A comprehensive life cycle analysis of cofiring algae in a coal power plant as a solution for achieving sustainable energy

    Authors

    M. Kucukvar;O. Tatari

    Comments

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    Abbreviated Journal Title

    Energy

    Keywords

    Energy and the environment; Life cycle assessment; Algae cultivation; Coal power plant; Cofiring; Sustainability; BIOMASS; MICROALGAE; Thermodynamics; Energy & Fuels

    Abstract

    Algae cofiring scenarios in a 360 MW coal power plant were studied utilizing an ecologically based hybrid life cycle assessment methodology. The impacts on the ecological system were calculated in terms of cumulative mass, energy, industrial exergy, and ecological exergy. The environmental performance metrics, including efficiency, loading, and renewability ratios were also quantified to assess the sustainability of cofiring scenarios from a holistic perspective. The analysis results revealed that cumulative mass and ecological exergy consumption were higher for algae cofiring compared to single coal firing due to high material and energy inputs for the algae cultivation. On the contrary, total energy and industrial exergy utilization were reduced with an increasing share of algae cofiring where algae is dried with solar energy. Additionally, natural gas dried algae cofiring scenarios had a lower renewability ratio in comparison with single coal firing. The results of this study are vital for the policy makers to decide on more environmentally friendly algae cofiring options by considering the potential impacts on ecological system. (C) 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

    Journal Title

    Energy

    Volume

    36

    Issue/Number

    11

    Publication Date

    1-1-2011

    Document Type

    Article

    Language

    English

    First Page

    6352

    Last Page

    6357

    WOS Identifier

    WOS:000297894500008

    ISSN

    0360-5442

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