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Environmental impacts associated with manufacturing of solar and wind power alternative energy systems
Author(s) -
Santillan Javier,
Heaston Mark S.,
Woodward David S.,
Joshi Manish M.
Publication year - 2010
Publication title -
remediation journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.762
H-Index - 27
eISSN - 1520-6831
pISSN - 1051-5658
DOI - 10.1002/rem.20243
Subject(s) - sustainability , wind power , life cycle assessment , environmental impact assessment , ecological footprint , environmental science , carbon footprint , photovoltaic system , environmental remediation , environmental economics , engineering , production (economics) , greenhouse gas , ecology , macroeconomics , contamination , electrical engineering , economics , biology
The Air Force Center for Engineering and the Environment (AFCEE) is performing Environmental Restoration Program Optimization (E‐RPO) at various United States Air Force (USAF) installations to evaluate existing remediation strategies and recommend actions to advance issues impacting the remediation program. As sustainability practices (including green and sustainable remediation [GSR]) increase at Air Force facilities and throughout the environmental industry, the use of alternative energy‐collection sources (i.e., solar photovoltaics [PV] and wind turbines) is likely to increase dramatically. Although PV and wind power systems exhibit a low environmental footprint during their use, there are potential human health and environmental impacts from the manufacturing and recycling processes. This article presents a summary of available information regarding the environmental impacts associated with life‐cycle assessments that include raw material extraction and refinement, product manufacturing, use, and postuse disposal for PV and wind turbines (i.e., cradle‐to‐grave impacts). © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.