Life cycle assessment of fuel selection for power generation in Taiwan.
Life cycle assessment (LCA) was applied to performance data from 1997-2002 to evaluate the environmental impacts of the energy input, airborne emission, waterborne emission, and solid waste inventories for Taiwan's electric power plants. Eco-indicator 95 was used to compare the differences among the generation processes and fuel purification. To better understand the environmental trends related to Taiwan's electric power industry, three fuel scenarios were selected for LCA system analysis. Results indicate that there are differences in characteristic environmental impact among the 13 power plants. Scenario simulation provided a basis for minimizing environmental impacts from fuel selection targets. Fuel selection priority should be a gas-fired combined cycle substituted for a coal-fired steam turbine to be more environmentally friendly, particularly in the areas of the greenhouse effect, acidification, winter smog, and solid waste. Furthermore, based purely on economic and environmental criteria, it is recommended that the gas-fired combined cycle be substituted for the oil-fired steam turbine.
Yang
Ying-Hsien
YH
Department of Environmental Engineering, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan, Republic of China.
Lin
Sue-Jane
SJ
Lewis
Charles
C
D003031:Coal; D003198:Computer Simulation; D004787:Environmental Pollution / Q000032:analysis*; D005579:Fossil Fuels; D005648:Fuel Oils; D005742:Gasoline; D011210:Power Plants; D013624:Taiwan
D003031:Coal; D005579:Fossil Fuels; D005648:Fuel Oils; D005742:Gasoline