Contrastive Analysis between Wind Power Generation and Coal Generation on the Environmental Impact Assessment

Abstract:

Wind power is an important type of renewable energy sources. In this passage we will apply Life Cycle Assessment to analyze the four stages of wind power generation，which are production of raw materials, transportation, build-operate process of wind plants and demolition stages, calculate the energy consumption and the environmental impact, set a contrastive analysis between coal-fired power plants and wind power plants. We will take WangHaiSi Wind Plant in Faku, Shenyang as an example to show the difference between the two ways of getting power. The analysis shows that: in comparison with coal-fired generation, wind power generation saves more energy and reduces emissions of pollutants markedly; the main energy consumption comes from production of raw materials, which takes 79.3% of the total energy consumption throughout the life cycle. In the meantime, the large amount of ecological resources consumption from construction, operation and maintenance of wind plants leads to mass emission of carbon dioxide and sulfur dioxide, which respectively take 67.3% and 96.6% of total emissions. Besides, wind generation only accounts for 0.93%, 0.89% and 2.72% of energy consumption, global warming potential (GWP) and acid potential (AP) of coal-fired power generation. Thus, it proved that wind power generation has lesser impacts on environment than coal-fired power generation. However, it is still of great necessity to strengthen the environmental protection measures to reduce the consumption and destroy of ecologic resources.

• Periodical: Applied Mechanics and Materials (Volumes 316-317)
• Pages: 254-258
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.4028/www.scientific.net/AMM.316-317.254
• Online since: April 2013
• Authors: Jia Hua Dong, Wei Guang Zhu, Cheng Kang Gao, Han Mei Tang
• Keywords: Contrastive Analysis, Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA), LCA, Wind Power Generation

References

[1] Zhu H. B., Zhang J. J., Huo. F. P., Development Status of A New Energy Source—Wind Power—Generation at Home and Abroad[J]. Guangdong Power Transmission Technology, 2004,3.

[2] Leng R. B., Study on Product Life Cycle 3E+S Assessment and Methodology of Decision Analysis[D]. Shanghai Jiao Tong University,2007.

[3] L. Schleisne, Life cycle assessment of a wind farm and related externalities[J]. Renewable Energy, 2000, 279-288.

DOI: 10.1016/s0960-1481(99)00123-8

[4] R.H. Crawford, Life cycle energy and greenhouse emissions analysis of wind turbines and the effect of size on energy yield[J]. Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, 2009, 2653–2660.

DOI: 10.1016/j.rser.2009.07.008

[5] Zheng B., Zhao X. X., Ma X. Q., et al. Life Cycle Assessment and Its Application[J]. China Resources Comprehensive Utilization,2004,3.

[6] Ruan R.M., Zhong S.P., Wang D.Z., Life Cycle Assessment of Two Copper Metallurgical Processes: Bio- heap Leaching and Flotation- Flash Smelting[J]. Multipurpose Utilization of Mineral Resources,2010.

[7] Zhang F., Wu G. R., Life Cycle Assessment for Steel Production in China[J].Business China, 2009,12:173-174.

[8] Zhang Q., Gong X.Z., Wang Z.H., et al, LCA Study of Typical Glass Processing Line[C].

[9] Li M., Wang Z., Sun D.Z., Study on Life Cycle Assessment of Polythene Production[J]. Environmental Science & Technology,2009,5.

[10] Liu J.Y., Qian Y., Li X. X., et al, Life Cycle Assessment of Coal-fired Power Generation and Its Alternatives[J]. Journal of China Coal,2009,01:133-138.

[11] T. Brice, M. Francis, Life cycle analysis of 4.5MW and 250W wind turbines[J]. Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews,2009.

[12] Wang K. H., Zhao D. Q., Wang W., Analysis and comparison on environment and efficiency of the trough and tower solar thermal power generation[J]. Energy Engineering, 2006,06: 25-29.

[13] Zou Z.P., Ma X.Q., Life cycle assessment on wind-power generation[J]. Electric Power, 2003,09:083-087.