Comparative life cycle assessment of regional electricity supplies in China

Ning Ding, Jingru Liu, Jianxin Yang and Dong Yang

Resources, Conservation & Recycling, 2017, vol. 119, issue C, 47-59

Abstract: In this study, we conducted a life cycle assessment (LCA) of the power sector in 31 provinces in China, with a focus on five major types of power (namely, thermal power, hydropower, solar photovoltaic power (solar power), nuclear power, and wind power). The scope of the life cycle included resources extraction, processing, infrastructure construction, power generation, and transmission. Key results include the following. (1) There are differences in the life cycle global warming potential (GWP) of the five power sources at the national level. In particular, thermal power discharges 19, 66, 123, and 164 times more emissions than solar power, hydropower, wind power, and nuclear power, respectively. (2) There are differences in the GWP of 1kWh of thermal power between provinces and national average. Eighteen provinces have higher GWP comparing with the national average. (3) There are differences in the life cycle GWP of hybrid power between different provinces. Inner Mongolia and Qinghai have the largest and the smallest GWP for 1kWh of hybrid electricity supply, respectively. We also analyzed GWP map caused by total power generation in China. This life cycle inventory of different types of power in provinces can provide technical support for power supply management, energy conservation, and emission reduction at both provincial and state levels. The inventory also provides a basic database for LCAs of materials, products, and industries.

Keywords: Life cycle assessment; Energy consumption; GWP; Power; Province (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2017
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (6)

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:eee:recore:v:119:y:2017:i:c:p:47-59

DOI: 10.1016/j.resconrec.2016.07.010

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