Wind power is an emerging renewable energy widely developed in many countries. Although several analyses have been conducted on the environmental impact of renewable energies, only a few life cycle assessment studies are available for wind plants. Consequently, RESCOLL and Valorem developed a life cycle analysis model to evaluate, from a life cycle perspective, the potential environmental impacts associated with a French onshore wind plant comprised of five 3.0-MW wind turbines.
The life cycle assessment (LCA) was based on data related to a French test wind plant. All stages of the life cycle (study, wind plant parts production, transportation, construction, wind plant operation including maintenance, disassembly and end-of-life treatment of the turbines) were analysed and sensitivity tests were carried out.
To download the article : JEC Juin 2014
From : JEC Magazine June 2014