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Net energy analysis and life cycle energy assessment of electricity supply in Chile: Present status and future scenarios

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  • Raugei, Marco
  • Leccisi, Enrica
  • Fthenakis, Vasilis
  • Escobar Moragas, Rodrigo
  • Simsek, Yeliz

Abstract

Chile is one of the fastest-growing economies in Latin America, with a mainly fossil fuelled electricity demand and a population projected to surpass 20 million by 2035. Chile is undergoing a transition to renewable energies due to ambitious national targets, namely to generate 60% of its electricity from local renewable energy by 2035, and to achieve a 45%renewable energy share for all new electric installed capacity. In this work, we present a comprehensive energy analysis of the electricity generation technologies currently deployed in Chile. Then, we analyse potential future scenarios, considering a large deployment of RE, mainly PV and wind, to replace coal-fired electricity. The life cycle assessment (LCA) and net energy analysis (NEA) methods are applied in parallel to provide complementary indicators, respectively nr-CED and EROI, and identify weak spots and future opportunities. Special focus is given to the effect on EROI of transporting fossil fuels to Chile. Results show that a large deployment of PV and wind can significantly improve the overall net energy performance of electricity generation in Chile, while leading to an electricity supply mix that is >60% less reliant on non-renewable energy.

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  • Raugei, Marco & Leccisi, Enrica & Fthenakis, Vasilis & Escobar Moragas, Rodrigo & Simsek, Yeliz, 2018. "Net energy analysis and life cycle energy assessment of electricity supply in Chile: Present status and future scenarios," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 162(C), pages 659-668.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:energy:v:162:y:2018:i:c:p:659-668
    DOI: 10.1016/j.energy.2018.08.051
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    2. David J. Murphy & Marco Raugei & Michael Carbajales-Dale & Brenda Rubio Estrada, 2022. "Energy Return on Investment of Major Energy Carriers: Review and Harmonization," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(12), pages 1-20, June.
    3. Mudan Wang & Xianqiang Mao & Youkai Xing & Jianhong Lu & Peng Song & Zhengyan Liu & Zhi Guo & Kevin Tu & Eric Zusman, 2021. "Breaking down barriers on PV trade will facilitate global carbon mitigation," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 12(1), pages 1-16, December.
    4. Patrizia Ghisellini & Renato Passaro & Sergio Ulgiati, 2021. "Revisiting Keynes in the Light of the Transition to Circular Economy," Circular Economy and Sustainability,, Springer.
    5. Marco Raugei & Alessio Peluso & Enrica Leccisi & Vasilis Fthenakis, 2020. "Life-Cycle Carbon Emissions and Energy Return on Investment for 80% Domestic Renewable Electricity with Battery Storage in California (U.S.A.)," Energies, MDPI, vol. 13(15), pages 1-22, August.
    6. Kevin Pahud & Greg de Temmerman, 2022. "Overview of the EROI, a tool to measure energy availability through the energy transition," Post-Print hal-03780085, HAL.
    7. Marco Raugei & Alessio Peluso & Enrica Leccisi & Vasilis Fthenakis, 2021. "Life-Cycle Carbon Emissions and Energy Implications of High Penetration of Photovoltaics and Electric Vehicles in California," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(16), pages 1-19, August.
    8. Mohamed R. Gomaa & Hegazy Rezk & Ramadan J. Mustafa & Mujahed Al-Dhaifallah, 2019. "Evaluating the Environmental Impacts and Energy Performance of a Wind Farm System Utilizing the Life-Cycle Assessment Method: A Practical Case Study," Energies, MDPI, vol. 12(17), pages 1-25, August.
    9. Osorio-Aravena, Juan Carlos & Aghahosseini, Arman & Bogdanov, Dmitrii & Caldera, Upeksha & Ghorbani, Narges & Mensah, Theophilus Nii Odai & Khalili, Siavash & Muñoz-Cerón, Emilio & Breyer, Christian, 2021. "The impact of renewable energy and sector coupling on the pathway towards a sustainable energy system in Chile," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 151(C).
    10. Marco Raugei & Mashael Kamran & Allan Hutchinson, 2020. "A Prospective Net Energy and Environmental Life-Cycle Assessment of the UK Electricity Grid," Energies, MDPI, vol. 13(9), pages 1-28, May.
    11. Marco Raugei, 2023. "Addressing a Counterproductive Dichotomy in the Energy Transition Debate," Biophysical Economics and Resource Quality, Springer, vol. 8(3), pages 1-6, September.
    12. Icaza-Alvarez, Daniel & Jurado, Francisco & Tostado-Véliz, Marcos & Arevalo, Paúl, 2022. "Decarbonization of the Galapagos Islands. Proposal to transform the energy system into 100% renewable by 2050," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 189(C), pages 199-220.

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