Comparative analysis of the environmental impacts of Australian thermal power stations using direct emission data and GIS integrated methods

• Published in: Energy (Oxford) 2021-09, Vol.231, p.120898, Article 120898
• Main Authors: Cho, Hannah Hyunah, Strezov, Vladimir
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Air pollution; Australian power stations; Bagasse; Carbon dioxide; Carbon dioxide emissions; Climate change; Coal; Comparative analysis; Diesel fuels; Electricity; Electricity generation; Emission analysis; Emission inventories; Emissions; Energy technology; Environmental impact; Environmental impact assessment; Fossil fuels; Geographic information systems; GIS; Global warming; Landfill; Landfill gas; Landfills; Lignite; Natural gas; NPI; Pollutants; Power plants; Renewable energy technologies; Sewage; Sewer gas; Terrestrial environments; Thermal power; Thermal power plants; Thermoelectricity; Waste disposal sites
• ISSN: 0360-5442; 1873-6785
• DOI: 10.1016/j.energy.2021.120898

This study integrates National Pollutant Inventory emission data and geographical information system (GIS) to analyse the environmental impacts of 197 Australian thermal power stations. ReCiPe 2016 hierarchist method was used to investigate mid and endpoint impacts and found that 93.3% of the total midpoint impacts of fossil fuel sources were attributed to global warming impacts due to high CO2 emissions, whereas those of renewable energy technologies were driven by global warming and terrestrial ecotoxicity impacts with contribution rates of 46.2% and 47.8%, respectively. Brown coal had the highest mid and endpoint impacts per MWh electricity, whereas sewage gas and landfill gas performed the lowest midpoint and endpoint impacts, respectively. Total endpoint impacts of fossil fuel sources were in the order of brown coal > black coal > diesel > natural gas, while sewage gas > bagasse > landfill gas for renewables. It is estimated that total CO2 emissions from Australian electricity generation can be reduced by 30% when renewable electricity generation increases from 17.1% to 50% of the total electricity mix. Since the majority of coal power stations are located in high population areas, the potential impacts in these areas could be a concern. •GIS is integrated for environmental impact assessment of electricity generation.•Fossil fuel electricity generation has high global warming impacts.•Renewable electricity generation has high terrestrial ecotoxicity impact.•Overall environmental impacts are the highest for brown coal-fired electricity.•Electricity generation may have impacts on Australian population in some areas.