Correlation between eco-efficiency measures and resource and impact decoupling for thermal power plants in Serbia

Abstract Electricity generation using carbon-based fuels is responsible for a large fraction of carbon dioxide emissions worldwide. In Serbia, 70% of the electricity is produced from coal-fired power plants. The aim of this investigation was to identify the retrofitting opportunities to reduce the carbon intensity of power generation. Resource Efficient and Cleaner Production assessment was performed in a coal thermal power plant of the public company “Thermal Power Plants Nikola Tesla”, which operates within the Electric Power Industry of Serbia. Assessment of the thermal power plant operation was supported by experimentally measured data (fresh water pressures and temperatures, steam temperatures and pressures, condensing pressure, water flowrate, make-up water flowrate, steam flowrate, coal composition, emissions, etc), emission factor determinations and by using data obtained during unit balancing and simulation of the system's performance. The data collected and analyzed during power plant operation were used for the development of a new general approach with comprehensive analysis of the system, using the following plant eco-efficiency indicators: energy consumption, climate change, acidification, and waste generation. Indicators were used to present decoupling after implementation of the described measures. The analysis of two units showed that the nominal power could be increased by 60 MWe, with an increase of the unit gross efficiency of 0.4%, and a reduction of coal, water and electricity consumption. The implementation of RECP measures in this study enabled analysis of the overall performance of the system as evidenced by the eco-efficiency indicators: energy consumption (decreased by 3%), CO2 emission (decreased by 3%), and SO2 emission (decreased by 39%). Consequently, it may be concluded that the proposed RECP approach, tested on thermal power plants, and presented as eco-efficiency indicators show that the described methodology may be successfully implemented in the energy sector and for the improvement in power plants.

[1]  Bai-Chen Xie,et al.  Measures to improve the performance of China's thermal power industry in view of cost efficiency , 2013 .

[2]  Nikolaos Samaras,et al.  Simulation of a coal-fired power plant using mathematical programming algorithms in order to optimize its efficiency , 2012 .

[3]  Paul S Phillips,et al.  A critical review of the largest Resource Efficiency Club Programme in England (2005–2008): Key issues for designing and delivering cost effective policy instruments in the light of Defra's Delivery Landscape Review , 2010 .

[4]  Predrag Jovančić,et al.  Serbian energy development based on lignite production , 2011 .

[5]  Camila Daniele Willers,et al.  Determination of indirect water consumption and suggestions for cleaner production initiatives for the milk-producing sector in a Brazilian middle-sized dairy farming , 2014 .

[6]  Deger Saygin,et al.  Benchmarking the energy use of energy-intensive industries in industrialized and in developing countries , 2011 .

[7]  Ruediger Kuehr,et al.  Strategic sustainable development — selection, design and synergies of applied tools , 2002 .

[8]  Vladana N. Rajaković-Ognjanović,et al.  Improvement of chemical control in the water-steam cycle of thermal power plants , 2011 .

[9]  Mine Kaya,et al.  Usage of coal combustion bottom ash in concrete mixture , 2008 .

[10]  Mimi Haryani Hassim,et al.  Comparison of methods assessing environmental friendliness of petrochemical process design , 2014 .

[11]  Valérie Laforest,et al.  Choosing cleaner and safer production practices through a multi-criteria approach , 2013 .

[12]  Thomas Brudermann,et al.  Strategic energy management in energy-intensive enterprises: a quantitative analysis of relevant factors in the Austrian paper and pulp industry , 2015 .

[13]  Vladimir Dobes,et al.  New tool for promotion of energy management and cleaner production on no-cure no-pay , 2010 .

[14]  Johannes Fresner,et al.  The theory of inventive problem solving (TRIZ) as option generation tool within cleaner production projects , 2010 .

[15]  Evert Mulder,et al.  A mixture of fly ashes as road base construction material , 1996 .

[16]  Reporting.  A manual for the preparers and users of eco-efficiency indicators , 2004 .

[17]  Ali Elkamel,et al.  Sustainability indicators for decision-making and optimisation in the process industry: The case of the petrochemical industry , 2010 .

[18]  Rodrigo Lozano,et al.  Towards better embedding sustainability into companies’ systems: an analysis of voluntary corporate initiatives , 2012 .

[19]  Saad Mekhilef,et al.  A review on energy saving strategies in industrial sector , 2011 .

[20]  Patrik Söderholm,et al.  The cost-effectiveness of voluntary energy efficiency programs☆ , 2009 .

[21]  Carlo Vandecasteele,et al.  Eco-efficiency trends of the Flemish industry: decoupling of environmental impact from economic growth , 2010 .

[22]  Shishir Kumar Behera,et al.  Methodological aspects of applying eco-efficiency indicators to industrial symbiosis networks , 2014 .

[23]  Milos Milic,et al.  Efficiency and power upgrade by an additional high pressure economizer installation at an aged 620 MWe lignite-fired power plant , 2014 .

[24]  Rodrigo Lozano,et al.  Fostering green chemistry through a collaborative business model: A chemical leasing case study from Serbia , 2013 .