Life Cycle Energy Consumption and Greenhouse Gas Emissions Analysis of Natural Gas-Based Distributed Generation Projects in China

Hansi Liu,Tianduo Peng,Sheng Zhou,Xunmin Ou

doi:10.3390/en10101515

Abstract

In this paper, we used the life-cycle analysis (LCA) method to evaluate the energy consumption and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions of natural gas (NG) distributed generation (DG) projects in China. We took the China Resources Snow Breweries (CRSB) NG DG project in Sichuan province of China as a base scenario and compared its life cycle energy consumption and GHG emissions performance against five further scenarios. We found the CRSB DG project (all energy input is NG) can reduce GHG emissions by 22%, but increase energy consumption by 12% relative to the scenario, using coal combined with grid electricity as an energy input. The LCA also indicated that the CRSB project can save 24% of energy and reduce GHG emissions by 48% relative to the all-coal scenario. The studied NG-based DG project presents major GHG emissions reduction advantages over the traditional centralized energy system. Moreover, this reduction of energy consumption and GHG emissions can be expanded if the extra electricity from the DG project can be supplied to the public grid. The action of combining renewable energy into the NG DG system can also strengthen the dual merit of energy conservation and GHG emissions reduction. The marginal CO2 abatement cost of the studied project is about 51 USD/ton CO2 equivalent, which is relatively low. Policymakers are recommended to support NG DG technology development and application in China and globally to boost NG utilization and control GHG emissions.

Highlights

Many previous studies [1,2] have shown that there is a risk of fossil fuel energy scarcity, which constrains human socio-economic development globally
If the project can supply electricity to other regions in China, the greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions reduction effect is expected to be similar to that shown in other countries. These findings indicate that natural gas (NG) distributed generation (DG) projects may have great potential for GHG emissions reduction in China
We present a case study of the Sichuan China Resources Snow Breweries (CRSB) DES project, analyzing the advantages of NG DG

Summary

Introduction

Many previous studies [1,2] have shown that there is a risk of fossil fuel energy scarcity, which constrains human socio-economic development globally. Generation Projects has recognized the advantages of clean energy and DG and has generated policies supporting the development of DG, especially projects. China has recognized the advantages of NG clean energy(Table and DG and capacity has generated. We conducted a detailed analysis on the energy and environmental and economic assessment of an NG DG project in China Resources Snow Breweries (CRSB) Company, Sichuan province, China. The studied case is the China Resources Snow Breweries DES project (CRSB) in Sichuan, which is the first DES project to provide electricity to the grid in China. We have conducted a field survey on the case study project and collected a large amount of energy use and efficiency data.

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Results

Discussion

Conclusion