Abstract
The UK has targets to reduce carbon emissions by 80% by 2050 compared to a 1990 baseline. The Transition Pathways research consortium has generated a set of three low carbon UK electrical futures, together with the corresponding technology mixes. All require a significant amount of technological change, including a significant increase in the contribution of CHP (combined heat and power). This study investigates the appropriateness of industrial CHP as a low carbon electricity generation technology for the UK via an environmental LCA (life cycle assessment) case study of an existing industrial CHP plant in UK. The study shows that harnessing the resource of industrial heat via straight forward CHP conversion can generate electricity with lower associated energy and carbon impacts than the current and the 1990 National Grids. However it is apparent that if the grid successfully reduces in carbon intensity, the technology will come at a comparative carbon cost.
Highlights
In 2010, industrial energy use accounted for approximately 18% of the total UK energy consumption; that is 322 TWh of 1740 TWh [1]
This study examines the application of industrial CHP as a method for exploiting an existing heat demand in order to generate low carbon electricity in the UK and outlines:
The UK government reported that the electricity generated by UK CHP systems saved 9.28 Mt.CO2 equivalent 2010 against the total ‘UK basket carbon intensity’, i.e. against the same amount of power generated by the National Grid full mix of electricity generators, including nuclear and renewable [8]. 89% of the total UK CHP electrical capacity and 92% of the total heat capacity was within the industrial sector in 2010
Summary
In 2010, industrial energy use accounted for approximately 18% of the total UK energy consumption; that is 322 TWh of 1740 TWh [1]. The greenhouse gas emissions associated with the industrial sector was reported to be around 33% of the UK total in 2010, that is 191 Mt.CO2 (equivalent) [2] This high proportion of emissions is due to the amount of carbon intense technologies and fuels used to generate the process heat energy consumed in the sector [3]. In 2010, 154 TWh(th) of the heat consumed in the industrial sector was derived from primary fuels, i.e. not from electricity. This study examines the application of industrial CHP as a method for exploiting an existing heat demand in order to generate low carbon electricity in the UK and outlines:.
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