IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/bla/inecol/v16y2012is1ps53-s72.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Life Cycle Greenhouse Gas Emissions of Coal‐Fired Electricity Generation

Author

Listed:
  • Michael Whitaker
  • Garvin A. Heath
  • Patrick O’Donoughue
  • Martin Vorum

Abstract

This systematic review and harmonization of life cycle assessments (LCAs) of utility‐scale coal‐fired electricity generation systems focuses on reducing variability and clarifying central tendencies in estimates of life cycle greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Screening 270 references for quality LCA methods, transparency, and completeness yielded 53 that reported 164 estimates of life cycle GHG emissions. These estimates for subcritical pulverized, integrated gasification combined cycle, fluidized bed, and supercritical pulverized coal combustion technologies vary from 675 to 1,689 grams CO2‐equivalent per kilowatt‐hour (g CO2‐eq/kWh) (interquartile range [IQR]= 890–1,130 g CO2‐eq/kWh; median = 1,001) leading to confusion over reasonable estimates of life cycle GHG emissions from coal‐fired electricity generation. By adjusting published estimates to common gross system boundaries and consistent values for key operational input parameters (most importantly, combustion carbon dioxide emission factor [CEF]), the meta‐analytical process called harmonization clarifies the existing literature in ways useful for decision makers and analysts by significantly reducing the variability of estimates (−53% in IQR magnitude) while maintaining a nearly constant central tendency (−2.2% in median). Life cycle GHG emissions of a specific power plant depend on many factors and can differ from the generic estimates generated by the harmonization approach, but the tightness of distribution of harmonized estimates across several key coal combustion technologies implies, for some purposes, first‐order estimates of life cycle GHG emissions could be based on knowledge of the technology type, coal mine emissions, thermal efficiency, and CEF alone without requiring full LCAs. Areas where new research is necessary to ensure accuracy are also discussed.

Suggested Citation

  • Michael Whitaker & Garvin A. Heath & Patrick O’Donoughue & Martin Vorum, 2012. "Life Cycle Greenhouse Gas Emissions of Coal‐Fired Electricity Generation," Journal of Industrial Ecology, Yale University, vol. 16(s1), pages 53-72, April.
  • Handle: RePEc:bla:inecol:v:16:y:2012:i:s1:p:s53-s72
    DOI: 10.1111/j.1530-9290.2012.00465.x
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1530-9290.2012.00465.x
    Download Restriction: no

