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Sustainable Energy in the Faroe Islands

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Sustainable Energy in the Faroe Islands BURÐARDYGG EL ORKA Sustainable energy in the Faroe Islands - the role of hydropower Poul A Mikladal Contents Executive summary ...................................... iii 2.6 Energy Efficiency ..................................... 12 1 INTRODUCTION ........................................... 2 2.6.1 Smart meters ..................................... 12 2 BACKGROUND INFORMATION ................ 2 2.6.2 Green Accounts ................................ 12 2.6.3 Combined Heat and Power (CHP) .... 13 2.1 Components of a hydro plant ...................... 2 2.7 Global Environmental concerns ................ 13 2.1.1 Definition of hydropower ................... 2 2.1.2 Intake .................................................. 3 2.7.1 Acid rain ........................................... 13 2.1.3 Penstock .............................................. 3 2.7.2 GHGs & climate change ................... 13 2.1.4 Powerhouse ......................................... 4 2.7.3 Rio Conference 1992 ........................ 13 2.1.5 Turbines .............................................. 4 2.7.4 Kyoto Protocol .................................. 14 2.1.6 Generators ........................................... 4 2.8 The Faroe Islands ...................................... 14 2.1.7 Tailrace ............................................... 5 2.8.1 Description of the islands ................. 14 2.1.8 Catchment area tunnels ....................... 5 2.8.2 Topography ....................................... 15 2.1.9 Dams & reservoirs .............................. 5 2.8.3 Climate ............................................. 15 2.2 Pumped Storage .......................................... 6 2.8.4 Geographical advantage ................... 15 2.2.1 Seawater pumped storage ................... 7 2.8.5 Electricity ......................................... 15 2.2.2 Hydrogen ............................................ 7 2.8.6 Hydropower ...................................... 15 2.8.7 Thermal power .................................. 17 2.3 Fossil fuels .................................................. 7 2.8.8 Wind power ...................................... 17 2.3.1 Coal ..................................................... 7 2.8.9 Faroese Electricity 2.3.2 Oil ....................................................... 8 Company (SEV) ............................... 17 2.3.3 Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) ............. 8 2.8.10 Environmental Protection 2.3.4 Combined Cycle Gas .......................... 8 Authority .......................................... 18 2.3.5 Uranium .............................................. 8 2.8.11 FNU - environmental interest group . 18 2.4 Renewables ................................................. 9 2.8.12 Environmental research .................... 18 2.4.1 Biomass ............................................... 9 2.9 Sample countries & projects ..................... 19 2.4.2 Geothermal .......................................... 9 2.9.1 Norway (99% hydro)......................... 19 2.4.3 Solar power ......................................... 9 2.9.2 Switzerland (54% hydro) .................. 20 2.4.4 Wind power ....................................... 10 2.9.3 UK (2% hydro) ................................. 21 2.4.5 Wave power ...................................... 10 2.9.4 Iceland (84% hydro) ......................... 21 2.4.6 Tidal power ....................................... 10 2.9.5 Renewable Islands Project ................ 22 2.4.7 Tidal stream power ........................... 11 2.9.6 Utsira ................................................ 23 2.5 Electricity transmission ............................. 11 2.9.7 Nólsoy experimental project ............. 23 2.5.1 Off-grid ............................................. 11 2.10 Examples of good practice ..................... 23 2.5.2 Grid network ..................................... 11 2.10.1 Karun 3, Iran ..................................... 23 2.5.3 System operations ............................. 11 2.10.2 Kali Gandaki A, Nepal ..................... 24 Burðardygg El Orka - ii - December 2005 3 THE IMPACTS OF HYDROPOWER .......... 24 4.3.1 Assisting vulnerable communities .... 34 3.1 Impacts on the natural environment .......... 24 4.3.2 Tourism potential .............................. 34 3.1.1 Construction phase ............................ 24 4.3.3 National Centre for Renewable Energy ............................ 35 3.1.2 Visual impacts ................................... 25 5 HYDROPOWER IN THE CONTEXT OF 3.1.3 Aquatic Ecosystems .......................... 25 ALTERNATIVE ENERGY SOURCES ....... 35 3.1.4 Habitats ............................................. 