A sustainability assessment of electricity supply systems

One of the major concern striking the 21st century is the development of Sustainable Development (SD) whilst rising mankind welfare. Contemporary technology generally has controverting impacts over the concept of SD, as portrayed through the present power supply system. Low-priced, easily-available electrical energy is very important to various contemporary society's most significant technologies and SD advances. Meanwhile, the immense mainstream of the global' s electrical energy is produced by means of fossil fuels, which caused stern ecological burdens. Thus, any shift towards a sustainable, thriving future will necessitate resources of electrical energy, which can offer the benefits of current's power production system whilst diminishing its harmful impacts. To achieve growing power supplies with negligible ecological effect, shift to the present electricity production practices are needed to take in augmented power efficiency as of fossil fuel burning technologies by introducing renewable energy sources into the market. However, fossil fuels electricity generating resources provide high reliability and low-priced. Therefore, cautious assessment of the sustainability regarding each technology is required to manage upcoming investment and policy. In this paper, we assessed the sustainability of 10 power production, including coal, gas, nuclear, wind, biomass, geothermal, solar thermal, solar Photovoltaic (PV), hydro, wave, on basis of 11 sustainability indicators, including initial investment cost, Levelised Cost of Electricity (LCOE), load factor, Global Warming Potential (GWP), Abiotic Depletion Potential (ADP), Acidification Potential (AD), Eutrophication potential (EP), Freshwater Aquatic Ecotoxicity Potential (FAETP), Human Toxicity Potential (HTP), Marine Aquatic Ecotoxicity Potential (MAETP), Terrestrial Ecotoxicity Potential (TETP). It should be noted that this assessment is conducted in the context of the South African electricity sector context. Additionally, is the first of its kind and aims to provide decision-makers a comprehensive outlook to navigate environmental and economic analysis.