Efficiency versus System Synergism: An Advanced Life Cycle Assessment for a Novel Decarbonized Grid System Innovation

Shukai Liu, Liang Dong, Ling Han, Jiajia Huan and Baihao Qiao
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Shukai Liu: Guangdong Power Grid Co., Ltd., Guangzhou 510080, China
Liang Dong: Department of Public Policy, City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong 999077, China
Ling Han: College of Environmental Sciences and Engineering, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China
Jiajia Huan: Guangdong Power Grid Co., Ltd., Guangzhou 510080, China
Baihao Qiao: Guangzhou Institute of Technology, Xidian University, Xi’an 710071, China

Energies, 2022, vol. 15, issue 12, 1-15

Abstract: The power sector plays a significant role in carbon neutrality strategies, and the grid system is a crucial part of the power sector. In particular, with less mitigation potential from technology efficiency, the credit from whole life cycles is critical. This paper describes the investigation of the environmental impacts of various scenarios from the perspective of life cycles. By using the life cycle assessment (LCA) method, various grid systems are examined as a case study, including a traditional, renewable energy, and power storage grid system, as well as a microgrid, in Guangdong. The results highlight the fact that with the systematic improvement of a grid, significant environmental benefits can be achieved. For a grid system, optimization through technology has significant carbon reduction effects even if the power grid structure is not changed. Using renewable energy instead of traditional fuel can reduce the emission of 0.05 kg of CO 2 -equivalent greenhouse gas per 1 kWh of electricity produced, which is 7.9% of the baseline, and microgrid technology leads to a much greater carbon reduction potential of 23.8% of the baseline. The role of energy storage is undervalued due to the limitations of the data.

Keywords: decarbonized grid system; LCA; microgrid; energy storage; new power system (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q Q0 Q4 Q40 Q41 Q42 Q43 Q47 Q48 Q49 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
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