Transitioning to renewable sources of energy is inevitable due to finite fossil resource, but such transitions has to be environmentally sustainable in the long term. However, from a lifecycle assessment (LCA) perspective, different energy systems impact the environment in different ways. Therefore, LCA of different electricity generation systems in Singapore, Malaysia and Brunei (SMB) was conducted to assess their possible environmental impacts. These three countries were assessed together as a region in the transition from a fossil-based electricity system to a renewable based system in 2050. The LCA of the various electricity sources was done for the intervening years from 2015 to 2050, according to the electricity generation profiles from the Lappeenranta University of Technology (LUT) Energy System Transition model. The results show that from 2015 to 2050, several environmental impacts can be expected from transitioning to high shares of renewables. Human toxicity potential and acidification are expected to increase, while global warming potential, fossil energy used and eutrophication could be decreased. Most of the negative impacts are embedded in solar photovoltaic systems based on the current manufacturing environment In addition, environmental impacts are not homogeneous across categories and geography. Most of the impacts are expected to occur in Malaysia, while impacts in Brunei and Singapore are expected to be low to none. (C) 2018 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
1.Natl Univ Singapore, NUS Environm Res Inst NERI, Energy & Environm Sustainabil Solut Megac E2S2, Singapore, Singapore 2.Natl Univ Singapore, Dept Ind Syst Engn & Management, Singapore, Singapore 3.Wuhan Univ Sci & Technol, Sch Urban Construct, Wuhan, Hubei, Peoples R China
Recommended Citation:
Quek, T. Y. Augustine,Ee, W. L. Alvin,Chen, Wei,et al. Environmental impacts of transitioning to renewable electricity for Singapore and the surrounding region: A life cycle assessment[J]. JOURNAL OF CLEANER PRODUCTION,2019-01-01,214:1-11