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Technology assessment of solar energy: An evaluation of widespread deployment of solar and biomass technologies

Conference · · Alternative Energy Sources; (United States)
OSTI ID:6991422

The following summarizes significance of the results of the analyses performed: Air Quality - Both increases and decreases in emissions of certain energy related criteria pollutants: essentially no influence on long-range transport of energy-related pollutants; moderate regional decreases in SO /SUB x/ and NO /SUB x/ ; significant increases in biomass-related particulate emissions in certain regions and subregions; minor changes in nonenergy related criteria pollutants associated with manufacturing solar on a national basis. Water Quality - Relatively minor increases and decreases in water pollution nationally; some significant increases in erosion in agricultural states; some potential local benefits associated with reduced conventional waste disposal requirements; and some potential penalties associated with increased solar working fluid disposal. Water Resources - Nationally insignificant especially in the Eastern U.S., but with some potential local problems in the West associated with discretionary water use for cleaning solar systems; some local benefits in the East associated with reduction in mandatory water use by conventional power plant cooling systems. Land Resources - On-site solar energy demands in moderately sized communities can be exceeded in all but the most dense land use sectors, this would offset adverse local land use impacts, but is highly influenced by local land use planning decisions.

Research Organization:
The MITRE Corporation Mclean, Virginia
OSTI ID:
6991422
Report Number(s):
CONF-801210-
Journal Information:
Alternative Energy Sources; (United States), Journal Name: Alternative Energy Sources; (United States) Vol. 9; ISSN ALESD
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English