Linking Greenhouse Gas Emissions Footprint and Energy Return on Investment in Electricity Generation Planning

Linking Greenhouse Gas Emissions Footprint and Energy Return on Investment in Electricity Generation Planning

WoS Article

This paper aims to relate total greenhouse gas emissions footprint with Energy Return on Energy Invested for Coal, Natural Gas, Hydro, Geothermal, Wind and Solar PV electricity generation methods. Emissions from construction, decommissioning, operations and maintenance, and fuel, are all included in the analysis. Often the generation equipment is imported so much of the emissions associated with construction are “virtual” emissions (i.e. imported). These virtual emissions contribute to a peak emission as renewable generation is installed at the start to ultimately lead to a lower emissions factor for a countries’ electricity system over time. The peak occurs due to the short-term emissions resulting from construction and a long-term emissions reduction due to the low/zero carbon renewable generation installed. The electricity sector in New Zealand is used as a case study for projected new generation through to 2050 for four scenarios (a) Global Low Carbon, (b) Mixed Renewables, (c) High Grid and (d) High Solar. The study demonstrates that as total greenhouse gas footprints are included an emissions peak occurs due to new construction, mainly because of renewable generation, especially solar and high energy emissions factors in countries manufacturing generation equipment.

This paper aims to relate total greenhouse gas emissions footprint with Energy Return on Energy Invested for Coal, Natural Gas, Hydro, Geothermal, Wind and Solar PV electricity generation methods. Emissions from construction, decommissioning, operations and maintenance, and fuel, are all included in the analysis. Often the generation equipment is imported so much of the emissions associated with construction are “virtual” emissions (i.e. imported). These virtual emissions contribute to a peak emission as renewable generation is installed at the start to ultimately lead to a lower emissions factor for a countries’ electricity system over time. The peak occurs due to the short-term emissions resulting from construction and a long-term emissions reduction due to the low/zero carbon renewable generation installed. The electricity sector in New Zealand is used as a case study for projected new generation through to 2050 for four scenarios (a) Global Low Carbon, (b) Mixed Renewables, (c) High Grid and (d) High Solar. The study demonstrates that as total greenhouse gas footprints are included an emissions peak occurs due to new construction, mainly because of renewable generation, especially solar and high energy emissions factors in countries manufacturing generation equipment.

Energy planning; Energy ratio analysis; Energy return on investment; Life cycle analysis; Primary energy factor; Renewable energy; Carbon; Construction equipment; Electric power generation; Emission control; Geothermal energy; Greenhouse gases; Investments; Life cycle; Particulate emissions; Profitability; Energy ratio; Energy return on investments; Primary energies; Renewable energies; Gas emissions

Energy planning; Energy ratio analysis; Energy return on investment; Life cycle analysis; Primary energy factor; Renewable energy; Carbon; Construction equipment; Electric power generation; Emission control; Geothermal energy; Greenhouse gases; Investments; Life cycle; Particulate emissions; Profitability; Energy ratio; Energy return on investments; Primary energies; Renewable energies; Gas emissions

Walmsley, M.R.W.; Walmsley, T.G.; Atkins, M.J.

2019

01.11.2018

Elsevier Ltd

0959-6526

Journal of Cleaner Production

200

200

United States of America

911

921

11