Avaliação de ciclo de vida de uma central hidroeléctrica: Central de Frades - caso de estudo na EDP, Energias de Portugal, S.A.

Margarida Machado Boavida

Key information

Authors:

Margarida Machado Boavida (Margarida Machado Boavida Ferreira)

Supervisors:

João Carlos Moura Bordado (João Carlos Moura Bordado)

Published in

11/23/2007

Abstract

This Thesis is a Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) focused in the Frades hydroelectric plant, which belongs to the Cávado-Lima system and is meant to pump and then turbine the water, allowing a higher power to the system. A LCA assesses the major environmental issues that result from the life of certain product, since the extraction of raw-materials until its end of life. The product being studied in this Thesis is the plant power unit, considering its operation until 2050. The project documents were analyzed and contacts with the projectors and Cávado-Lima professionals have been made in order to inventory the major materials and consumptions, not only during the construction phase, but also during the operation one. To assess the impacts the SimaPro 7 software was used, through the Eco-indicator 99 method. Inputting the materials and consumptions due to the life cycle stages, SimaPro generates impact trees, by attributing an eco-indicator which evaluates the environmental aspects and reveals those which should focus attention, on an environmental level. Therefore, decision makers and projectors shall be well informed. The major construction impacts assessed in this study were the use of cement, reinforcing steel, equipment steel and copper. The most important operation impact was the use of electricity. This study has had important revelations and will allow better strategy and future projects on electricity production.