studying EIA Effects of designing solar power plant

1. SOLAR POWER
PLANT
[Document subtitle]
Submitted for
DR. Mansour El Bardisy
Team members:
1-‫إبراهيم‬ ‫عبدالونيس‬ ‫أميرة‬
2-‫عبدالحميد‬ ‫راوي‬ ‫مروة‬
3-‫إبراهيم‬ ‫أحمد‬ ‫أمنية‬
4-‫خميس‬ ‫سعيد‬ ‫عصمت‬
5-‫بيومي‬ ‫محمد‬ ‫سلمي‬

2. Table of Contents
Introduction..........................................................................................................2
Description of the project.........................................................................................3
PV Plant design.......................................................................................................3
a)Solar energy resource……………………………………………….. .............................................3
b)Energy yield………………………………………………… ..........................................................3
c)Site selection………………………………………………….. .......................................................3
Characteristics of the installation and operation of solar power plants:.........................4
that the main environmental parameters affecting solar power plants are: ...................4
a.solar insolation………………………………….. .....................................................4
b.Biomass density……………………………………..................................................4
Cost estimation:......................................................................................................4
Bad impacts of solar power on environment ..............................................................4
1.During manufacturing...........................................................................................5
2. when panels are in order ......................................................................................5
3. after the lifespan.................................................................................................6
Conclusion.............................................................................................................6
Mitigation of solar panels significant effects...............................................................6
SVTC envisions a safe and sustainable solar PV industry that:.......................................6
The results compiled from SVTC’s 2016-17 research include.......................................7
Swot analysis..........................................................................................................7
Strengths:...............................................................................................................7
Weakness...............................................................................................................8
Opportunities..........................................................................................................8
Threats ..................................................................................................................8

3. Introduction
in recent years, solar photovoltaic (PV) technology has become an increasingly important
energy supply option. A substantial decline in the cost of solar PV power plants (80% reduction
since 2008) has improved solar PV’s competitiveness, reducing the needs for subsidies and
enabling solar to compete with other power generation options in some markets. While the
majority of operating solar projects is in developed economies, the drop in prices coupled with
unreliable grid power and the high cost of diesel generators has driven fast-growing interest in
solar PV technology in emerging economies as well.
Many emerging economies have an excellent solar resource, and have adopted policies to
encourage the development of the solar industry to realize the benefits that expanded use of PV
technology can have on their economies and on improving energy security, as well as on the
local and global environmental. Also, solar installations can be built relatively quickly, often in
6–12 months, compared to hydro and fossil fuel projects that require more than 4–5 years to
complete. This presents a major incentive in rapidly-growing, emerging markets with a high
unmet demand and urgent need for power. Assuming that PV technology prices
continue to fall relative to competing sources of electricity, the market penetration rate of
utility-scale solar power projects can be expected to continue growing rapidly, including in
emerging markets.
The World Bank Group (including the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development,
the International Development Association, IFC, and the Multilateral Investment Guarantee
Agency) helps client countries secure the affordable, reliable, and sustainable energy supply
needed to end extreme poverty and promote shared prosperity. The approach mirrors the
objectives of the Sustainable Energy for All Initiative— achieving universal access,
accelerating improvements in energy efficiency, and doubling the global share of renewable
energy by 2030. The World Bank Group recognizes that each country determines its own path
for achieving its energy aspirations, and that each country’s transition to a sustainable energy
sector involves a unique mix of resource opportunities and challenges, prompting a different
emphasis on access, efficiency, and renewable energy.
Enhancing access to power is a key priority for IFC, which supports private sector investment
in renewable energy solutions. As of May 2015, IFC has made over 350 investments in power
in more than 65 countries. We are often at the forefront of markets opening to private
participation. IFC has invested in more than 55 solar projects, representing about 1,400 MW
of capacity, with key transactions in Thailand, the Philippines, India, China, Jordan, Mexico,
South Africa, Honduras, and Chile.

