Using Life Cycle Assessment to Compare the Environmental Performance of Electricity Generation Technologies in Ecuador: Fuel Oil in Internal Combustion Engines vs. Fuel Oil in Steam Power Plants

Ecuador currently has a balanced electricity generation mix between hydropower and thermal power. An important hydropower capacity expansion is expected in the near future. However, during peak demand, thermal power will always be required. Ecuador main fossil fuels used in electricity generation are fuel oil and natural gas. Fuel oil is used mainly in two types of electricity generation technologies: internal combustion engines and steam power plants. Life cycle assessment (LCA) is a methodological framework used in academia and business to evaluate or compare the environmental performance of products and services. LCA can support decision making at different levels. LCA involves the compilation of environment and resource relevant inflows and outflows throughout the entire life cycle of a product or service. The life cycle of a product involves the extraction of raw materials, several stages of processing, production, use and, end-of-life. LCA was used to compare the environmental performance of electricity derived from fuel oil in internal combustion engine power plants vs. electricity derived from fuel oil in steam power plants in Ecuador. Life cycle impact assessment results indicate that the electricity generated in internal combustion engine power plants has a lower environmental burden for most impact categories considered.

• Record URL:
  https://doi.org/10.2495/ESUS150351
• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://www.witpress.com/books/978-1-84564-944-9
• Supplemental Notes:
  • Abstract reprinted with permission from WIT Press.
• Corporate Authors:

  WIT Press

  Ashurst Lodge
  Ashurst, Southampton  United Kingdom  SO40 7AA
• Authors:
  • Ramirez, A D
  • Boero, A J
  • Melendres, A M
• Conference:
  • 6th International Conference on Energy and Sustainability
  • Location: Medellin , Colombia
  • Date: 2015-9-2 to 2015-9-4
• Publication Date: 2015

Language

• English

Media Info

• Media Type: Web
• Features: Figures; References; Tables;
• Pagination: 9p
• Monograph Title: Energy and Sustainability VI
• Serial:
  • WIT Transactions on Ecology and the Environment
  • Volume: 195
  • Publisher: WIT Press
  • ISSN: 1743-3541
  • Serial URL: http://www.witpress.com/elibrary/wit-transactions-on-ecology-and-the-environment

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Decision making; Electric power generation; Electric power plants; Fossil fuels; Fuel oils; Life cycle analysis; Natural gas; Steam power plants
• Geographic Terms: Ecuador
• Subject Areas: Energy; Environment; Transportation (General); I15: Environment;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01588421
• Record Type: Publication
• ISBN: 9781845649456
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Jan 28 2016 9:01AM