Sustainable power generation through decarbonization in the power generation industry

Abstract

Due to using fossil energy resources, power generation is the most important factor of pollution and greenhouse gas emissions. Considering the importance of the issue, seven scenarios for decreasing greenhouse gas emissions in the power industry, including the development of renewable energies, energy efficiency in thermal power plants, and decreasing the emission of carbon according to international agreements, and the creation of sustainable power generation systems, were defined and evaluated technically, economically, and environmentally. In the current study, an optimization model for long-term power generation planning was used for two concepts of supply and demand. The results of comparing the scenarios showed that the development of renewable power plants was not solely a suitable and optimal way for decreasing greenhouse gas and carbon emissions. The strategies for improving efficiency in thermal power plants, including the development of combined cycle power plants and the repowering of steam power plants, are more suitable options for implementation, considering the constraints of the problem. Therefore, eliminating the existing circumstances and employing the combined scenario while considering the objectives of the study should be the only strategy for decarbonization in this industry, with the minimum cost and minimum rate of emission. By decreasing the share of thermal power plants, decreasing fuel demand, and increasing the share of renewable power plants to 20%, the combined scenario would decrease pollution and greenhouse gas emissions by up to 77.6 million tons of carbon dioxide, as well as the environmental costs up to 1894.5 million dollars, compared to the basic scenario up to 2030. Moreover, paying attention to the management strategies of a demand concept seems necessary from an economic viewpoint, in addition to other presented strategies.