4. Description of the project
Photovoltaics (PV) covers the conversion of light into electricity using semiconducting material
that exhibits the photovoltaic effect . A typical photovoltaic system employs solar panels , each
comprising a number of solar cells ,which generate electrical power.
PV Plant design
PV plant design is developed initially as part of a prefeasibility study which is based on
preliminary energy resource and yield estimates, as well as other site-specific requirements and
constraints. The plant design is further improved during the feasibility study, which considers
site measurements, site topography, and environmental and social considerations. Key design
features include the type of PV module used, tilting angle, mounting and tracking
systems, inverters, and module arrangement. Optimization of plant design involves
considerations such as shading, performance degradation, and trade-offs between increased
investment (e.g., for tracking) and energy yield.
a) Solar energy resource
depends on solar irradiation of the geographic
location as well as local issues like shading.
Initially, solar resource assessment can be done
Based on satellite data or other sources, but
as the project development moves forward,
ground-based measurements are desirable
to provide an increased level of confidence.
b) Energy yield
is a critical parameter that determines (along
with the capital costs and the tariff) the financial
viability
of the project. Probability-based energy yield (for example
P50, P75, P90) are modelled over the operating life of
the project. A thorough analysis of the solar resource and
projected energy yield are critical inputs for the financial
analysis. Details on the methodology, solar data sources
and key issues to be considered when estimating the
energy resources .
c) Site selection
is based on many considerations, such as whether the PV plant is close to the grid, and whether
the process for obtaining a grid connection agreement is transparent and predictable. Close
cooperation with the grid company is essential in obtaining a grid 6 A Project Developer’s
Guide to Utility-scale Solar Photovoltaic Power Plants connection agreement. The agreement,
as well as applicable regulations should clearly state the conditions of the PV developer’s access
to the grid, and provide the guidelines for design, ownership, and operation of the grid
connection. Access to land is also a basic requirement for project development. Project land
must be purchased or leased for longer than the debt coverage period; a minimum of 15–20
Figure 1/ SOLAR PANELS

5. years is desirable, although a 40–50 year lease is often signed. In addition to the project site,
the developer needs to secure access to the land over which the grid connection will be laid out.
Characteristics of the installation and operation of solar power plants:
• The construction of mega solar power plants requires a large land area.
• the construction of a 1MW mega solar power plant will require land that has an area
of around 20,000m2 to 30,000m2 (equivalent to 75 to 115 tennis courts).
• The land must also be free of mountain forests and buildings that may intercept the
sunlight.
• the land has to be as flat as possible and has roads of around 5m in width.
• Temperature from 0◦ to 50◦ are considered adaptable to solar power plants.
• Installation of solar power equipment requires removing trees, brush and root balls.
that the main environmental parameters affecting solar power plants are:
a. solar insolation.
b. Biomass density.
c. Biodiversity: “the variety of life in the world or in a particular habitat or
ecosystem”.
Cost estimation:
The capital cost of the plant has been estimated considering the cost of civil & structure
works, transportation, installation, testing, commissioning charges and contingencies. Land
cost is not considered as land is already available.
❖ Packing, forwarding, inland transportation and insurance at the rate of
2.5% for all equipment and systems including spares have been considered.
❖ Erection, testing and commissioning charges are considered as 8% of supply
cost for mechanical and electrical equipment.3% of the equipment cost has been
considered towards cost of initial spares.
❖ Cost of civil works has been estimated based on data available for similar projects.
❖ So, the costs of:
❖ Solar power plants: Solar power plants can cost between USD 6 300 and USD 10
500/kW when energy storage is between 6 and 15 hours. This plant can achieve
capacity factors of 0.40 to as high as 0.80.
❖ operations and maintenance(O&M): costs are relatively high for solar plants, in the
range USD 0.02 to USD 0.035/kWh. However, cost reduction opportunities are good
and as plant designs are perfected and experience gained with operating larger
numbers of solar plants savings opportunities will arise.
❖ Cost reductions will come from economies of scale in the plant size and
manufacturing industry, learning effects, advances in R&D, a more competitive
supply chain and improvements in the performance of the solar field, solar-to-electric
efficiency and thermal energy storage systems. By 2020, capital cost reductions of
28% to 40% could be achieved and even higher reductions may be possible.
Bad impacts of solar power on environment
We all know that solar energy is environmentally friendly as it is a clean energy with
no harmful emissions like nonrenewable ones.

