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Lights and shadows of the environmental impacts of fossil-based electricity generation technologies: A contribution based on the Ecuadorian experience

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  • Ramirez, Angel D.
  • Rivela, Beatriz
  • Boero, Andrea
  • Melendres, Ana M.

Abstract

Non-renewable technologies still play a significant role in the electricity generation mix of most countries. Thus, relevant up-to-date environmental data are needed to provide a good understanding of the environmental consequences of the fossil fuel electricity generation technologies. The focus of this work is to examine the fossil-based electricity generation technologies used in Ecuador, providing a compelling insight into the revision of existent international databases. The main combinations of fossil fuel and thermal generation technologies have been studied: fuel oil in steam power plants (FO-SP), fuel oil in internal combustion engine power plants (FO-ICE), natural gas in gas turbine power plants (NG-GT), and diesel in gas turbine power plants (D-GT). ISO standards and CML 2000 methodology were further considered to quantify the potential environmental impact associated with the systems. Results show that NG-GT has the lowest environmental burdens, while FO-SP represents the highest impacts in 5 of the 6 studied impact categories. It is remarkable that for the same type of fuel (fuel oil), the ICE power plants have a lower environmental impact than FO-SP plants. Finally, lights and shadows of fossil-based electricity are discussed to provide a general picture of the current debate concerning transition pathways.

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  • Ramirez, Angel D. & Rivela, Beatriz & Boero, Andrea & Melendres, Ana M., 2019. "Lights and shadows of the environmental impacts of fossil-based electricity generation technologies: A contribution based on the Ecuadorian experience," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 125(C), pages 467-477.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:enepol:v:125:y:2019:i:c:p:467-477
    DOI: 10.1016/j.enpol.2018.11.005
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    4. Mayra L. Pazmiño & Angel D. Ramirez, 2021. "Life Cycle Assessment as a Methodological Framework for the Evaluation of the Environmental Sustainability of Pig and Pork Production in Ecuador," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(21), pages 1-21, October.
    5. Castro Verdezoto, Pedro L. & Vidoza, Jorge A. & Gallo, Waldyr L.R., 2019. "Analysis and projection of energy consumption in Ecuador: Energy efficiency policies in the transportation sector," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 134(C).
    6. Kuo, Po-Chih & Illathukandy, Biju & Wu, Wei & Chang, Jo-Shu, 2021. "Energy, exergy, and environmental analyses of renewable hydrogen production through plasma gasification of microalgal biomass," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 223(C).
    7. Ramirez, A.D. & Boero, A. & Rivela, B. & Melendres, A.M. & Espinoza, S. & Salas, D.A., 2020. "Life cycle methods to analyze the environmental sustainability of electricity generation in Ecuador: Is decarbonization the right path?," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 134(C).
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