Model for Life Cycle Sustainability Assessment of Coal Based Electricity Generation in India

Abstract

Purpose: This study evaluates the environmental efficiency of coal-based electricity generation in India. The study further proposes a new paradigm of life cycle assessment model named CEEPA - Coal Electricity Environmental Performance Assessment (CEEPA). Methods: Life cycle assessment methodology has been used to quantify the impacts of electricity generation from coal. An emission revision model based on pollution and waste produced and its effect categories were proposed after an analytical comparison between three coal-fired thermal power plants in different regions of the country.ReCiPe method was used to conduct the assessment in this study. Software SimaPro was used for LCA analysis. The study was carried out “from cradle to gate” and the functional unit was 1 KWh electricity at the consumer levelResults: The total Global Warming Potential (GWP) values for the three power plants (PP1, PP2 & PP3) are 1,100 g CO2eq/kWh, 1,287 g CO2eq/kWh and 898 g CO2eq/kWh respectively. PP1, PP2 uses Indian coal for electricity generation which is supplied domestically and later sent to the grid, whereas PP3 uses Indonesian coal.Conclusion: The evaluation performed in this study illustrate the latest environmental assessment situation for various technologies in power generation. It also provides an opportunity to suggest areas for possible improvements in the existing electricity generation system based on the quality and quantity of coal used. The empirical findings indicate that the production of coal-based electricity generation has a substantial effect on the use of natural resources, the environment and human health. The implementation of high-efficiency low emission coal-fired power plants is the first step along a pathway to near-zero emissions from coal with carbon capture, use, and storage.