The environmental impact of using large electrical generators in the University of Technology in Iraq is studied. These generators are utilised due to the lack of electricity from the national grid. The emissions are very high and exceed the acceptable limits set by the United States Environmental Protection Agency, the World Health Organization and Iraqi Standard No. 4950. The impact of switching to the use of photovoltaic cell systems, as what is done in the Energy and Renewable Energies Technology Center (ERETC), and the environmental impact of this transformation are also studied.
Results show that when the generators are used, high concentrations of PM1, PM2.5 and PM10 are released, exposing students and staff to health hazards. The amounts of pollutants from SO2, H2S, NOx and volatile organic compounds are high due to the high sulphur content in Iraqi diesel fuel. Generator noise is extremely high that it could pose serious health risks to university staff and students. Furthermore, using the photovoltaic system considerably reduces PM1.0 and PM2.5 concentrations by 85.6% and 52.4%, respectively. The levels of CO2, CO, H2S and SO2 decrease by 60.5%, 49.6%, 91.7% and 95.3%, respectively. The noise inside ERETC is reduced by 29% compared with that in the external environment. Shifting towards the generation of photovoltaic electricity instead of using fossil fuel generators provides an immediate and appropriate treatment of Iraqi atmospheric pollution.