GEO-ENVIRONMENTAL DUE DILIGENCE AIMED AT SELECTION OF SITES DESIGNATED FOR ACCOMMODATION OF MOBILE GAS TURBINE POWER PLANTS IN RECREATIONAL LANDS

• Main Authors: Bryukhan' Fedor Fedorovich, Kos'kin Igor' Olegovich
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Moscow State University of Civil Engineering (MGSU) 2012-10-01
• Series: Vestnik MGSU
• Subjects: mobile gas turbine plants; recreational lands; noise pollution; surface waters; soil; environment; air pollution; underground waters; geological environment
• Online Access: http://vestnikmgsu.ru/files/archive/issues/2012/5/ru/25.pdf

Mobile gas turbine plants (MGTP) are the key sources of power designated to improve the safety of power supply in case of power deficit. In Russia, their pilot launch was initiated 5 - 6 years ago, and since then, they have demonstrated their high efficiency. In view of the upcoming Winter Olympic Games, organizations responsible for continuous power supply have resolved to build three MGTPs in Sochi. As Sochi is located in the natural area of preferential protection that has been granted Federal significance, construction and operation of the aforementioned facilities requires a detailed geo-environmental due diligence. Significant efforts have been exerted to substantiate the accommodation of MGTPs in three different sites and to identify the maximal number of power generators per site with account for the ecological restrictions imposed onto the natural areas of preferential protection. The impact produced by MGTPs on the environment depends on their technological features and the appropriate natural and anthropogenic properties of their sites and adjacent lands. Therefore, selection of new sites must be backed by the assessment of negative consequences. This requirement applies mainly to recreational lands. Recent sources report that the principal factors of negative impact of MGTPs include the chemical pollution of the ambient air and the noise pollution of residential buildings located in the immediate proximity to MGTPs. Factors of secondary importance include the pollution of surface and underground waters, soils, intrusion into the geological environment, production of waste, thermal and electromagnetic pollutions. The authors assess different factors of impact produced by MGTPs on the environment. As a result of the geo-ecological due diligence it has been discovered that the maximal number of power generators per site must not exceed 2-4, if the oxide emission technology is employed. At the same time, failure to employ the above technology must prevent any MGTPs from being installed there. Noise pollution assessments have demonstrated that acceptable noise intensity will be exceeded at the distance of up to 300 meters from the MGTP. Therefore, construction of MGTPs requires noise protection arrangements, for example, installation of specialized noise-absorbing fences or screens. It is noteworthy that soil pollution, geological environment pollution, thermal and electromagnetic pollution may be disregarded due to inconsiderable period of time while MGTPs are in operation. Adjusted calculations and assessments are to be made at the stage of the project development.