Sustainable power generation through decarbonization in the power generation industry

Area of Science:

• Environmental Science
• Energy Policy
• Sustainable Development

Background:

• Power generation from fossil fuels is a primary source of pollution and greenhouse gas emissions.
• Addressing these emissions is critical for mitigating climate change and achieving sustainability.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate technical, economic, and environmental feasibility of seven scenarios for reducing greenhouse gas emissions in the power industry.
• To identify optimal strategies for long-term power generation planning.

Main Methods:

• Utilized an optimization model for long-term power generation planning, considering both supply and demand.
• Evaluated scenarios including renewable energy development, energy efficiency in thermal plants, and carbon emission reduction strategies.

Main Results:

• Renewable energy development alone is insufficient for optimal emission reduction.
• Improving thermal power plant efficiency, such as through combined cycle and repowering, presents more viable solutions.
• A combined scenario, with 20% renewable energy share, can significantly cut emissions and costs.

Conclusions:

• A combined strategy integrating improved thermal plant efficiency and moderate renewable energy adoption is the most effective decarbonization approach.
• Demand-side management is also crucial for economic viability in power generation planning.
• This integrated approach can reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 77.6 million tons and environmental costs by $1894.5 million by 2030.