Introducing the total efficiency to address challenges of the 21st century Articles uri icon

authors

  • PETRAKOPOULOU, FOTEINI KONSTANTINA
  • GARCIA-TENORIO CORCUERA, ENRIQUE

publication date

  • November 2022

start page

  • 1

end page

  • 9

issue

  • 133409

volume

  • 374

International Standard Serial Number (ISSN)

  • 0959-6526

Electronic International Standard Serial Number (EISSN)

  • 1879-1786

abstract

  • The evaluation and comparative analyses of energy conversion technologies are carried out with well-established concepts, like the concept of efficiency. Today, however, new technologies based on renewable energy sources challenge conventional approaches. Accounting for fuel diversity and other inequalities can ensure that comparative analyses result in trustworthy results. This paper aims to address this issue by updating conventional efficiency for more accurate comparative evaluations of fossil fuel energy systems. Specifically, the concept of total efficiency is introduced to account for extraction, processing and transportation of fossil fuels, aspects that are not currently considered in the conventional definition of efficiency. The total efficiency is determined by studying the environmental impacts of these processes and quantifying their energy requirements in terms of additional fossil fuel use. Two case studies in Spain are presented to demonstrate the impact of using the developed method on efficiency estimates. The total efficiency is found to be lower than the convectional efficiency by 21-25% to up to 41%, in the most unfavorable cases. This shows the significant impact of the preparation steps of fossil fuels and represents a fairer comparison between fossil fuels and renewable conversion processes.

subjects

  • Chemistry
  • Civil and Construction Engineering
  • Environment
  • Mechanical Engineering
  • Natural Resources
  • Renewable Energies

keywords

  • efficiency; fossil fuels; life cycle assessment; power plants; renewable energy sources; total efficiency