Assessment of the Environmental Impacts of a Wind Farm in Central Greece during its Life Cycle

Wind energy installations in Greece are increasing rapidly as a means to achieve the national goal for increasing the renewables' share in the country's energy balance. However, wind farm installations are not impact free from the environmental standpoint. The present study examines the cradle-to-grave impacts of a wind farm in central Greece composed of four, 850 MW each, wind turbines. Life cycle inventory data were obtained from secondary sources and the CML 2 baseline 2000 ready-made method was utilized for the environmental assessment in nine impact categories. The results indicate an intensity index of 4.1 kg CO2 eq. per MWh along with an energy payback time of 7 months. Towers, nacelles and the foundations of the turbines are the wind farm components that cause the most environmental impacts. However, key impact categories associated with energy, such as alteration of local climate, killing of birds and bats, noise and visual impact are not assessed. Despite the limitation of the study, the major conclusion is that electricity generation from wind power is environmentally preferable compared to the current electricity generation mix in Greece.