Spatially explicit life cycle assessments reveal hotspots of environmental impacts from renewable electricity generation

Anna C. Schomberg; Stefan Bringezu; Martina Flörke; Hannes Biederbick

doi:10.1038/s43247-022-00521-7

Communications Earth & Environment (Aug 2022)

Spatially explicit life cycle assessments reveal hotspots of environmental impacts from renewable electricity generation

Anna C. Schomberg,
Stefan Bringezu,
Martina Flörke,
Hannes Biederbick

Affiliations

Anna C. Schomberg: Center for Environmental Systems Research at University of Kassel
Stefan Bringezu: Center for Environmental Systems Research at University of Kassel
Martina Flörke: Chair of Engineering Hydrology and Water Management at Ruhr University of Bochum
Hannes Biederbick: Center for Environmental Systems Research at University of Kassel

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s43247-022-00521-7
Journal volume & issue: Vol. 3, no. 1
pp. 1 – 14

Abstract

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A global analysis and comparison of environmental impacts of supply chains for coal-powered and renewable electricity production shows that, while cumulative impacts of renewable electricity are lower, single impacts of renewable electricity production can be higher, especially associated with mining.

Published in Communications Earth & Environment

ISSN: 2662-4435 (Online)
Publisher: Nature Portfolio
Country of publisher: United Kingdom
LCC subjects: Science: Geology; Geography. Anthropology. Recreation: Environmental sciences
Website: https://www.nature.com/commsenv/

About the journal