The Lebanese electricity system in the context of sustainable development

The Lebanese electricity system has been evaluated in terms of its sustainability. An integrated approach was adopted to assess the life-cycle technical, environmental, energy and economic attributes of the system. The findings show that the Lebanese electricity system is characterized by a weak per...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Energy policy 2010-02, Vol.38 (2), p.751-761
Main Authors: El-Fadel, R.H., Hammond, G.P., Harajli, H.A., Jones, C.I., Kabakian, V.K., Winnett, A.B.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Alternative energy sources
Carbon emissions
Cost
Cost-benefit analysis
Economic efficiency
Electric power
Electric utilities
Electricity
Electricity supply
Energy resources
Integrated approach
Lebanon
Lebanon Electricity supply Sustainable development
Natural gas
Power supply
Renewable energy sources
Studies
Supply and demand
Sustainable development
Systems analysis
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Summary:The Lebanese electricity system has been evaluated in terms of its sustainability. An integrated approach was adopted to assess the life-cycle technical, environmental, energy and economic attributes of the system. The findings show that the Lebanese electricity system is characterized by a weak performance in all analysed aspects related to the sustainability of energy systems. Specifically, the system lacks adequacy and security leading to a supply–demand deficit and poor diversity. It gives rise to significant environmental emissions (including green-house gases), and produces large economic inefficiencies. The costs and benefits of optimising the performance of the centralised electricity system are presented, indicating substantial net benefits (together with considerable benefits in reduced environmental impacts across the life-cycle assessment categories, including carbon emissions) from improving the transmission and distribution networks, upgrading existing conventional plants to their design standards, and shifting towards the use of natural gas. The expected levelised cost of various energy sources in Lebanon also indicates that renewable energy sources are competitive alternatives at the present time.
ISSN:0301-4215
1873-6777
DOI:10.1016/j.enpol.2009.10.020