    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1111/j.1530-9290.2012.00465.x?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Zhang, Xiaoyue & Huang, Guohe & Liu, Lirong & Li, Kailong, 2022. "Development of a stochastic multistage lifecycle programming model for electric power system planning – A case study for the Province of Saskatchewan, Canada," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 158(C).
    2. Škvorc, Petar & Kozmar, Hrvoje, 2021. "Wind energy harnessing on tall buildings in urban environments," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 152(C).
    3. Gamarra, A.R. & Banacloche, S. & Lechon, Y. & del Río, P., 2023. "Assessing the sustainability impacts of concentrated solar power deployment in Europe in the context of global value chains," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 171(C).
    4. Yawen Han & Wanli Xing & Hongchang Hao & Xin Du & Chongyang Liu, 2022. "Interprovincial Metal and GHG Transfers Embodied in Electricity Transmission across China: Trends and Driving Factors," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(14), pages 1-19, July.
    5. Timo Busch & Matthew Johnson & Thomas Pioch, 2022. "Corporate carbon performance data: Quo vadis?," Journal of Industrial Ecology, Yale University, vol. 26(1), pages 350-363, February.
    6. Andrius Kulsinskas & Petar Durdevic & Daniel Ortiz-Arroyo, 2021. "Internal Wind Turbine Blade Inspections Using UAVs: Analysis and Design Issues," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(2), pages 1-19, January.
    7. Yuan, Yi & Chen, Li & Lyu, Xingbao & Ning, Wenjing & Liu, Wenqi & Tao, Wen-Quan, 2024. "Modeling and optimization of a residential PEMFC-based CHP system under different operating modes," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 353(PA).
    8. Roggenburg, Michael & Warsinger, David M. & Bocanegra Evans, Humberto & Castillo, Luciano, 2021. "Combatting water scarcity and economic distress along the US-Mexico border using renewable powered desalination," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 291(C).
    9. Elshkaki, Ayman & Shen, Lei, 2019. "Energy-material nexus: The impacts of national and international energy scenarios on critical metals use in China up to 2050 and their global implications," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 180(C), pages 903-917.
    10. Steffi Weyand & Carolin Wittich & Liselotte Schebek, 2019. "Environmental Performance of Emerging Photovoltaic Technologies: Assessment of the Status Quo and Future Prospects Based on a Meta-Analysis of Life-Cycle Assessment Studies," Energies, MDPI, vol. 12(22), pages 1-25, November.
    11. Alexandra Devlin & Jannik Kossen & Haulwen Goldie-Jones & Aidong Yang, 2023. "Global green hydrogen-based steel opportunities surrounding high quality renewable energy and iron ore deposits," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 14(1), pages 1-14, December.
    12. Quyen Le Luu & Sonia Longo & Maurizio Cellura & Eleonora Riva Sanseverino & Maria Anna Cusenza & Vincenzo Franzitta, 2020. "A Conceptual Review on Using Consequential Life Cycle Assessment Methodology for the Energy Sector," Energies, MDPI, vol. 13(12), pages 1-19, June.
    13. Harjanne, Atte & Korhonen, Janne M., 2019. "Abandoning the concept of renewable energy," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 127(C), pages 330-340.
    14. Roberts, M.B. & Bruce, A. & MacGill, I., 2019. "Opportunities and barriers for photovoltaics on multi-unit residential buildings: Reviewing the Australian experience," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 104(C), pages 95-110.
    15. Zhang, Jingpeng & Li, Zhengwen & Zhang, Zhihe & Feng, Kai & Yan, Binhang, 2021. "Can thermocatalytic transformations of captured CO2 reduce CO2 emissions?," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 281(C).
    16. Wang, Like & Wang, Yuan & Du, Huibin & Zuo, Jian & Yi Man Li, Rita & Zhou, Zhihua & Bi, Fenfen & Garvlehn, McSimon P., 2019. "A comparative life-cycle assessment of hydro-, nuclear and wind power: A China study," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 249(C), pages 37-45.
    17. Piotr Bórawski & Aneta Bełdycka-Bórawska & Bogdan Klepacki & Lisa Holden & Tomasz Rokicki & Andrzej Parzonko, 2024. "Changes in Gross Nuclear Electricity Production in the European Union," Energies, MDPI, vol. 17(14), pages 1-31, July.
    18. Atif Ali & Theodore W. Koch & Timothy A. Volk & Robert W. Malmsheimer & Mark H. Eisenbies & Danielle Kloster & Tristan R. Brown & Nehan Naim & Obste Therasme, 2022. "The Environmental Life Cycle Assessment of Electricity Production in New York State from Distributed Solar Photovoltaic Systems," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(19), pages 1-20, October.
    19. Lunardi, Marina M. & Needell, David R. & Bauser, Haley & Phelan, Megan & Atwater, Harry A. & Corkish, Richard, 2019. "Life Cycle Assessment of tandem LSC-Si devices," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 181(C), pages 1-10.
    20. Elshkaki, Ayman, 2023. "The implications of material and energy efficiencies for the climate change mitigation potential of global energy transition scenarios," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 267(C).
    21. Richard Wallsgrove & Jisuk Woo & Jae-Hyup Lee & Lorraine Akiba, 2021. "The Emerging Potential of Microgrids in the Transition to 100% Renewable Energy Systems," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(6), pages 1-28, March.
    22. Jiang, Junxia & Gao, Xiaoqing & Lv, Qingquan & Li, Zhenchao & Li, Peidu, 2021. "Observed impacts of utility-scale photovoltaic plant on local air temperature and energy partitioning in the barren areas," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 174(C), pages 157-169.
    23. Wang, An & Tu, Ran & Gai, Yijun & Pereira, Lucas G. & Vaughan, J. & Posen, I. Daniel & Miller, Eric J. & Hatzopoulou, Marianne, 2020. "Capturing uncertainty in emission estimates related to vehicle electrification and implications for metropolitan greenhouse gas emission inventories," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 265(C).
    24. Robin Taylor & William Bodel & Laurence Stamford & Gregg Butler, 2022. "A Review of Environmental and Economic Implications of Closing the Nuclear Fuel Cycle—Part One: Wastes and Environmental Impacts," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(4), pages 1-35, February.

    More about this item

    Statistics

    Access and download statistics

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:bla:inecol:v:16:y:2012:i:s1:p:s53-s72. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    We have no bibliographic references for this item. You can help adding them by using this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Wiley Content Delivery (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.blackwellpublishing.com/journal.asp?ref=1088-1980 .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.