Abstract
Exergy and environmental analyses have been developed to determine the performance of the electricity generation in the Dutch mix. A comparative assessment of diverse technological routes, including fossil and renewable energy resources consumption, is carried out in terms of the exergy costs and specific CO2 emissions. Hence, an exergoeconomy methodology is used to properly allocate the renewable and non-renewable exergy costs and specific CO2 emissions among the various products of the polygeneration energy systems. By using a suitable methodology, the distribution of irreversibility throughout the different steps of the energy conversion processes of the Dutch electricity mix is characterized in the light of the Second Law of Thermodynamics. The results may help to propose performance indicators that support the Dutch government and research institutions. To identify sustainable energy planning strategies and fairly comparing electricity generation and end-use processing stages with other types of energy resources, such as fuels used in transportation, residential and industrial sectors. In brief, the weighted average of the renewable and non-renewable unit exergy costs and the specific CO2 emissions of the electricity generated in each route of the Dutch mix is calculated and compared to another electricity mix with a higher share of renewable energy resources. The weighted average renewable and non-renewable unit exergy costs of the electricity generated in the Netherlands are calculated as cR = 0.8375 kJ/kJE/W and cNR = 1.7180 kJ/kJE/W, respectively (cR/cNR= 0.49). Furthermore, the specific CO2 emissions in the Dutch electricity generation achieve 373.21 gCO2/kWhE/W.
Highlights
According to the International Energy Agency, the share of electricity in the final energy consumption is foreseen to rapidly grow in the decades, going from a global electricity consumption of 26,615 TWh in 2018 up to an expected consumption of 42,500 TWh by 2040 [1]
In the case of fossil energy-based power generation systems, it is evident that the direct greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions are inherent to their operation
In the coal-based power generation route, the specific exergy consumption either diesel or electricity at the coal transportation could be recognized as the only energy resource effectively consumed for achieving the transportation service of the coal useful exergy, which is eventually consumed in the thermoelectric plant
Summary
According to the International Energy Agency, the share of electricity in the final energy consumption is foreseen to rapidly grow in the decades, going from a global electricity consumption of 26,615 TWh in 2018 up to an expected consumption of 42,500 TWh by 2040 [1]. Electricity is not a primary energy source, and its generation efficiency and emissions should be assessed in the conversion process to allow fair comparisons with other kinds of energy resources. In the case of fossil energy-based power generation systems, it is evident that the direct greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions are inherent to their operation. Technologies such as renewable energy-based plants may still be responsible for a considerable amount of indirect CO2 emissions, which encourages strategies for improving the energy conversion efficiencies of these routes, especially at the upstream and downstream processes [2].
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