IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/eee/rensus/v129y2020ics1364032120302252.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

A unified ecological assessment of a solar concentrating plant based on an integrated approach joining cosmic exergy analysis with ecological indicators

Author

Listed:
  • Fan, Ying
  • Wu, Xudong
  • Wu, Xiaofang
  • Li, Chaohui
  • Yang, Qing
  • Hayat, Tasawar
  • Alsaedi, Ahmed
  • Wang, Ping
  • Chen, Guoqian

Abstract

A unified ecological assessment is carried out for the 1.5 MW Dahan solar tower power plant in Beijing, by means a thermodynamic approach based on exergy. This study for the first time inventoried a most detailed list of the renewable and nonrenewable inputs of a pilot solar concentrating plant, which are traced to a sufficient detail to be matched with the macro economic statistics. Ecological indices are calculated for an objective assessment of the renewability and sustainability of the solar electricity system. The results reveal that the total resource inputs exceed the electricity output in a thermodynamic measure, suggesting that the solar plant with a designed life of twenty years is ecologically unfriendly. The purchased inputs account for more than 99% of the total resource inputs. It is found that the system needs to be operating for no less than 28 years before achieving ecological benefits. The ecological performance of the pilot solar concentrating plant is also compared with other forms of electricity generation systems. The findings quantitively support existing arguments doubting the renewability and sustainability of solar plants and provide a benchmark for unified evaluation of renewable-based electricity systems.

Suggested Citation

  • Fan, Ying & Wu, Xudong & Wu, Xiaofang & Li, Chaohui & Yang, Qing & Hayat, Tasawar & Alsaedi, Ahmed & Wang, Ping & Chen, Guoqian, 2020. "A unified ecological assessment of a solar concentrating plant based on an integrated approach joining cosmic exergy analysis with ecological indicators," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 129(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:rensus:v:129:y:2020:i:c:s1364032120302252
    DOI: 10.1016/j.rser.2020.109934
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1364032120302252
    Download Restriction: Full text for ScienceDirect subscribers only
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1016/j.rser.2020.109934?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
    ---><---

    As the access to this document is restricted, you may want to search for a different version of it.

