Study on carbon emissions of a small hydropower plant in Southwest China
Hydropower plants with a small installed capacity, which are widely distributed in mountainous areas with abundant rainfall and steep rivers, play an important role in resolving energy problems in remote rural areas. These plants are a crucial source of clean electricity generated from water power....
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2024-11-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Environmental Science |
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| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fenvs.2024.1462571/full |
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| author | Caihong Tang Yiling Leng Pengyu Wang Jian Feng Shanghong Zhang Yujun Yi Hui Li Shaoliang Tian |
| author_facet | Caihong Tang Yiling Leng Pengyu Wang Jian Feng Shanghong Zhang Yujun Yi Hui Li Shaoliang Tian |
| author_sort | Caihong Tang |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Hydropower plants with a small installed capacity, which are widely distributed in mountainous areas with abundant rainfall and steep rivers, play an important role in resolving energy problems in remote rural areas. These plants are a crucial source of clean electricity generated from water power. Harnessing local water resources not only helps alleviate energy shortages, but also reduces reliance on fossil fuels, contributing significantly to China’s national goals of achieving peak carbon emissions and carbon neutrality. This study investigates the carbon footprint of the Huangshadong Reservoir Project in Chongqing, China. The entire life cycle of the hydropower plant is assessed, including the preparation, construction, operation and maintenance, and demolition phases. The uncertainty was evaluated using the error propagation method. Following analysis, suggestions for carbon footprint reduction measures were proposed. Results showed that the total carbon footprint and the carbon intensity of the Huangshadong Reservoir Project over its entire life cycle are 33,148.29 t CO2e and 417.75 g CO2e/kWh, respectively. Of the total carbon footprint, the preparation phase, construction phase, operation and maintenance phase, and demolition phase account for 0.04%, 67.06%, 26.2%, and 6.7%, respectively. It means that the requirement for cement during the construction phase represents an important contribution to the entire life cycle carbon footprint of a small hydropower plant. As an integrated water conservancy project, the carbon intensity of the Huangshadong Reservoir Project is higher than that of medium-sized and large hydropower plants. However, its carbon intensity is lower than the emission factor of fossil power plants. The research results provide reference for both planning and construction of small hydropower plants and low-carbon development of rural hydraulic engineering. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-01ff1fae080c4fbfb6cc9d74cfd4e7c7 |
| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 2296-665X |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2024-11-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Environmental Science |
| spelling | doaj-art-01ff1fae080c4fbfb6cc9d74cfd4e7c72025-08-20T02:49:53ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Environmental Science2296-665X2024-11-011210.3389/fenvs.2024.14625711462571Study on carbon emissions of a small hydropower plant in Southwest ChinaCaihong Tang0Yiling Leng1Pengyu Wang2Jian Feng3Shanghong Zhang4Yujun Yi5Hui Li6Shaoliang Tian7School of Water Resources and Hydropower Engineering, North China Electric Power University, Beijing, ChinaSchool of Water Resources and Hydropower Engineering, North China Electric Power University, Beijing, ChinaSchool of Water Resources and Hydropower Engineering, North China Electric Power University, Beijing, ChinaChongqing Surveying and Design Institute Co., Ltd. of Water Resources, Electric Power and Architecture, Chongqing, ChinaSchool of Water Resources and Hydropower Engineering, North China Electric Power University, Beijing, ChinaKey Laboratory for Water and Sediment Sciences of Ministry of Education, School of Environment, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, ChinaSchool of Environment, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, ChinaChongqing Surveying and Design Institute Co., Ltd. of Water Resources, Electric Power and Architecture, Chongqing, ChinaHydropower plants with a small installed capacity, which are widely distributed in mountainous areas with abundant rainfall and steep rivers, play an important role in resolving energy problems in remote rural areas. These plants are a crucial source of clean electricity generated from water power. Harnessing local water resources not only helps alleviate energy shortages, but also reduces reliance on fossil fuels, contributing significantly to China’s national goals of achieving peak carbon emissions and carbon neutrality. This study investigates the carbon footprint of the Huangshadong Reservoir Project in Chongqing, China. The entire life cycle of the hydropower plant is assessed, including the preparation, construction, operation and maintenance, and demolition phases. The uncertainty was evaluated using the error propagation method. Following analysis, suggestions for carbon footprint reduction measures were proposed. Results showed that the total carbon footprint and the carbon intensity of the Huangshadong Reservoir Project over its entire life cycle are 33,148.29 t CO2e and 417.75 g CO2e/kWh, respectively. Of the total carbon footprint, the preparation phase, construction phase, operation and maintenance phase, and demolition phase account for 0.04%, 67.06%, 26.2%, and 6.7%, respectively. It means that the requirement for cement during the construction phase represents an important contribution to the entire life cycle carbon footprint of a small hydropower plant. As an integrated water conservancy project, the carbon intensity of the Huangshadong Reservoir Project is higher than that of medium-sized and large hydropower plants. However, its carbon intensity is lower than the emission factor of fossil power plants. The research results provide reference for both planning and construction of small hydropower plants and low-carbon development of rural hydraulic engineering.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fenvs.2024.1462571/fullsmall hydropower plantlife cycle assessment (LCA)carbon footprintclean energyhydropower development |
| spellingShingle | Caihong Tang Yiling Leng Pengyu Wang Jian Feng Shanghong Zhang Yujun Yi Hui Li Shaoliang Tian Study on carbon emissions of a small hydropower plant in Southwest China Frontiers in Environmental Science small hydropower plant life cycle assessment (LCA) carbon footprint clean energy hydropower development |
| title | Study on carbon emissions of a small hydropower plant in Southwest China |
| title_full | Study on carbon emissions of a small hydropower plant in Southwest China |
| title_fullStr | Study on carbon emissions of a small hydropower plant in Southwest China |
| title_full_unstemmed | Study on carbon emissions of a small hydropower plant in Southwest China |
| title_short | Study on carbon emissions of a small hydropower plant in Southwest China |
| title_sort | study on carbon emissions of a small hydropower plant in southwest china |
| topic | small hydropower plant life cycle assessment (LCA) carbon footprint clean energy hydropower development |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fenvs.2024.1462571/full |
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