Martha Sandoval published lifetime emissions of different energy sources in a Rocket Solar article. "To determine the carbon footprint of these current energy sources, researchers conduct a life cycle assessment, a quantitative analysis of the environmental aspects of a product or process. Life cycle assessments determine how much greenhouse gas emissions a source of energy produces throughout its life span, from "cradle to grave.""
The data was analyzed from "the National Renewable Energy Laboratory to determine how greenhouse gas emissions differ among energy sources throughout their life cycle. NREL performed a systematic review of approximately 3,000 published life cycle assessment studies to quantify a consistent metric for comparing different energy technologies."
The publication confirms positive lifetime renewable energy carbon emission outputs for the four generalized life cycle phases, 1) upstream, 2) production, 3) combustion, and 4) downstream. Emissions from renewable and non-renewable energy life cycle phases, as calculated by grams CO2 equivalent per kilowatt-hour, are compared and contrasted with descriptions for each phase. The following "Total Life Cycle Emissions" in grams CO2 equivalent per kilowatt-hour were published (R is renewable and NR is non-renewable); wind (R 13.0), nuclear (NR 13.0), hydropower (R 21.0), concentrating solar (R 28.0), geothermal (R 37.0), photovoltaic solar (R 43.0), biomass (R 52.0), natural gas (NR 486.0), oil (NR 840.0), and coal (NR 1001.0).
Given the benefits of IPHROS or IPHROCES, an emissions and economic study combining Pumped Hydro with RO desalination and renewable energy providing clean water and large-scale energy storage in one system operation is needed.
Source: Rocket Solar website article titled Lifetime Emissions Of Different Energy Sources | Rocket Solar by Martha Sandoval published Feb 17, 2023.
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