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Heard, B.P. & Brook, B.W. & Wigley, T.M.L. & Bradshaw, C.J.A., 2017. "Burden of proof: A comprehensive review of the feasibility of 100% renewable-electricity systems," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 76(C), pages 1122-1133.
    2. Wu, X.D. & Ji, Xi & Li, Chaohui & Xia, X.H. & Chen, G.Q., 2019. "Water footprint of thermal power in China: Implications from the high amount of industrial water use by plant infrastructure of coal-fired generation system," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 132(C), pages 452-461.
    3. Wu, X.D. & Guo, J.L. & Han, M.Y. & Chen, G.Q., 2018. "An overview of arable land use for the world economy: From source to sink via the global supply chain," Land Use Policy, Elsevier, vol. 76(C), pages 201-214.
    4. Wu, X.D. & Xia, X.H. & Chen, G.Q. & Wu, X.F. & Chen, B., 2016. "Embodied energy analysis for coal-based power generation system-highlighting the role of indirect energy cost," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 184(C), pages 936-950.
    5. Chen, G.Q. & Chen, Z.M., 2011. "Greenhouse gas emissions and natural resources use by the world economy: Ecological input–output modeling," Ecological Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 222(14), pages 2362-2376.
    6. Wu, X.D. & Chen, G.Q., 2017. "Energy and water nexus in power generation: The surprisingly high amount of industrial water use induced by solar power infrastructure in China," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 195(C), pages 125-136.
    7. Wang, Changbo & Zhang, Lixiao & Chang, Yuan & Pang, Mingyue, 2015. "Biomass direct-fired power generation system in China: An integrated energy, GHG emissions, and economic evaluation for Salix," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 84(C), pages 155-165.
    8. Chen, G.Q. & Chen, B., 2007. "Resource analysis of the Chinese society 1980-2002 based on exergy--Part 1: Fossil fuels and energy minerals," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 35(4), pages 2038-2050, April.
    9. Nishimura, A. & Hayashi, Y. & Tanaka, K. & Hirota, M. & Kato, S. & Ito, M. & Araki, K. & Hu, E.J., 2010. "Life cycle assessment and evaluation of energy payback time on high-concentration photovoltaic power generation system," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 87(9), pages 2797-2807, September.
    10. Sherwani, A.F. & Usmani, J.A. & Varun, 2010. "Life cycle assessment of solar PV based electricity generation systems: A review," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 14(1), pages 540-544, January.
    11. Siche, J.R. & Agostinho, F. & Ortega, E. & Romeiro, A., 2008. "Sustainability of nations by indices: Comparative study between environmental sustainability index, ecological footprint and the emergy performance indices," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 66(4), pages 628-637, July.
    12. Chen, G.Q. & Yang, Q. & Zhao, Y.H. & Wang, Z.F., 2011. "Nonrenewable energy cost and greenhouse gas emissions of a 1.5Â MW solar power tower plant in China," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 15(4), pages 1961-1967, May.
    13. Klein, Sharon J.W. & Rubin, Edward S., 2013. "Life cycle assessment of greenhouse gas emissions, water and land use for concentrated solar power plants with different energy backup systems," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 63(C), pages 935-950.
    14. Kannan, R. & Leong, K.C. & Osman, R. & Ho, H.K., 2007. "Life cycle energy, emissions and cost inventory of power generation technologies in Singapore," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 11(4), pages 702-715, May.
    15. Gürtürk, Mert & Benli, Hüseyin & Ertürk, Neslihan Koçdemir, 2018. "Effects of different parameters on energy – Exergy and power conversion efficiency of PV modules," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 92(C), pages 426-439.
    16. Kursun, Berrin & Bakshi, Bhavik R. & Mahata, Manoj & Martin, Jay F., 2015. "Life cycle and emergy based design of energy systems in developing countries: Centralized and localized options," Ecological Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 305(C), pages 40-53.
    17. Wu, X.F. & Chen, G.Q. & Wu, X.D. & Yang, Q. & Alsaedi, A. & Hayat, T. & Ahmad, B., 2015. "Renewability and sustainability of biogas system: Cosmic exergy based assessment for a case in China," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 51(C), pages 1509-1524.
    18. Chen, Z.M. & Chen, B. & Chen, G.Q., 2011. "Cosmic exergy based ecological assessment for a wetland in Beijing," Ecological Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 222(2), pages 322-329.
    19. Bayrak, Fatih & Abu-Hamdeh, Nidal & Alnefaie, Khaled A. & Öztop, Hakan F., 2017. "A review on exergy analysis of solar electricity production," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 74(C), pages 755-770.
    20. Stoppato, A., 2008. "Life cycle assessment of photovoltaic electricity generation," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 33(2), pages 224-232.
    21. Harjanne, Atte & Korhonen, Janne M., 2019. "Abandoning the concept of renewable energy," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 127(C), pages 330-340.
    22. Karasavvas, Evgenios & Panopoulos, Kyriakos D. & Papadopoulou, Simira & Voutetakis, Spyros, 2020. "Energy and exergy analysis of the integration of concentrated solar power with calcium looping for power production and thermochemical energy storage," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 154(C), pages 743-753.
    23. Wu, X.D. & Guo, J.L. & Chen, G.Q., 2018. "The striking amount of carbon emissions by the construction stage of coal-fired power generation system in China," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 117(C), pages 358-369.
    24. Wu, X.D. & Guo, J.L. & Ji, Xi & Chen, G.Q., 2019. "Energy use in world economy from household-consumption-based perspective," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 127(C), pages 287-298.
    25. Atif, Maimoon. & Al-Sulaiman, Fahad A., 2017. "Energy and exergy analyses of solar tower power plant driven supercritical carbon dioxide recompression cycles for six different locations," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 68(P1), pages 153-167.
    26. Ehtiwesh, Ismael A.S. & Coelho, Margarida C. & Sousa, Antonio C.M., 2016. "Exergetic and environmental life cycle assessment analysis of concentrated solar power plants," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 56(C), pages 145-155.
    27. Cocco, Daniele & Petrollese, Mario & Tola, Vittorio, 2017. "Exergy analysis of concentrating solar systems for heat and power production," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 130(C), pages 192-203.
    28. Sciubba, Enrico, 2003. "Extended exergy accounting applied to energy recovery from waste: The concept of total recycling," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 28(13), pages 1315-1334.
    29. Chen, B. & Chen, G.Q., 2007. "Resource analysis of the Chinese society 1980-2002 based on exergy--Part 2: Renewable energy sources and forest," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 35(4), pages 2051-2064, April.
    30. Rajaeifar, Mohammad Ali & Sadeghzadeh Hemayati, Saeed & Tabatabaei, Meisam & Aghbashlo, Mortaza & Mahmoudi, Seyed Bagher, 2019. "A review on beet sugar industry with a focus on implementation of waste-to-energy strategy for power supply," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 103(C), pages 423-442.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

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


    Cited by:

    1. Naili, Nabiha & Kooli, Sami, 2021. "Solar-assisted ground source heat pump system operated in heating mode: A case study in Tunisia," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 145(C).
    2. Martínez-Martínez, Yenisleidy & Dewulf, Jo & Aguayo, Mauricio & Casas-Ledón, Yannay, 2023. "Sustainable wind energy planning through ecosystem service impact valuation and exergy: A study case in south-central Chile," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 178(C).

