A modeling approach to quantify the socioeconomic and environmental impacts of renewable energy installations. Case studies for wind energy and biogas reactor

In this study we will develop a model permitting to evaluate the impact of renewable energy installation on environmental, social and economic levels. We will apply the structural theory of thermo economic and we will use the thermodynamic process of cost formation. With the set of equations presented we can give a rational cost assessment of the impact of every component of the renewable energy installation. Then we can evaluate various design alternatives or operational decisions and profitability maximization. Also we can detect inefficiencies and calculate their economic effects in operating the renewable energy installation. A first application of the model to Tunisian wind farms and to a biogas digester designed to produce energy from the sludge issued from a yeast industry installed in Tunisia was done. Results are well satisfying.

I. Introduction

The valorization of the renewable energy resources (solar, wind, biomass, biogas, hydraulic, wave …) is a tendency, orientation and policy of many countries at international level. Designers and specialists in research development of renewable energy technologies are concentrating efforts in ameliorating the efficiency of installation and minimizing their impacts overall production process of a renewable energy system and during its lifetime (manufacturing and construction of all components, transport, foundation, installation, operating and maintenance). In our work here we will develop a modeling approach permitting to quantify the impact of any renewable energy installation from the construction tell the end usage by giving a cost accounting significance for each impact signaled. The cost calculation method of the model is based on the rules of mathematical derivation applied to a set of characteristic equations that determine the thermoeconomic model. In this way, the thermodynamic process of cost formation as more physical and realistic information is contained in the characteristic equations, more physical significance will be contained in the costs obtained. A first application of the model was done for wind firms in Tunisia with a global capacity of about 242,6 MW and for a biogas digester producing energy from yeast industry waste water with an average trend of about 123,27.10⁶ kj/day.