6. So, people think that if we construct a solar power plant there will be no bad impacts
on the environment.
While others see that solar panels have similar bad effects like energy sources, such
as coal, oil, etc.
But in fact, both points of view are inaccurate, in the following text we will discuss
“why”?!
1.During manufacturing
The reason resides in the manufacturing process of the solar panel itself, solar panels
are manufactured from materials like Quartz, Aluminum and Copper but
after extracting raw materials, changing their structure, treating them with many toxic
chemicals comes, which causes heat generation and air pollution.
these chemicals, similar to those used in the general semiconductor industry, include
hydrochloric acid, sulfuric acid, nitric acid, hydrogen fluoride.
The amount and type of chemicals used depends on the type of cell, the amount of
cleaning that is needed.
For example: using Phosphorus spraying to construct PN junction, Silicon nitrides
spraying to decrease the reflectivity of the panel, spraying chemicals to remove
excess phosphorus and chemicals for increasing panels efficiency to make the silicon
acts in a photovoltaic behavior.
The problem also that plant processes that have impacts on the environment depends
on mining, transportation and treating of various materials, one for quartz, another
one processes aluminum, and a third one copper which means that processes will be
done in different locations in environment so, pollution will not be concentrated only
in one location. Compare that to coal that is mined, cleaned, and processed usually at
a single location.
2. when panels are in order
solar thermal plants (CSP), like all thermal electric plants, require water for cooling.
Water use depends on the plant design, plant location, and the type of cooling system.
plants that use wet-recirculating technology with cooling towers withdraw between
600 and 650 gallons of water per megawatt-hour of electricity produced.
CSP plants with once-through cooling technology have higher levels of water
withdrawal, but lower total water consumption (because water is not lost as steam)

7. 3. after the lifespan
As solar panels contain toxic materials, they will create a new type of waste. If
broken panels aren’t properly disposed of, they can lead to serious environmental
damage and public health threats.
But the best solution for this matter that manufacturers should have a strong financial
incentive to ensure that these wastes will be recycled rather than thrown away.
Conclusion
And as we see, even the solar energy has bad impacts on environment,
But most of harmful impacts are concentrated in the manufacturing process, and once
solar panels are manufactured and installed, they become emission-free.
And if we spread the estimated pollution of its production process across its estimated
lifespan, which is usually over 30 years we get that solar panels are more
environmentally friendly than any other source of energy despite its bad impacts!
Mitigation of solar panels significant effects
After studying the solar energy panels effects on environment, it comes to use this
information to avoid or reduce that bad effects to increase the use of solar panels with less
environmental bad effects.
As it’s discussed in the previous section, the most significant effects are in the PV
manufacturing process and its toxic chemicals and emissions.
The Silicon Valley Toxics Coalition (SVTC) believes that we still have time to ensure that
the PV sector is safe for the environment, workers, and communities
SVTC envisions a safe and sustainable solar PV industry that:
1. Takes responsibility for the environmental and health impacts of its products
throughout their lifecycles, including adherence to a mandatory policy for responsible
recycling.
2. Implements and monitors equitable environmental and labor standards throughout
product supply chains.
3. Pursues innovative approaches to reducing and work towards eliminating toxic
chemicals in PV module manufacturing.
SVTC publish a report known as the Solar Scorecard that include:
• Some manufacturers offer PV modules that do not contain toxic heavy metals or have
been able to significantly reduce the toxicity of their modules to very low levels that
lower than the high bar for toxics regulation.
• Formal commitment that protects worker rights, health, and safety that goes beyond
compliance with local laws and regulations.
• Companies should recognize the importance of reducing impacts to water. They
report volume of water use, and wastewater generated according to several water
quality indicators.