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Wu, Xudong & Li, Chaohui & Shao, Ling & Meng, Jing & Zhang, Lixiao & Chen, Guoqian, 2021. "Is solar power renewable and carbon-neutral: Evidence from a pilot solar tower plant in China under a systems view," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 138(C).
    2. Wu, X.D. & Ji, Xi & Li, Chaohui & Xia, X.H. & Chen, G.Q., 2019. "Water footprint of thermal power in China: Implications from the high amount of industrial water use by plant infrastructure of coal-fired generation system," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 132(C), pages 452-461.
    3. Wu, X.D. & Guo, J.L. & Chen, G.Q., 2018. "The striking amount of carbon emissions by the construction stage of coal-fired power generation system in China," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 117(C), pages 358-369.
    4. Naseri, Hakim & Parashkoohi, Mohammad Gholami & Ranjbar, Iraj & Zamani, Davood Mohammad, 2021. "Energy-economic and life cycle assessment of sugarcane production in different tillage systems," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 217(C).
    5. Zhang, Xiaohong & Wu, Liqian & Zhang, Rong & Deng, Shihuai & Zhang, Yanzong & Wu, Jun & Li, Yuanwei & Lin, Lili & Li, Li & Wang, Yinjun & Wang, Lilin, 2013. "Evaluating the relationships among economic growth, energy consumption, air emissions and air environmental protection investment in China," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 18(C), pages 259-270.
    6. Wu, X.D. & Guo, J.L. & Ji, Xi & Chen, G.Q., 2019. "Energy use in world economy from household-consumption-based perspective," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 127(C), pages 287-298.
    7. Wu, X.F. & Chen, G.Q. & Wu, X.D. & Yang, Q. & Alsaedi, A. & Hayat, T. & Ahmad, B., 2015. "Renewability and sustainability of biogas system: Cosmic exergy based assessment for a case in China," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 51(C), pages 1509-1524.
    8. Wu, X.D. & Guo, J.L. & Han, M.Y. & Chen, G.Q., 2018. "An overview of arable land use for the world economy: From source to sink via the global supply chain," Land Use Policy, Elsevier, vol. 76(C), pages 201-214.
    9. Chen, G.Q. & Qi, Z.H., 2007. "Systems account of societal exergy utilization: China 2003," Ecological Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 208(2), pages 102-118.
    10. Ludin, Norasikin Ahmad & Mustafa, Nur Ifthitah & Hanafiah, Marlia M. & Ibrahim, Mohd Adib & Asri Mat Teridi, Mohd & Sepeai, Suhaila & Zaharim, Azami & Sopian, Kamaruzzaman, 2018. "Prospects of life cycle assessment of renewable energy from solar photovoltaic technologies: A review," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 96(C), pages 11-28.
    11. Wu, X.D. & Chen, G.Q., 2017. "Energy and water nexus in power generation: The surprisingly high amount of industrial water use induced by solar power infrastructure in China," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 195(C), pages 125-136.
    12. Shao, Ling & Wu, Zi & Zeng, L. & Chen, Z.M. & Zhou, Y. & Chen, G.Q., 2013. "Embodied energy assessment for ecological wastewater treatment by a constructed wetland," Ecological Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 252(C), pages 63-71.
    13. Tian, Xu & Chen, Bin & Geng, Yong & Zhong, Shaozhuo & Gao, Cuixia & Wilson, Jeffrey & Cui, Xiaowei & Dou, Yi, 2019. "Energy footprint pathways of China," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 180(C), pages 330-340.
    14. Song, Dan & Lin, Ling & Wu, Ye, 2019. "Extended exergy accounting for a typical cement industry in China," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 174(C), pages 678-686.
    15. Peng, Jinqing & Lu, Lin & Yang, Hongxing, 2013. "Review on life cycle assessment of energy payback and greenhouse gas emission of solar photovoltaic systems," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 19(C), pages 255-274.
    16. Dufo-López, Rodolfo & Bernal-Agustín, José L. & Yusta-Loyo, José M. & Domínguez-Navarro, José A. & Ramírez-Rosado, Ignacio J. & Lujano, Juan & Aso, Ismael, 2011. "Multi-objective optimization minimizing cost and life cycle emissions of stand-alone PV–wind–diesel systems with batteries storage," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 88(11), pages 4033-4041.
    17. Bany Mousa, Osama & Kara, Sami & Taylor, Robert A., 2019. "Comparative energy and greenhouse gas assessment of industrial rooftop-integrated PV and solar thermal collectors," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 241(C), pages 113-123.
    18. Wu, X.D. & Yang, Q. & Chen, G.Q. & Hayat, T. & Alsaedi, A., 2016. "Progress and prospect of CCS in China: Using learning curve to assess the cost-viability of a 2×600MW retrofitted oxyfuel power plant as a case study," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 60(C), pages 1274-1285.
    19. Kaldellis, J.K. & Zafirakis, D. & Stavropoulou, V. & Kaldelli, El., 2012. "Optimum wind- and photovoltaic-based stand-alone systems on the basis of life cycle energy analysis," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 50(C), pages 345-357.
    20. Li, Xue & Lin, Cong & Wang, Yang & Zhao, Lingying & Duan, Na & Wu, Xudong, 2015. "Analysis of rural household energy consumption and renewable energy systems in Zhangziying town of Beijing," Ecological Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 318(C), pages 184-193.

    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:eee:rensus:v:129:y:2020:i:c:s1364032120302252. 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.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with 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: Catherine Liu (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.elsevier.com/wps/find/journaldescription.cws_home/600126/description#description .

    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.