Li, X, Feng, K, Siu, YL et al. (1 more author) (2015) Challenges faced when energy meets water: CO2 and water implications of power generation in inner Mongolia of China. Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, 45. 419 - 430. ISSN 1364-0321
Abstract
The number of energy–water nexus studies has been increasing recently due to the significant linkages between energy generation and water consumption, but no study has looked at water quantity and quality impacts as well as carbon emissions associated with electricity production. Using integrated hybrid life cycle analysis, this study examines the life cycle impacts of pulverized coal, wind power and solar power on carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions, water consumption and water quality in Inner Mongolia, China. Our research findings show that pulverized coal emits 1213.5 g of CO2 per kilowatt-hour (g/kW h) of electricity output, compared with 34.4 g/kW h for wind power and 67.4 g/kW h for solar photovoltaic. Water consumption for pulverized coal, wind power and solar photovoltaic are 3.3, 0.7 and 0.9 l/kW h, respectively. The water requirement to dilute the life cycle chemical oxygen demand (COD) discharge would increase water consumption during production processes of pulverized coal, wind power and solar photovoltaic systems by 0.11, 0.09 and 0.19 l/kW h, respectively. Given that the State Grid Corporation of China aims to increase the power generation capacity that provides power supply to regions outside Inner Mongolia to 120 GW by 2020, electricity outflows could contribute 520 million tonnes of CO2 emissions, which would be similar to the CO2 emissions of the UK in 2010, and 1460.8 million m3 of water. This study reveals that substantial reductions in CO2 emissions and water consumption can be attained if the existing coal-dominated power generation was substituted by wind power in Inner Mongolia.
Metadata
Item Type: | Article |
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Authors/Creators: |
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Copyright, Publisher and Additional Information: | © 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. This is an author produced version of a paper published in Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews. Uploaded in accordance with the publisher's self-archiving policy. |
Keywords: | Energy-water nexus; chemical oxygen demand; integrated hybrid life-cycle analysis; input-output analysis |
Dates: |
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Institution: | The University of Leeds |
Academic Units: | The University of Leeds > Faculty of Environment (Leeds) > School of Earth and Environment (Leeds) > Sustainability Research Institute (SRI) (Leeds) |
Depositing User: | Symplectic Publications |
Date Deposited: | 15 Oct 2015 14:33 |
Last Modified: | 16 Jan 2018 15:12 |
Published Version: | http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.rser.2015.01.070 |
Status: | Published |
Publisher: | Elsevier |
Identification Number: | 10.1016/j.rser.2015.01.070 |
Open Archives Initiative ID (OAI ID): | oai:eprints.whiterose.ac.uk:86053 |