The search for most cost-effective way of achieving environmental sustainability status in electricity generation: Environmental life cycle cost analysis of energy scenarios

Weldu, Yemane W.; Assefa, Getachew

doi:10.1016/j.jclepro.2016.11.047

Cited by 38 publications

(13 citation statements)

References 12 publications

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“…The integration of environmental analysis and economic analysis was presented by assigning the associated values on a two-dimensional axis, with the horizontal axis representing the environmental cost result and the vertical axis showing the economic cost results [75]. Environmental and economic modeling results showed that when both the environment and economy were considered, the post-crisis period resulted in a significant reduction in CO 2 emissions as a result of changing suppliers.…”

Section: Discussion and Interpretationmentioning

confidence: 99%

Environmental and Economic Life Cycle Analysis of Primary Construction Materials Sourcing under Geopolitical Uncertainties: A Case Study of Qatar

2019

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Environmental and economic cycles under varying geopolitical uncertainties can lead to unsustainable patterns that significantly and negatively affect the welfare of nations. With the ever-increasing negative environmental and economic impacts, the ability to achieve sustainability is hindered if the implications are not properly assessed in challenging geopolitical crises. The infrequent and fluctuating nature of these challenging geopolitical settings causes disregard and neglect for exploration within this issue. In this study, a comparative life cycle assessment was conducted as a method to evaluate the environmental and economic impacts of construction material flow across country boundaries. Based on the results found from the life cycle assessment, an environmental forecast and sensitivity analysis were established. Considering the State of Qatar as a case study, asphalt and bitumen, cement, limestone, sand, and steel were analyzed from gate-to-gate depending on transportation mode and distances used within both the pre-crisis and post-crisis sub-periods, comparing carbon emissions and costs. The results showed that the mode of transport plays a significant role in terms of carbon dioxide emissions as opposed to distance traveled. However, the increase in distance coupled to the majority shift from land to sea-based transport resulted in an overall increase in carbon emissions and costs post-crisis. In addition, the analysis of the environmental and economic impact assessment using the average CO2 equivalent (CO2-e) per kilogram and the unit price of the five primary construction materials has shown a significant, 70.68% increase in global warming potentials (GWP) after the crisis, coupled with an increase in the overall cost. An assessment of environmental and economic impacts during geopolitical uncertainties allows for the significant ability to realize sustainable measures to greatly reduce economic and environmental degradation.

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Section: Discussion and Interpretationmentioning

confidence: 99%

Environmental and Economic Life Cycle Analysis of Primary Construction Materials Sourcing under Geopolitical Uncertainties: A Case Study of Qatar

2019

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“…As a result, a societal LCC is a stand-alone method, and it is not followed by environmental or economic impacts results. This study used a model for environmental life cycle costing [26] to generate the economic impact of societal costs per kWh. The model developed in this study accounts the external cost for climate change, ecosystem, and human health damages.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…LCC refers to all costs associated with the life cycle of the product system, including internalized cost of external effects, over a given study period [24,25]. A LCC was conducted, with the same system specification as for LCA, to quantify the cost per functional unit of 1 kWh electricity generation [26]. The study period has been assumed to be 29 years based on the life-time for coal plants, as determined by the government of Alberta, and it begins at the same time with the base date.…”

Section: System Boundarymentioning

confidence: 99%

A Societal Life Cycle Costing of Energy Production: The Implications of Environmental Externalities

Weldu¹

2018

Low Carbon Transition - Technical, Economic and Policy Assessment

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Alberta's electricity market is deregulated; consequently, it does not recognize the benefits of renewables. This research applied a novel societal life cycle costing approach to estimate the economic values of environmental damages to society that result from coal and biomass fired electricity generation. Although coal fuel is cheaper to produce electricity, yet its societal life cycle costing (LCC) is significantly higher than bioenergy systems. Mainstreaming of environmental externalities creates market advantages for low carbon energy sources. Coal power plants cause Alberta to lose at least $117.8 billion per annum due to externalities. Ending electricity from coal with wood pellet can save 53.7 billion USD per year. The societal life cycle cost per year of coal power plants in Alberta represents 15.8% of the province's GDP and 343.7% of the total expenditure on health. The transformative potential presented by carbon pricing toward a cleaner future is limited. Externalities for health and ecosystems should also be priced and included in the retail price of electricity.

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“…Searching for cost effective and environmentally friendly energy sources has become more critical with increasing concerns about sustainability [1]. Electricity is one of the main contributors to global environmental impacts.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Greenhouse Gas Emission Assessment from Electricity Production in the Czech Republic

et al. 2018

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The paper deals with the computational life cycle assessment (LCA) model of electricity generation in the Czech Republic. The goal of the paper was to determine the environmental assessment of electricity generation. Taking into account the trend of electricity generation from 2000 to 2050, the paper was focused on electricity generation evaluation in this country in view of its current state and future perspectives. The computational LCA model was done using the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) method, which allowed the assessment of greenhouse gas emissions. For the assessment, 1 Megawatt hour of the obtained electricity (MWhe) was used as a functional unit. The cradle-to-gate approach was employed. The system boundary covered all the technologies included in the electricity mix of the country. Resulting from the analysis, the solids, lignite in particular, was assessed as an energy source with the most negative impact on the emissions of greenhouse gas. This article results from international cooperation of a Czech-Polish team in the field of computational LCA models. It presents partial results of the team cooperation which serves as a base for following comparison of Czech and Polish systems of electricity generation.

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The search for most cost-effective way of achieving environmental sustainability status in electricity generation: Environmental life cycle cost analysis of energy scenarios

Cited by 38 publications

References 12 publications

Environmental and Economic Life Cycle Analysis of Primary Construction Materials Sourcing under Geopolitical Uncertainties: A Case Study of Qatar

Environmental and Economic Life Cycle Analysis of Primary Construction Materials Sourcing under Geopolitical Uncertainties: A Case Study of Qatar

A Societal Life Cycle Costing of Energy Production: The Implications of Environmental Externalities

Greenhouse Gas Emission Assessment from Electricity Production in the Czech Republic

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