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The relative contribution of waste heat from power plants to global warming

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  • Zevenhoven, R.
  • Beyene, A.

Abstract

Evidence on global climate change, being caused primarily by rising levels of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere, is perceived as fairly conclusive. It is generally attributed to the enhanced greenhouse effect, resulting from higher levels of trapped heat radiation by increasing atmospheric concentrations of gases such as CO2 (carbon dioxide). Much of these gases originate from power plants and fossil fuel combustion. However, the fate of vast amounts of waste heat rejected into the environment has evaded serious scholarly research. While 1 kWh electricity generation in a typical condensing coal-fired power plant emits around 1 kg of CO2, it also puts about 2 kWh energy into the environment as low grade heat. For nuclear (fission) electricity the waste heat release per kWh is somewhat higher despite much lower CO2 releases. This paper evaluates the impact of waste heat rejection combined with CO2 emissions using Finland and California as case examples. The immediate effects of waste heat release from power production and radiative forcing by CO2 are shown to be similar. However, the long-term (hundred years) global warming by CO2-caused radiative forcing is about twenty-five times stronger than the immediate effects, being responsible for around 92% of the heat-up caused by electricity production.

Suggested Citation

  • Zevenhoven, R. & Beyene, A., 2011. "The relative contribution of waste heat from power plants to global warming," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 36(6), pages 3754-3762.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:energy:v:36:y:2011:i:6:p:3754-3762
    DOI: 10.1016/j.energy.2010.10.010
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    Cited by:

    1. Sun, Fangtian & Fu, Lin & Sun, Jian & Zhang, Shigang, 2014. "A new waste heat district heating system with combined heat and power (CHP) based on ejector heat exchangers and absorption heat pumps," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 69(C), pages 516-524.
    2. Ming, Tingzhen & de_Richter, Renaud & Liu, Wei & Caillol, Sylvain, 2014. "Fighting global warming by climate engineering: Is the Earth radiation management and the solar radiation management any option for fighting climate change?," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 31(C), pages 792-834.
    3. Yang, Jing & Zhang, Zhiyong & Hong, Ming & Yang, Mingwan & Chen, Jiayu, 2020. "An oligarchy game model for the mobile waste heat recovery energy supply chain," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 210(C).
    4. Zevenhoven, Ron, 2021. "Engineering thermodynamics and sustainability," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 236(C).
    5. Chang, Depeng & Hu, Jianying & Sun, Yanlei & Zhang, Limin & Chen, Yanyan & Luo, Ercang, 2023. "Numerical investigation on key parameters of a double-acting free piston Stirling generator," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 278(PB).
    6. Bilgili, Levent, 2021. "Comparative assessment of alternative marine fuels in life cycle perspective," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 144(C).
    7. Lyden, A. & Brown, C.S. & Kolo, I. & Falcone, G. & Friedrich, D., 2022. "Seasonal thermal energy storage in smart energy systems: District-level applications and modelling approaches," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 167(C).
    8. Behrouzi, Fatemeh & Nakisa, Mehdi & Maimun, Adi & Ahmed, Yasser M., 2016. "Global renewable energy and its potential in Malaysia: A review of Hydrokinetic turbine technology," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 62(C), pages 1270-1281.
    9. Chong, Heap-Yih & Lam, Wei-Haur, 2013. "Ocean renewable energy in Malaysia: The potential of the Straits of Malacca," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 23(C), pages 169-178.
    10. Firth, Anton & Zhang, Bo & Yang, Aidong, 2019. "Quantification of global waste heat and its environmental effects," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 235(C), pages 1314-1334.
    11. Chen, Wei-Hsin & Hou, Yu-Lin & Hung, Chen-I., 2012. "A study of influence of acoustic excitation on carbon dioxide capture by a droplet," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 37(1), pages 311-321.
    12. Hu, Tianle & Xie, Xiaoyun & Jiang, Yi, 2017. "Simulation research on a variable-lift absorption cycle and its application in waste heat recovery of combined heat and power system," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 140(P1), pages 912-921.
    13. Verbruggen, Aviel & Dewallef, Pierre & Quoilin, Sylvain & Wiggin, Michael, 2013. "Unveiling the mystery of Combined Heat & Power (cogeneration)," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 61(C), pages 575-582.
    14. Park, Sung Ho & Lee, Seung Jong & Lee, Jin Wook & Chun, Sung Nam & Lee, Jung Bin, 2015. "The quantitative evaluation of two-stage pre-combustion CO2 capture processes using the physical solvents with various design parameters," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 81(C), pages 47-55.
    15. Rodríguez, R. & Bello, V.G. & Díaz-Aguado, M.B., 2017. "Application of eco-efficiency in a coal-burning power plant benefitting both the environment and citizens: Design of a ‘city water heating’ system," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 189(C), pages 789-799.
    16. Wei, Yu & Zhang, Jiahao & Bai, Lan & Wang, Yizhi, 2023. "Connectedness among El Niño-Southern Oscillation, carbon emission allowance, crude oil and renewable energy stock markets: Time- and frequency-domain evidence based on TVP-VAR model," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 202(C), pages 289-309.

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