EE03832K
dc.identifier.issn	Print: 1754-5692
dc.identifier.issn	Electronic: 1754-5706
dc.identifier.uri	http://hdl.handle.net/10201/138970
dc.language	eng	es
dc.publisher	Royal Society of Chemistry
dc.relation	Sin financiacion externa a la universidad	es
dc.rights.accessRights	info:eu-repo/semantics/restrictedAccess
dc.title	Environmental impacts of electricity generation at global, regional and national scales in 1980-2011: What can we learn for future energy planning?	es
dc.type	info:eu-repo/semantics/article	es
dspace.entity.type	Publication	es