Slide 1

Environmental and Social Assessment of Renewable

Energy Projects

By Dr. Prasad Modak,Director, Ekonnect Knowledge Foundation

©2013 Ekonnect Knowledge Foundation

Do we need environmental and social assessment of RE projects?

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In EU, there will be 35,000 tonnes of PV waste by 2020

PV CYCLE INITIATIVE

What happens to the End of Life of PV Panels

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Wind farms and Birds

Barrier effect – collisions

Habitat separation – degradation

Noise

Change in Migratory path, Mating

EU directives, Natura 2000 sites (26000 in 27 countries), Siting Guidelines, SEA and EIA

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Important Bird Areas and work done by Bombay Natural History Society

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Biomass based Projects • Biomass cultivation (water, technology)

• Biomass collection (transportation)

• Competition (fodder, charcoal)

• Ecological change – biodiversity related impacts

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Indigenous PeoplesCommunity Engagement & Involvement

Training, Benefit Sharing Linking Corporate Social Responsibility

New Business Models, Micro-finance

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http://news.cnet.com/8301-11128_3-20006361-54.html

Land Requirements

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The report, Anticipated Indirect Land Use Change Associated with Expanded Use of Biofuels and Bioliquids in the EU – An Analysis of the National Renewable Energy Action Plans, concludes that between 4.1 and 6.9 million hectares of additional land will need to be cropped due to the increasing conventional biofuels demand, set out in national plans.

This would lead to additional annual emissions of between 27 and 56 million tonnes of CO2 between 2011 and 2020, associated with land conversion.

In the US, RE Projects coming up on Contaminated Lands, Waste Lands

Biofuels and Land Use Impacts

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Solar Tower

Recirculating 1900-2800

Hybrid 340 - 950

Air Cooled 340

Parabolic Trough

Recirculating 3000

Hybrid 380 – 1700

Air cooled 300

Solar Dish – mirror washing 76

Linear Fresnel

Recirculating 3800

Water Requirements Liters/MWHr

Coal 1520 -2850

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Livelihoods

Impact of Energy Access

Expanding Financing Envelopes for “downstream” investments – especially in off-grid situations e.g. finance not just wind mill but cold storage facility for the fishermen

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Policy, Regulations and Assessment Requirements

Project EIA (EA related Governance – e.g. in India MoEF EIA Notification)

Need for Sustainability Appraisal (Economic, Environmental and Social)

Siting Guidelines – e.g. addressing bird areas

Policies on protecting biodiversity, maintaining buffers, ensuring community interests

Addressing Waste Disposal End of Life

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Incorporating Environmental & Social Considerations in Financing

Questions / suggestions ?

Email prasad.modak@emcentre.com, prasad.modak@ekonnect.net

URL: http://www.ekonnect.net/

Thank You!

©2013 Ekonnect Knowledge Foundation