Life cycle assessment of electricity generation in two thermal power plants: environmental impacts and carbon footprint

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

1 Master's degree in Environmental Science and Engineering, Department of Environment, Faculty of Natural Resources, University of Zabol, Zabol, Sistan and Baluchestan, Iran

2 Assistant Professor, Department of Environment, Faculty of Natural Resources, University of Zabol, Zabol, Sistan and Baluchestan, Iran

Abstract

This research was conducted to assess the environmental impacts and carbon footprint of the electricity production of the Zahedan gas power plant (ZGPP), and the Iranshahr combined cycle power plant (ICPP) using life cycle assessment and the intergovernmental panel on climate change. Data was collected annually for a functional unit of 1 kWh of electricity generation. The analysis of the impacts index at the midpoint level showed that the primary environmental impact from the electricity production was included the consequences of human carcinogenic toxicity with 58% for ZGPP and 52% for ICPP. Damage to human health was the highest consequence in the endpoint level index with 86% for two power plants. Based on the outcomes of the sensitivity analysis, natural gas was the most important factor affected on impacts. Also, the analysis of IPCC results showed that the consumption of fossil fuels that have the most share in global temperature potential were 97% and 63% in ZGPP, and ICPP, respectively. The highest amount of CO2 emissions per 1 kWh of electricity produced were obtained at the rates of 0.971 and 0.636 kg for ZGPP, and ICPP, respectively. According to the obtained results, although the environmental consequences of the combined cycle power plant were less compared to the gas power plant, but is still the use of liquid fuel in the combined cycle power plant is high. Therefore, it is suggested to reduce the use of this type of fuel in this power plant in order to reduce the environmental impact

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References

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Environmental Resources Research
Volume 13, Issue 2
October 2025
Pages 221-236

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