CONSIDERATIONS FOR ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT OF ELECTRICITY GENERATION AT A CENTRAL STATION

Abstract

This paper applies the ACV as an assessment tool to quantify the environmental impacts at Manauara Thermoelectric Power Plant in Manaus, Brasil. Through this paper, we can identify the steps, resources and supplies that have the greatest impact during the life cycle of electricity generation, contributing with measures of cleaner production in companies with similar power generation.
The goal of this study is the identification and quantification of primary data for environmental impacts assessment associated with electricity generation by internal combustion engines, considering a scenario that responds to use of lubricating oil, oily water treatment, and collection and transportation of sludge. The study of additives and contaminants from lubricating oil is included; having into account that it is a complex task for life cycle inventory considering limitations to get data. With the implementation of the program SimaPro, we obtained that the greatest impact is in the lubricating oil use in transport and on respiration of inorganic products and the use of fossil fuels. Most environmental impacts are concentrated in the use of lubricating oil and transportation.