Risk in hydroelectricity production

“…The health-risk estimates made by Inhaber (1979) and Holdren and others (1980) for solar thermal electric systems (central receivers) are presented in Tables 2 and 3.…”

Section: Solar Thermal Power Systems (Stps)mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In addition, potential risk could be associated with boron trichloride released during silicon solar cell reextraction processes. Inhaber (1979) calculated an estimate of the risk incurred by occupational workers and the general public during all stages in the development and use of a 1,000 MW(e) photovoltaic system carrying energy to a central power station. Holdren and others (1980) have also calculated an estimate of occupational risk from manufacture, operation, and maintenance of such a system.…”

Section: Photovoltaicsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Construction and major overhaul will occur in shipyards, and the skills required for operation and maintenance will be those associated with normal electric power generation plants (General Electric Company 1977). Health risk assessments for ocean thermal energy conversion as estimated by Inhaber (1979) are summarized later.…”

Section: Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion System (Otec)mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Inhaber (1979) and Holdren and others (1980) discuss these risks, and their results are summarized at the end of this paper.…”

mentioning

confidence: 96%

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Health and safety implications of alternative energy technologies. II. Solar

Etnier

Watson

1981

Environmental Management

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/ No energy technology is risk free when all aspects of its utilization are taken into account. Every energy technology has some attendant direct and indirect health and safety concerns. Solar technologies examined in this paper are wind, ocean thermal energy gradients, passive, photovoltaic, satellite power systems, low-and high-temperature collectors, and central power stations, as well as tidal power. For many of these technologies, insufficient historical data are available from which to assess the health risks and environmental impacts. However, their similarities to other projects make certain predictions possible. For example, anticipated problems in worker safety in constructing ocean thermal energy conversion systems will be similar to those associated with other large-scale construction projects, like deep-sea oil drilling platforms. Occupational hazards associated with photovoltaic plant operation would be those associated with normal electricity generation, although for workers involved in the actual production of photovoltaic materials, there is some concern for the toxic effects of the materials used, including silicon, cadmium, and gallium arsenide.Satellite power systems have several unique risks. These include the effects of long-term space travel for construction workers, effects on the ozone layer and the attendant risk of skin cancer in the general public, and the as-yet-undetermined effects of long-term, low-level microwave exposure. Hazards may arise from three sources in solar heating and cooling systems: water contamination from corrosion inhibitors, heat transfer fluids, and bactericides; collector over-heating, fires, and "out-gassing"; and handling and disposal of system fluids and wastes. Similar concerns exist for solar thermal power systems. Even passive solar systems may increase indoor exposure levels to various air pollutants and toxic substances, either directly from the solar system itself or indirectly by trapping released pollutants from furnishings, building materials, and indoor combustion.This article is the second in a series discussing health implications of alternative energy technologies. The first paper evaluated biomass and geothermal (Watson and Emier 1981), and the third and final paper considers fossil fuels.Energy initiatives often referred to as "benign" are of special interest because of their apparent advantages in terms of health and safety issues. However, as this review will document, no energy technology is risk free when all aspects of its utilization are taken into account. Quantification is not possible in many cases, but there is a sound basis for stating that every energy technology has some attendant direct and indirect health and safety concerns. The current solar energy goal of the United States is to produce 20% of the total energy consumed in the year 2000. Current solar energy conversion technologies are probably not adequate to achieve this goal, and new technologies must emerge to satisfy this need (Jayadev and Roessner 1980). Given t...

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Risk and Uncertainty in Public and Occupational Health

Ricci

Cirillo

1986

The Management of Uncertainty: Approaches, Methods and Applications

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Risk in hydroelectricity production

Cited by 13 publications

References 2 publications

On Discussion of Risk of Energy Systems

On Discussion of Risk of Energy Systems

Health and safety implications of alternative energy technologies. II. Solar

Risk and Uncertainty in Public and Occupational Health

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