25 5.1 Crude oil/diesel ......................................... 35 3.1.5 Transmission lines ............................ 25 5.1.1 Advantages ....................................... 35 3.1.6 Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) ............................. 26 5.1.2 Disadvantages ................................... 36 3.2 Environmental benefits ............................. 26 5.2 Other fossil fuels ....................................... 36 3.2.1 Research and designations ................ 26 5.3 New Renewables ...................................... 36 3.2.2 Irrigation and flood control ............... 26 5.4 Wind power .............................................. 36 3.2.3 Slowing down global warming ......... 26 5.4.1 Advantages ....................................... 36 3.2.4 No dangerous waste products ........... 27 5.4.2 Disadvantages ................................... 37 3.3 Economic considerations .......................... 27 5.5 Hydropower .............................................. 38 3.3.1 Capital costs ...................................... 27 5.5.1 Advantages ....................................... 38 3.3.2 Financial solutions ............................ 27 5.5.2 Disadvantages ................................... 38 3.3.3 Economic benefits ............................. 28 5.6 The best choice of energy sources ............ 38 3.4 Socio-political impacts .............................. 28 3.4.1 Adverse media coverage ................... 29 6 CURRENT ISSUES AND FUTURE SRATEGIES FOR SUSTAINABILITY ....... 39 3.4.2 Compensation ................................... 29 6.1 From water to oil ...................................... 39 3.4.3 The importance of communication ... 29 3.4.4 Protecting fragile communities ......... 29 6.2 Faroes and the Kyoto Protocol .................. 40 3.4.5 Recreation and tourism ..................... 30 6.3 Off-shore exploration ................................ 40 3.4.6 Environmental interpretation ............ 30 6.4 Electricity company privatisation ............. 41 4 THE IMPACT OF HYDROPOWER 6.4.1 Introducing competition ................... 41 IN THE FAROE ISLANDS .......................... 31 6.4.2 The need for better communication .. 42 4.1 Environmental impacts .............................. 31 6.5 National Energy Policy ............................. 42 4.1.1 Vegetation ......................................... 31 4.1.2 Wildlife and birds ............................. 31 6.6 Strategies for sustainability ....................... 43 4.1.3 Constructing the hydropower plants . 31 6.6.1 Energy efficiency .............................. 43 4.1.4 Rivers & fjords .................................. 32 6.6.2 Renewable energy ............................ 44 4.1.5 EIAs and designations ....................... 32 6.7 Sustainable development .......................... 47 4.2 Economic impacts ..................................... 33 6.8 Oil back to water ....................................... 47 4.2.1 Botnur, Strond and Vestmanna ......... 33 7 CONCLUSIONS ........................................... 48 4.2.2 Eiði 1&3 ............................................ 33 8 RECOMMENDATIONS .............................. 50 4.2.3 Faroese rivers & waterfalls - worth gold ....................................... 33 Glossary of abbreviations .............................. 51 4.3 Socio-political impacts .............................. 34 9 BIBLIOGRAPHY ......................................... 52 Burðardygg El Orka - ii - December 2005 Executive summary The BEO research project is an independent analysis of the need to make electricity production in the Faroe Islands more sustainable and focuses in particular on the role of hydropower. Background information is provided by factual descriptions of small-scale hydro plant structure, pumped storage systems and a range of energy sources, including both fossil fuels and renewables. Energy efficiency options and global environmental concerns are outlined, followed by an overview of the position of hydropower in the Faroe Islands and in a sample number of European countries. The Renewable Energy Islands (REI) initiative is also mentioned and mini-case studies are presented as examples of good practice. A review of the environmental, economic and socio/political impacts of hydro development, both in general and in the specific context of the Faroe Islands, reveals both positive and negative aspects. The current dominance of oil in the production of electricity in the Faroe Islands is examined and the advantages of renewables, as viable alternatives, are stressed. The thorny issues of what to do regarding the Kyoto Protocol and electricity company privatisation are raised. Suggested strategies for a more sustainable energy future include energy efficiency measures and an expansion of renewables, particularly hydropower, to reduce the current high level of
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