Sustainability Analysis of Electricity Generation Technologies Based on Life‐Cycle Assessment and Life‐Cycle Cost—A Case Study in Liaoning Province

Abstract

Electricity generation in China is currently dominated by thermal power generation (TPG). To achieve sustainable development during electricity generation, this study compares the sustainability of the six main approaches for electricity generation in Liaoning Province: thermal power, nuclear power, wind power, hydropower, photovoltaic power, and biomass power generation. First, the environmental impact and unit electricity generation cost (UEGC) of each electricity generation approach is calculated and analyzed from the perspectives of both life‐cycle assessment (LCA) and life‐cycle cost (LCC). Then, the energy potential of electricity generation approaches in Liaoning Province is calculated. Finally, the entropy‐weighted method is used to combine the environmental impacts, UEGC, and energy potentials of each energy source, producing a mathematical evaluation model for determining the sustainability of electricity generation. As a result, the six approaches are ranked in terms of electricity sustainability in Liaoning Province as follows: wind power, nuclear power, biomass power, hydropower, solar power, and thermal power. In future development of the electricity industry, Liaoning Province should increase the proportion of wind power, nuclear power, and biomass power generation in total installed capacity and reduce the proportion of thermal power in total installed capacity.