Monetization of External Costs Using Lifecycle Analysis—A Comparative Case Study of Coal-Fired and Biomass Power Plants in Northeast China

Energies

Lingling Wang²  Tsunemi Watanabe³  Zhiwei Xu¹ 

[1] State Grid Heilongjiang Electric Power Company Limited, 301 Hanshui Road, Nangang District, Harbin 150090, China; E-Mail:;Graduate School of Engineering, Kochi University of Technology, Miyanokuchi 185, Tosayamada-cho, Kami City, Kochi 782-0003, Japan; E-Mail:;School of Management, Kochi University of Technology, Miyanokuchi 185, Tosayamada-cho, Kami City, Kochi 782-0003, Japan

关键词: external cost;    coal-fired power plant;    biomass power plan;    lifecycle;   

DOI  :  10.3390/en8021440

来源: mdpi

【 摘 要 】

In this study, the structures of external costs are built in line with coal-fired and biomass power plant life cycle activities in Northeast China. The external cost of coal-fired and biomass power plants was compared, using the lifecycle approach. In addition, the external costs of a biomass power plant are calculated for each stage for comparison with those of a coal-fired power plant. The results highlight that the external costs of a coal-fired plant are 0.072 US $/kWh, which are much higher than that of a biomass power plant, 0.00012 US$/kWh. The external cost of coal-fired power generation is as much as 90% of the current price of electricity generated by coal, while the external cost of a biomass power plant is 1/1000 of the current price of electricity generated by biomass. In addition, for a biomass power plant, the external cost associated with SO₂, NO_X, and PM_2.5 are particularly lower than those of a coal-fired power plant. The prospect of establishing precise estimations for external cost mechanisms and sustainable energy policies is discussed to show a possible direction for future energy schemes in China. The paper has significant value for supporting the biomass power industry and taxing or regulating coal-fired power industry to optimize the energy structure in China.

【 授权许可】

CC BY   
© 2015 by the authors; licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland.