ACCEPTABILITY OF GEOTHERMAL
POWER GENERATION PROJECTS
Methodological approach
(ELEC 2013 - Santiago, Chile - 4th October 2013)
Authors:
Mila GALIANO and Philippe LAPLAIGE
ADEME
For:
Speaker:
Jacques CHOURAKI
TERANOV
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Methodological Approach for Environmental Excellence in
Geothermal Power Generation Projects
This approach is based on the methodology of project development, including
the following phases :
1) Pre-feasibility phase (preliminary survey and surface exploration);
2) Feasibility phase (exploratory drilling);
3) Development phase (drilling of service shafts, establishment of surface
facilities);
4) Operation phase ;
5) Dismantling of equipment and site recovery phase .
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The process includes first the development of an environmental
pre-assessment for better integration of environmental issues.
Before conducting impact studies, the pre-assessment seeks to answer the
following questions:
• What are the environmental issues to be considered in the project?
• What data is necessary and sufficient to characterize the issues?
• What are the detailed studies to be carried out within the framework of the impact
assessment (preliminary impact study)?
The pre-assessment will be conducted at the scale of potential implementation sites (both preselected areas):
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Then, upon completion of exploration drilling and for each infrastructure
construction phase:
 An environmental impact assessment: iterative and integrated
approach for each phase of the project: the assessment should emphasize
the evasion, impact reduction and compensation measures for successful
environmental integration of the project;
 Highlighting the concept of clean construction (drilling, access, power
plants, buildings, ....);
 Implementation of environmental management plans (or environmental
management and monitoring plans – EMP, PGE in French).
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The approach must take into account the expectations established in public
consultation at each phase of the project, including:
Local and neighbouring population, though public briefings to explain the
particular advantages and disadvantages of geothermal energy and its
impact on the environment and wellbeing;
Elected officials, state agencies, environmental associations, to refine the
selection of project sites according to based on their impact on the
environment and local economic development, among others.
The consultation process should be carried out throughout the life of the project
until the dismantling phase, through public briefings or open house days to
report on the Environmental Management Plan (EMP) defined prior to the
construction of facilities the plant.
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Current example in Martinique (FWI), within the framework of the INTERREG
Caribbean Geothermal Project Phase 2, with the completion of a preassessment or Preliminary Environmental Impact Assessment (PEIA/EPIE in
French) prior to the development of exploratory drilling with the definition of
an Environmental Management Programme (EMP) :
 High geothermal potential
 Two areas identified
 Petite Anse d'Arlet in the South (11 sites approached)
o
Petite Anse (Site 7)
 Mount Pelee (10 sites approached)
o
The hights of Coulée Blanche (Site 9)
o
Martineaud (Site 10)
 Preliminary EIA and recommendations for public
consultation on 2 geothermal projects
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Martinique example (2)
 Contents of the Preliminary Environmental Impact Assessment (PEIA)
 Context of the study
 Pre-assessment of selected sites and rationale for their selection
 Definition of the legal status of proposed project sites
 Initial state of the environment
 Pre-assessment of environmental impacts and proposed measures
 Recommendations for an environmental management and monitoring plan
 Implementation of consultation
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Martinique example (3)
 Pre-assessment of selected sites and justification for their selection
 Environmental issues: data collection and audit
 General outline of the project: technical constraints on the basis of existing
surveys - Description and main features of projects
 Environmental constraints of the sites
Initial state
Futur state
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Martinique example (4)
 Defining the legal status of the proposed project sites
 Identify constraints that apply to all sites: specific regulations on
geothermal energy including Mining Code, Water Act
 “Decentralised” regulatory constraints
o
Environmental Code in connection with the protection of areas
o
Planning Code: compatibility with the SAR/MSMV, the SCoT and
POS/PLU
o
Natural Disaster Prevention Plan
o
the SDAGE
o
Charter of the Regional Natural Park
o
Coastal Act
o
Mountain Act
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Martinique example (5)
 Initial state of the environment
 Topics studied
o
Physical environment
o
Flora, fauna and biodiversity
o
Sites and landscapes
o
Human activities and lifestyle
 Methods of analysis
o
Data collection and audit
o
On-site research, including fauna and
flora
o
Definition and prioritization of
environmental issues
o
Identification of current knowledge gaps
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Martinique example (6)
 Pre-evaluation of environmental impacts and measures
 Evaluation Methodology
 Exploratory period and exploitation period
 Nature of the impacts in regulatory terms: positive/negative,
direct/indirect, temporary/permanent effects, cumulative impacts
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Martinique example (7)
 Recommendations for an Environmental Management and Monitoring Plan
 What about the EMP? Details on the methods and procedures implemented by
the MO to meet its environmental commitments
 Recommendations from the preliminary impact study
o
Tentative draft based on the preliminary study
o
Thematic sheets (e.g., management of noise and vibration during the exploratory
phase)
•Title
•Objective
•Actions
•Documentation included in the EMP
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Martinique example (8)
The four key points of the Environmental Management and Monitoring Plan
(EMP) are:
 The environmental survey to determine the project's environmental impacts
(zero point of the environment);
 The definition of action plans to reduce environmental impacts and improve the
environmental performance of the project (construction and operation);
 Training and awareness-raising of staff and people involved in the project
(drilling companies, plant operator, etc.);
 The field monitoring programme to anticipate and evaluate the project in the
field and implement corrective and preventive actions during the exploratory
and exploitation phases.
The EMP must be presented at scheduled public meetings and implemented in
accordance with the proposals made by local stakeholders (elected officials,
CSOs, public, residents, etc.) and taking into account their technical feasibility.
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Martinique example (9)
 Consultation (elected officials, State agencies, CSOs, public)
 Objectives of consultation
o
Enhance and share the findings (state of
the environment, state of knowledge on the
impact of geothermal energy on the
environment and socio-economic activities)
o
Pose and discuss important questions
o
Draft the EMP in with a co-constructive
approach
 Materials used
o
Graphic representation of TendemFootprint
o
Mapping including an overview of
environmental issues
o
Generic sheets of environmental impacts
and related measures
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Martinique example (10)
 Consultation (elected officials, State agencies, CSOs, public)
 Three public meetings per site
 Preparation of communication materials (PPT)
 Discussion facilitation
 Summary of discussions and decisions (report)
 Development of a "general public" booklet
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Another example - Dominica. Background papers based on the environmental
feasibility study of the geothermal prospect in Valley Roseau, Dominica (INTERREG
Caribbean Geothermal Project Phase 1 - Nov 2008)
General public brochure on
geothermal energy
Brochure on the local issues of
geothermal energy linked to the project
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Dominica example (2)
Brochure on environmental
impacts and mitigation measures
to be implemented
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Promotion of the process with the production of a “Guide for environmental
excellence for geothermal energy” within the framework of the Caribbean
Geothermal Project Phase 2 (ongoing)
The guide is primarily a methodological guide, based on a chronological approach to
the development and life cycle of a typical project:
 Step by step, from the identification of resources, through facility construction
and operation, to dismantling of equipment and site recovery,
 maintaining the objective of ensuring the best possible integration of the project
in its natural and human environment.
For each step described above, the guide will discuss and develop the integration of
environmental aspects to meet the goal of a successful environmental integration project:
 impacts of technical options on the natural and/or human environment
 measures to:
o
o
o
o
Assess the impacts
Reduce them
Offset them
Monitor them
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Thank you - Muchas Gracias - Merci
www.ademe.fr
www.teranov.com
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