10.57647/ijeee.2024.1504.17

Financial Modeling of Social and Environmental Impacts of Wind Farm in Urban Zones: A Case Study of Zawia-Libya

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  • Abdulbari A. Amhimmid1,
  • Wedad A. El-Osta2,
  • Yasser F. Nassar3,
  • Hala J. El Khozondar*4,5,
  • Mansour A. Salem5,
  1. University of Zawia, Zawia, Libya
  2. Libyan Center for Solar Energy Research and Studies, Tripoli, Libya
  3. Wadi Alshatti University, Brack, Libya
  4. Islamic University of Gaza, Gaza, Palestine
  5. Department of Materials and London Centre for Nanotechnology, Imperial College London, UK

Published in Issue 2024-12-30

Copyright (c) 2024 Abdulbari A. Amhimmid, Wedad A. El-Osta, Yasser F. Nassar, Hala J. El Khozondar, Mansour A. Salem (Author)

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This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

How to Cite

Amhimmid, A. A., El-Osta, W. A., Nassar, Y. F., El Khozondar, H. J., & Salem, M. A. (2024). Financial Modeling of Social and Environmental Impacts of Wind Farm in Urban Zones: A Case Study of Zawia-Libya. International Journal of Energy and Environmental Engineering, 15(04). https://doi.org/10.57647/ijeee.2024.1504.17
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Abstract

This study presents both a physical and monetary evaluation of the key social and environmental impacts linked to the development of a 20 MW wind farm in Zawia, Libya. The analysis considers a range of externalities, including carbon footprint, water use, noise emissions, visual impacts, shadow and shadow flicker, land occupation, and potential electromagnetic interference. The project is planned on a 2 km² site and will incorporate 10 Gamesa G-114 wind turbines. Using the System Advisor Model (SAM) for energy yield estimation, the annual electricity generation reaches approximately 104,240.6 MWh. The project's initial capital cost is estimated at $39.36 million. The conventional levelized cost of energy (LCoE), calculated without factoring in social or environmental externalities, stands at $86.84/MWh. When externalities are monetized, they contribute an additional $7.92/MWh, representing nearly one-third of the operation and maintenance expenses ($25/MWh). If the evaluation internalizes only the carbon footprint, the LCoE decreases to $49.43/MWh. Conversely, when all social and environmental impacts are fully incorporated, the adjusted LCoE rises to $57.35/MWh. These findings highlight the critical importance of integrating external costs into wind energy assessments, providing a fairer comparison with conventional energy sources and strengthening the case for renewables in competitive energy markets. 

Keywords

  • Wind energy,
  • Levelized cost of energy (LCoE),
  • Social and environmental impacts,
  • Shadow flicker,
  • Carbon footprint,
  • Monetary value of environmental impacts
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