8. • Companies should report all categories of emissions including chemical and
hazardous waste, criteria air pollutants, ozone depleting substances, and report any
sanctions related to noncompliance with environmental regulations.
(Emission cannot be easily avoided, but extended use of biogenic materials would
reduce the net global warming effect of this emission
• Reuse or recycling of module materials will help to reduce the energy consumption in
the module life cycle. Obvious examples are the recycling of aluminum frames and
glass sheets.
The energy requirement for secondary aluminum can be as low 8 MJ/kg, while
primary aluminum requires 200 MJ/kg. Also, the recovery and reuse of silicon wafers
from waste modules can reduce the energy consumption by roughly 25% on a module
level.
The results compiled from SVTC’s 2016-17 research include:
• Two companies are offering PV modules with cables that are halogen-free.
• Two companies (SunPower and First Solar) offer recycling solutions to all of their
global customers.
• Nine PV manufacturers do extensive chemical emissions disclosure and reporting on
their website.
• All companies selling to the USA have started the process of determining if conflict
minerals are present in their supply chains.
Finally, there are a few options with a high to very high impact-reduction potential which
also have significant cost advantages.
This means of course that these options have a high chance of being realized once the
technology is available. Other options, however, have little or even negative cost effects.
In this case it will depend on the policies of individual companies and whether they choose to
implement best available technologies for emissions reduction or not.
But, increased transparency on energy and material consumption, environmental emissions
and waste production will help to increase public awareness of the issue and thus influence
company’s policies on this point.
Swot analysis
Strengths:
.profitable at all timeable to remainbeingsolar panel installation services are-1
priate place for gettingThe geographical locations of the whole EGYPT is a most appro-2
solar energy in abundant and there are also vast areas in rural EGYPT can be utilized for
installing solar panels

9. e installed anywhere. Solar panels can be easily placed inA solar energy system can b-3
houses and commercial roof tops. A separate land area for installing solar panels is not
necessary. Hence, it is quite inexpensive compared to other sources of energy.
4-Solar energy is environment friendly. When in use, it does not release CO2 and other gases
which pollute the air. Hence it is very suitable for Egypt, Egypt being one of the most
polluted countries of the world.
5- It would be suitable for small entrepreneurs to commence solar energy business as only
few large corporates are playing role in developing and distributing solar energy.
6- Solar energy can give uninterrupted supply of power to households and commercial places.
w property owners that have solar panelsIn the united states many energy companies allo-7
to sell excess energy back to them for an income stream. This allows buyers of solar panels to
generate profits immediately once they are installed
Weakness
1- The cost of installation is expensive for a common man. So only rich people chooses
solar energy.
2- There is no awareness among people about solar energy and its benefits. It restrains the
turnovers and only literate people chooses solar energy.
3- We cannot depend solar energy on rainy and cloudy days.
4- Maintenance of solar panel is required at frequent intervals with additional costs.
5- Lack of technical support for the remote locations
6- In united states ,There is a level of uncertainty with solar panel installation businesses
as property owners depend on tax credits in order to make the transaction profitable.
However, demand has remained high in markets where tax credit offerings have
expired.
Opportunities
1- Awareness programs about solar energy and subsidies announced by the government
of India will make the people feel easy about solar energy.
2- The traditional energy production sector is likely to diminish in the near future and it
forces f0 the people to change.
3- In united states As such, these ongoing contracts provide solar panel installation
services will highly predictable streams of high margin income. These companies can
also develop relationships with housing development companies in order to fulfill large
orders.
Threats
1- Only large investors can get higher operating profit from solar energy distribution
since it requires huge investment to install, maintain and distribution
2- Egypt may face competition from Chinese firms due to cost difference as they are
going to solar energy intensively.

10. 3- Solar panel technology is rapidly changing, and number of new companies have
entered this market. These are issues that are going to need to be faced by
businesses that install these panels.
4- development of solar energy are related to internal political instability and corrupt
officials in charge of applying of procedures, regulations, or licensing, as well as
external political and economic (financial) volatility in roman.

11. Reference
1. Singh Manmohan(2010): To create solar
Village, Jan, Solar Energy Review, New
Delhi.
2. US-India Energy Partnership Summit,
Washington DC(2010); Solar Energy
Review, New Delhi-India.
3. www.makeinindia.com/sector/renewableenergy(
accessed on march 2016)
4. www.mnre.gov.in/solarmission/
jnnsm/introduction-2/(accessed
on march 2016)
5. seci.gov.in/content/innerinitiative/jnnsm.p
hp(accessed on march 2016)
6. http://www.thehindu.com/opinion/column
s/why-the-wto-is-right-in-the-solar-paneldispute/
article8305405.ece (accessed on
march 2016)
7. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solar_power
_in_India(accessed on march 2016)
8.https://www.solarscorecard.com