Environmental impacts of solar energy systems: A review

Rabaia, Malek Kamal Hussien; Abdelkareem, Mohammad Ali; Sayed, Enas Taha; Elsaid, Khaled; Chae, Kyu-Jung; Wilberforce, Tabbi; Olabi, Abdul–Ghani

doi:10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.141989

Cited by 462 publications

(189 citation statements)

References 215 publications

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“…A lower SOM affects microbial activity and production of mucus resulting in a decrease of aggregates MWD and thus a soil more sensitive to erosion (Blavet et al , 2009;Le Bissonnais et al , 2018). The soil levelling and vegetation removal during SP construction may have increased surface runoff and soil erosion (Rabaia et al , 2021). In our study, the effect of SP construction was not strong enough to change these physical soil properties.…”

Section: Effects Of Solar Park Construction On Soil Qualitycontrasting

confidence: 53%

Effects of solar parks on soil quality, CO2 effluxes and vegetation under Mediterranean climate

Lambert

Bischoff

Cluchier³

et al. 2021

Preprint

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Solar energy is increasingly used to produce electricity in Europe, but the environmental impact of constructing and running solar parks (SP) is not yet well studied. Solar park construction requires partial vegetation removal and soil leveling. Additionally, solar panels may alter soil microclimate and functioning. In our study of three French Mediterranean solar parks, we analyzed 1) effects of solar park construction on soil quality by comparing solar park soils with those of semi-natural land cover types (pinewood and shrubland) and abandoned croplands (abandoned vineyards); 2) the effect of solar panels on soil microclimate, CO2 effluxes and vegetation. We measured 21 soil properties of physical, chemical, and microbiological soil quality in one solar park and its surroundings to calculate integrated indicators of soil quality. We surveyed soil temperature and moisture, CO2 effluxes and vegetation below and outside solar panels of three solar parks. Soil aggregate stability was reduced by SP construction resulting in a degradation of soil physical quality. Soil chemical quality and a general indicator of soil quality were lower in anthropogenic (SP and abandoned vineyards) than in semi-natural (pinewood and shrubland) land cover types. However, differences between abandoned vineyards representing the pre-construction land cover type and solar parks were not significant. Solar panels reduced the soil temperature by 10% and soil CO2 effluxes by 50% but did not affect early successional plant communities. Long-term monitoring is needed to evaluate the effects of solar panels on vegetation.

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Section: Effects Of Solar Park Construction On Soil Qualitycontrasting

confidence: 53%

Effects of solar parks on soil quality, CO2 effluxes and vegetation under Mediterranean climate

Lambert

Bischoff

Cluchier³

et al. 2021

Preprint

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“…According to the European Strategy Energy Technology (EU SET) plan, by 2050 at least 65% of electric energy should derive from renewable energy sources and, furthermore, CO 2 emissions related to the energy production should be reduced by 50%. From this perspective, a drastic reduction in the dependence from fossil fuels could be realized by exploiting all abundant renewable sources that nature reserves: sun [1][2][3], wind [4,5], water [6,7], and geothermic [8,9]. These technologies have recently experienced large-scale commercialization, and generate electric energy by directly converting the energy of renewable sources.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Anionic Exchange Membrane for Photo-Electrolysis Application

et al. 2020

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Tandem photo-electro-chemical cells composed of an assembly of a solid electrolyte membrane and two low-cost photoelectrodes have been developed to generate green solar fuel from water-splitting. In this regard, an anion-exchange polymer–electrolyte membrane, able to separate H2 evolved at the photocathode from O2 at the photoanode, was investigated in terms of ionic conductivity, corrosion mitigation, and light transmission for a tandem photo-electro-chemical configuration. The designed anionic membranes, based on polysulfone polymer, contained positive fixed functionalities on the side chains of the polymeric network, particularly quaternary ammonium species counterbalanced by hydroxide anions. The membrane was first investigated in alkaline solution, KOH or NaOH at different concentrations, to optimize the ion-exchange process. Exchange in 1M KOH solution provided high conversion of the groups, a high ion-exchange capacity (IEC) value of 1.59 meq/g and a hydroxide conductivity of 25 mS/cm at 60 °C for anionic membrane. Another important characteristic, verified for hydroxide membrane, was its transparency above 600 nm, thus making it a good candidate for tandem cell applications in which the illuminated photoanode absorbs the highest-energy photons (< 600 nm), and photocathode absorbs the lowest-energy photons. Furthermore, hydrogen crossover tests showed a permeation of H2 through the membrane of less than 0.1%. Finally, low-cost tandem photo-electro-chemical cells, formed by titanium-doped hematite and ionomer at the photoanode and cupric oxide and ionomer at the photocathode, separated by a solid membrane in OH form, were assembled to optimize the influence of ionomer-loading dispersion. Maximum enthalpy (1.7%), throughput (2.9%), and Gibbs energy efficiencies (1.3%) were reached by using n-propanol/ethanol (1:1 wt.) as solvent for ionomer dispersion and with a 25 µL cm−2 ionomer loading for both the photoanode and the photocathode.

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“…Some of this benefits include reduction in the need for centrally-operated large power plants, increase in the usage of renewable energy sources, ease of the burden on energy transmission and distribution lines, and reduction in both losses and maintenancebreakdown expenses (Zahedi, 2011). Efforts to increase these benefits also contribute to the protection of nature as well as a slow-down in the spate of global warming (Panwar et al, 2011;Rabaia et al, 2021).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

A Research Study to Increase Usage of PVs in Residential Areas

Kıray

2021

Front. Energy Res.

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Self-generation of energy by residential houses has been met with many obstacles. When PV Solar energy technology is considered, the barriers manifest in problems related to the location, slope, strength, and shade exposure of house roofs are the most common. Therefore, it is not possible to meet daily energy needs from PV panels placed on the existing roofs of many houses. Solar Tracking Systems keep PV panels perpendicular to the Sun throughout the day, providing a significant increase in their efficiency. But the application of these systems on the roofs or houses is not suitable for many reasons, especially in terms of aesthetic appearance. This article is aimed at effectively showing how the slope and direction inconsistencies in the existing roofs of houses in residential areas cause great losses in the performance of PVs; also a research and design study is presented to find a solution to the application of Sun tracking systems in residential areas without creating aesthetic appearance problem. As a solution, combining a dual axis Sun tracking system with an aesthetic looking Gazebo has been considered. A design study was carried out for the targeted system, and the dimensions of a movable platform/roof such a system should have in order to meet the electricity needs of a house from the Sun throughout the year was investigated. How much energy the PV panels can collect annually is determined by a simulation program called “PV performance tool”.

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Environmental impacts of solar energy systems: A review

Cited by 462 publications

References 215 publications

Effects of solar parks on soil quality, CO2 effluxes and vegetation under Mediterranean climate

Effects of solar parks on soil quality, CO2 effluxes and vegetation under Mediterranean climate

Anionic Exchange Membrane for Photo-Electrolysis Application

A Research Study to Increase Usage of PVs in Residential Areas

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