Embodied coefficient of energy carriers and its calculation method

Abstract

To quantify the energy consumption in the process of production, transportation and processing of energy carriers, the life cycle of building energy used can be divided into two phases: on-site phase and embodied phase. As for the embodied phase, with the data in existing statistic yearbook, the consumption items of energy production and transportation were investigated. And based on the life cycle theory, an embodied coefficient of energy carriers was proposed to quantify the embodied energy consumption. Moreover, a calculation method for the embodied coefficient of energy carriers was deduced using Leontief inverse matrix based on the existing data sources. With relevant data of 2005–2007 in China, the embodied coefficients in 2005–2007 were obtained, in which the values for natural gas and thermal power are around 1.3 and 3.1, respectively; while they are 1.03–1.08 for other selected energy carriers. In addition, it is also found that the consumption in the production and processing accounts for more than 75%.

Keywords

life cycle / embodied energy / energy efficiency / sustainable development

References

[1] PenningtonD. W., PottingJ., FinnvedenG.. Life cycle assessment. Part 2: Current impact assessment practice [J]. Environment International, 2004, 30(5): 721-739

[2] CurranM. A.. Life-Cycle assessment [J]. Encyclopedia of Ecology, 2008, 32(2): 2168-2174

[3] FinnvedenG., HauschildM. Z., EkvallT.. Recent developments in life cycle assessment [J]. Journal of Environmental Management, 2009, 91(1): 1-21

[4] Talens PeiróA., LombardiL., Villalba MéndezG.. Life cycle assessment (LCA) and energetic life cycle assessment (ELCA) of the production of biodiesel from used cooking oil (UCO) [J]. Energy, 2010, 35(2): 889-893

[5] AlejandroJ., AntonioA., ArnaldoC.. Comparative analysis of the life cycle impact assessment of available cement inventories in the EU [J]. Cement and Concrete Research, 2007, 37(5): 781-788

[6] ZhangZ.-h., WuX., YangX.-min.. BEPAS—A life cycle building environmental performance assessment model [J]. Building and Environment, 2006, 41(5): 669-675

[7] LiZ.-guo.. A new life cycle impact assessment approach for buildings [J]. Building and Environment, 2006, 41(10): 1414-1422

[8] VerbeeckG., HensH.. Life cycle inventory of buildings: A contribution analysis [J]. Building and Environment, 2010, 45(4): 964-967

[9] VerbeeckG., HensH.. Life cycle inventory of buildings: A calculation method [J]. Building and Environment, 2010, 45(4): 1037-1041

[10] LiuMeng.. Generic model and application of environmental impacts energy analysis for building life cycle [J]. Journal of Civil, Architectural & Environmental Engineering, 2008, 31(3): 114-118

[11] CatarinaT.. A low energy building in a life cycle—Its embodied energy, energy need for operation and recycling potential [J]. Building and Environment, 2002, 37(4): 429-435

[12] GregB., JavierG., FernandezV.. Materials, operational energy inputs, and net energy ratio for photobiological hydrogen production [J]. International Journal of Hydrogen Energy, 2007, 32(9): 1225-1234

[13] YohanisY. G., NortonB.. Life-cycle operational and embodied energy for a generic single-storey office building in the UK [J]. Energy, 2002, 27(1): 77-92

[14] WangR.-p., CaiZ.-yu.. An ecological assessment of the vernacular architecture and of its embodied energy in Yunnan, China [J]. Building and Environment, 2006, 41(5): 687-697

[15] ChenT. Y., BurnmettJ., ChauC. K.. Analysis of embodied energy use in the residential building of Hong Kong [J]. Energy, 2001, 26(4): 323-340

[16] AshishS., TiwariG. N., SodhaM. S.. Embodied energy analysis of adobe house [J]. Renewable Energy, 2009, 34(3): 755-761

[17] HuangZ.-jia.Assessment model for building energy system and case study [D], 2003, Shanghai, Tongji University: 115-134

[18] WangS.-bing.Life cycle analysis of complex products in China [D], 2000, Shanghai, Fudan University: 98-114

[19] China Statistical Bureau, China ReformDevelopment Commission.China energy yearbook [M], 2006, Beijing, China Statistical Press: 168-189

[20] LiX.-m., XieR.-he.. The relationship of transportation and energy consumption [J]. Comprehensive Transportation, 1999, 21(10): 23-27

[21] China Statistical Bureau.China statistical yearbook [M], 2006, Beijing, China Statistical Press: 178-211

[22] ZhouF.-q., WangQ.-yi.The fifty years of China’s energy [M], 2002, Beijing, China Power Press: 115-127

[23] LiF.-z., FangS.-fen.. Transportation means of oil products in northeast area [J]. Storage and Transportation of Oil and Gas, 1993, 17(6): 8-10

[24] China Statistical Bureau, China ReformDevelopment Commission.China energy yearbook (2007) [M], 2007, Beijing, China Statistical Press: 224-248

[25] China Statistical Bureau, China ReformDevelopment Commission.China energy yearbook (2008) [M], 2008, Beijing, China Statistical Press: 236-251

[26] China Statistical Bureau.China statistical yearbook (2007) [M], 2007, Beijing, China Statistical Press: 245-258

[27] China Statistical Bureau.China statistical yearbook (2008) [M], 2008, Beijing, China Statistical Press: 256-274