# Life Cycle Study Shows Green More Economical

- Link: https://greenlivingguy.com/2013/03/life-cycle-study-shows-green-more-economical/
- Published: 2013-03-21T18:16:19-04:00
- Author: greenguruguides

Harmonization Project show that life cycle greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from technologies
powered by renewable resources are generally less than from those powered by fossil
fuel-based resources.

# Biopower

Only the very highest estimates for biopower overlap with the range of a fossil-
fueled technology. Moreover and the central tendencies of all renewable technologies
are between 400 and 1,000 g CO2eq/kWh lower than their fossil-fueled counterparts.
For that’s without carbon capture and sequestration (CCS). For fossil-fuelled technologies,
post-combustion CCS can bring total life cycle GHG emissions within the upper 25th
percent of the range. I mean of several renewable technologies.

![Comparison of as published and harmonized life cycle greenhouse gas emission estimates
for selected electricity generation technologies](https://i0.wp.com/greenlivingguy.
com/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/E49ECCD5-26A7-449F-9202-FA9AAE8DA73D.jpeg?resize=
420%2C325&quality=52&ssl=1 "E49ECCD5-26A7-449F-9202-FA9AAE8DA73D - The Green Living
Guy")

Comparison of as published and harmonized life cycle greenhouse gas emission estimates
for selected electricity generation technologies

That’s because biopower with CCS can display significantly negative GHG emissions(
without considering the impacts of land use change). [Nuclear power](https://greenlivingguy.com/2011/07/nuclear-power-lessons-from-iowas-legislative-failures/)
exhibits a similar interquartile range and median. For that’s as do technologies
powered by renewable resources.

The results of the systematic review portion of the project were published in the
Special Report on Renewable Energy Sources and Climate Change Mitigation. That’s
of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change.

The key drivers of variability include system boundary assumptions. Also assumed
lifetime of the technology, impact assessment method (e.g., global warming potentials[
GWPs] of assessed GHG emissions) and technological performance factors. For that’s
such as thermal efficiency and capacity factor. As well as the primary energy resource
characteristics. I mean such as solar resource and fuel heating value.

Credit: Sathaye, J., O. Lucon, A. Rahman, J. Christensen, F. Denton, J. Fujino, 
G. Heath, S. Kadner, M. Mirza, H. Rudnick, A. Schlaepfer, A. Shmakin, 2011: Renewable
Energy in the Context of Sustainable Energy. In IPCC Special Report on Renewable
Energy Sources and Climate Change Mitigation [O. Edenhofer, R. Pichs-Madruga, Y.
Sokona, K. Seyboth, P. Matschoss, S. Kadner, T. Zwickel, P. Eickemeier, G. Hansen,
S. Schlömer, C. von Stechow (eds)], Cambridge University Press.

The published life cycle greenhouse gas (GHG) estimates for hydropower, ocean, geothermal,
biopower, solar (crystalline silicon photovoltaic, thin film photovoltaic, and concentrating
solar power), wind, nuclear, coal, and natural gas technologies.

## Harmonized Results

In subsequent project phases, NREL reviewed as-published life cycle [greenhouse gas emissions](https://greenlivingguy.com/2011/12/fracking-brings-earthquakes-water-pollution-increased-greenhouse-gas-emissions-strike-number-three/)
estimated for solar (crystalline silicon and thin film photovoltaics and concentrating
solar power), wind, nuclear, and coal and adjusted these estimates to a consistent
set of methods and assumptions specific to each technology. NREL also researched
the life cycle greenhouse gas emissions for natural gas, although these results 
are still in the process of being published.

Findings from the Harmonized Data
 Like the published data, the harmonized data 
shows that life cycle greenhouse gas emissions from solar (both photovoltaic and
concentrating solar power), wind, and nuclear technologies are considerably lower
and less variable than emissions from technologies powered by combustion-based natural
gas and coal technologies.

Harmonization doesn’t significantly change the central tendency (as indicated by
the median value) of any of the technologies evaluated. Harmonization does, however,
reduce the variability of GHG emissions estimates to varying degrees (as indicated
by changes to the interquartile range and the overall range).

The detailed results from the harmonization research are published in a special 
supplemental issue of the Journal of Industrial Ecology on Meta-Analysis of LCA.

For summaries of the life cycle analysis review, analysis, and harmonization results,
see the IPCC Special Report on Renewable Energy Sources and Climate Change Mitigation:
Renewable Energy in the Context of Sustainable Development.

Source: NREL

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 greenguruguides

 The Green Living Guy, Seth Leitman, is recognized as a green living guru and electric
car expert. The Green Living Guy writes about green living, green lighting, the 
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