An Approach to Assessment of Sustainability of Energy Systems

Abstract

Measuring progress towards sustainability is an important step in achieving sustainable development, but a standard and universally accepted approach for measuring sustainability does not yet exist. Here, a sustainability assessment methodology for energy systems is developed based on a systems approach. A set of 22 indicators is identified that link a community energy system to technology, economy, society, environment, and institutional subsystems. The new approach is illustrated on a gas-turbine power plant and a single-flash geothermal steam power plant. The results of the sustainability analyses demonstrate that the gas-turbine power plant is more technologically sustainable but its renewability and environmental impacts are serious concerns, while the single-flash geothermal steam power plant rates well with the society and environment subsystems although reliability of energy supply is identified as an area where improvement is necessary. The new sustainability assessment methodology is expected to prove useful as a tool for understanding and fostering sustainable energy systems, alone or in concert with other approaches.