Bhagaloo, K, Baboolal, A, Ali, R et al. (5 more authors) (2022) Resource Efficiency as a Guide to Clean and Affordable Energy: A Case Study on Trinidad and Tobago. Chemical Engineering Research and Design, 178. pp. 405-420. ISSN 0263-8762
Abstract
In mitigating the effects of climate change, the global community has begun a sustainable energy transition to curtail anthropogenic emissions — with Small Island Developing States (SIDS) being slow to adapt. Trinidad and Tobago is one such SIDS located in the southern Caribbean, endowed with hydrocarbon resources supporting an active petrochemical sector; which consumes over 50% of electricity generated by outdated, low-efficiency, simple-cycle (SC) gas-based technologies. Our study utilizes techno-economic and environmental assessments to investigate how improved resource and energy efficient power generation can be achieved. Twenty (20) cases were explored, reflecting SC and combined-cycle (CC) operations, renewable energy (RE) penetration and electrification of the petrochemical sector through power-to-X systems. Our results indicate a shift towards greater energy efficiency (50%) and reduced gas utilization (7.2 GJ/MWh reduction) through CC over SC systems, with RE penetration further increasing efficiencies. Furthermore, LCA results fully support a hybrid CC-RE transition, achieving the greatest reduction (55.4%) in CO2 emissions. While power-to-X cases show consolidated environmental benefits through avoided emissions, it is associated with substantially higher costs. Thus, CC systems offer reduced environmental and economic burdens-with RE deployment further supporting sustainable operations and active decarbonization of the local power sector.
Metadata
Item Type: | Article |
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Authors/Creators: |
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Copyright, Publisher and Additional Information: | © 2021 Institution of Chemical Engineers. This is an author produced version of an article published in Chemical Engineering Research and Design. Uploaded in accordance with the publisher's self-archiving policy. |
Keywords: | Resource efficiency; Energy efficiency; Sustainable development goals; Power generation; Clean energy; Life cycle assessments |
Dates: |
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Institution: | The University of Leeds |
Academic Units: | The University of Leeds > Faculty of Engineering & Physical Sciences (Leeds) > School of Chemical & Process Engineering (Leeds) |
Depositing User: | Symplectic Publications |
Date Deposited: | 17 Dec 2021 12:08 |
Last Modified: | 18 Mar 2023 20:49 |
Status: | Published |
Publisher: | Elsevier |
Identification Number: | 10.1016/j.cherd.2021.12.026 |
Open Archives Initiative ID (OAI ID): | oai:eprints.whiterose.ac.uk:181704 |
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