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Exergy Sustainability Indicators as a Tool in Industrial Ecology

Author

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  • Anita Zvolinschi
  • Signe Kjelstrup
  • Olav Bolland
  • Hedzer J. van der Kooi

Abstract

Life‐cycle assessment is an established tool for industrial ecology. An analysis of the energy use in the chemical and other energy‐intensive industries is still under discussion in this field. We argue that the concept of exergy can play a role in industrial ecology, using a recent Norwegian power production policy question as illustration. The question is whether to build a standard natural gas‐ or a hydrogen‐fired gas‐turbine combined‐cycle power plant to meet increased needs for electricity in Norway. Several indicators are relevant for this discussion, and we calculate three based on exergy calculations, as proposed in the literature. The indicators are exergy renewability, exergy efficiency, and environmental compatibility. We show how these indicators can be used to evaluate paths for sustainable power production in two gas‐fired combined‐cycle power plants. We found that the two plants in question were equivalent, as judged by their exergy renewability and their environmental compatibility, but not by their exergy efficiency. This indicator favored the standard power plant, possibly in combination with carbon dioxide (CO2) sequestration in a depleted gas reservoir. The analysis suggested that the present situation for power production in gas‐fired combined‐cycle power plants is such that one may have to choose in general between power production with a high exergy efficiency, but low renewability indicator, or the opposite, low exergy efficiency and high renewability indicator. The general importance of exergy analysis was demonstrated by this example. It enables communication between different professional groups. The technological details, understood by the engineers, can be transposed to meaningful aggregated indicators for decision makers.

Suggested Citation

  • Anita Zvolinschi & Signe Kjelstrup & Olav Bolland & Hedzer J. van der Kooi, 2007. "Exergy Sustainability Indicators as a Tool in Industrial Ecology," Journal of Industrial Ecology, Yale University, vol. 11(4), pages 85-98, October.
    • Handle: RePEc:bla:inecol:v:11:y:2007:i:4:p:85-98
    DOI: 10.1162/jiec.2007.1142
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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Marc A. Rosen, 2012. "Engineering Sustainability: A Technical Approach to Sustainability," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 4(9), pages 1-23, September.
    2. Eniko Kovacs & Maria-Alexandra Hoaghia & Lacrimioara Senila & Daniela Alexandra Scurtu & Diana Elena Dumitras & Cecilia Roman, 2020. "Sustainability Problematization and Modeling Opportunities," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(23), pages 1-26, December.
    3. Lo Prete, Chiara & Hobbs, Benjamin F. & Norman, Catherine S. & Cano-Andrade, Sergio & Fuentes, Alejandro & von Spakovsky, Michael R. & Mili, Lamine, 2012. "Sustainability and reliability assessment of microgrids in a regional electricity market," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 41(1), pages 192-202.
    4. Sofia Russo & Alicia Valero & Antonio Valero & Marta Iglesias-Émbil, 2021. "Exergy-Based Assessment of Polymers Production and Recycling: An Application to the Automotive Sector," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(2), pages 1-19, January.
    5. Chen, Zhengjie & Ma, Wenhui & Wu, Jijun & Wei, Kuixian & Yang, Xi & Lv, Guoqiang & Xie, Keqiang & Yu, Jie, 2016. "Influence of carbothermic reduction on submerged arc furnace energy efficiency during silicon production," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 116(P1), pages 687-693.
    6. Charalampos Michalakakis & Jonathan M. Cullen, 2022. "Dynamic exergy analysis: From industrial data to exergy flows," Journal of Industrial Ecology, Yale University, vol. 26(1), pages 12-26, February.
    7. Marc A. Rosen & Hossam A. Kishawy, 2012. "Sustainable Manufacturing and Design: Concepts, Practices and Needs," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 4(2), pages 1-21, January.
    8. Børset, M.T. & Kolbeinsen, L. & Tveit, H. & Kjelstrup, S., 2015. "Exergy based efficiency indicators for the silicon furnace," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 90(P2), pages 1916-1921.
    9. Liao, Wenjie & Heijungs, Reinout & Huppes, Gjalt, 2012. "Thermodynamic analysis of human–environment systems: A review focused on industrial ecology," Ecological Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 228(C), pages 76-88.
    10. Jadhao, Sachin B. & Pandit, Aniruddha B. & Bakshi, Bhavik R., 2017. "The evolving metabolism of a developing economy: India’s exergy flows over four decades," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 206(C), pages 851-857.

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