Greenhouse Gas Abatement Analysis of the Energy Saving Retrofit in Pulverized Coal Power Plants

Abstract

Energy-saving retrofit in pulverized coal power plants is one of major means to abate greenhouse gas emissions and if the retrofit is as a clean development mechanism (CDM) project, extra financial or technical support can be obtained. This paper establishes an abatement cost model to analyze the factors which affect the energy saving retrofit and the initiatives of the existing coal-fired power plant to develop CDM projects in improving its energy efficiency. Based on the analysis of this model, it is indicated that the main factors of the retrofit on the greenhouse gas abatement cost are the investment rate of return, energy-saving investment, the quantity of power generation, the change of net coal consumption rate and coal prices. Through further analysis, it is indicated that the change of the coal price has greater effect on the greenhouse gas abatement cost than the technological characteristics of energy-saving retrofit. Taking an energy efficiency improvement project in an existing pulverized coal power plant in North China as a case, the emission reductions and unit carbon abatement cost were calculated for the project. Furthermore, sensitivity analysis is conducted to examine the effect of some main factors on the abatement cost. At last, conclusions regarding the greenhouse gas abatement for energy saving retrofit in pulverized coal power plants are drawn from above analysis.