Assessing and optimising the sustainability objective of electricity generation systems, and energy systems of special interest to Galicia

Abstract

In recent years, a considerable number of authors have carried out studies addressing the sustainability assessment of both renewable and non-renewable power plants. Despite this, there are still methodological and scope limitations that impede public and private companies, authorities responsible for energy planning, as well as the wider public, clearly and precisely understand the real economic, social and environmental impacts associated with the electricity production, throughout its life cycle. On the other hand, it is now necessary to go further the assessment, looking for the optimisation, in the sense of maximising the contribution to sustainable development of energy and other complex systems. Nevertheless, sustainability optimisation is at an early stage. In fact, until the present, it has received much less attention than the assessment. This work aims to cover the gaps in the current knowledge with respect to the sustainability assessment of power plants. Furthermore, it addresses the sustainability optimisation of a shell and tube heat exchanger, as a first step to optimise more complex energy systems.