96
D. Chakraborty
The remaining part of the paper is structured in four parts. Section 2 comprehends
review of literation, Sect. 3 focuses on the goals and objectives of the present study,
Sect. 4 explains the research methods and data sources, Sect. 5 provides the results
obtained from thermal power plant. Section 6 discusses the green options adopted
by the case study unit and Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) achieved as a
result of adopting the green options. Finally, Sect. 7 concludes the chapter with some
recommendations that the power plant can adopt as its future pathway for achieving
sustainability.
2 Review of Literature
CF is widely accepted as a method of quantifying greenhouse emissions (GHG) of
a product or process during its entire life cycle. In this section, review of literature
is conducted on carbon footprint (CF) estimation of industries (using non-renewable
and renewable sources of energy) in India and abroad based on various methodologies of calculating CF. In 2002 in China, with the aim to make provision of
1kWh of electricity for all consumers, Life cycle inventory (LCI) was quantified
for identifying areas of improvement in the industry [7]; Life-Cycle Assessment
(LCA) methodology was utilized in the industrial level for estimating GHG emissions in coal-based power stations [8]. Later, the emissions from the coal-fired power
stations of China were analyzed using Life cycle accounting model [9]. Studies also
exist relating to estimation of greenhouse gas (GHG) emission of wind electricity in
Europe using LCA approach [10]. A Hungarian biogas power plant estimated carbon
footprint and the associated stability of energy using complete life cycle assessment
of biogas production. Results showed that 50% of the valuable energy is wasted
to measure the needs to be taken to utilize such valuable energy [11]. Study based
on Indian power plants revealed measuring GHG emissions based on methods other
than LCA has been made. Emission from purely coal-based generation plants without
using any kind of non-renewables was studied [12]. Also application of renewable
like sawdust along with coal for generation of electricity was studied for an Indian
thermal plant to reveal the potential option for the energy development programme
[13]. Impacts of using biomass feed-stocks as fuel in gasifiers of Indian thermal
power plants have been done in another work and the bio-energy generated has been
estimated [14]. Further literature review reveals a variety of LCA studies across the
globe that includes—16 different studies related to LCA of the electric grids and their
components were reviewed to compute the impacts on environment due to grid losses
and life-ending condition of grid components [15]. CF estimate based on life cycle
assessment and its related environmental performance assessment, was undertaken
for an electricity grid in Greece using different power generation technologies, [16];
calculation of CF and its environmental significance using different combinations
electricity generation by 2050 was studied for Sri Lanka [17]. However, since the
inception of SDGs in 2015 and also given its gaining importance for businesses,
developing a link between LCA and SDGs has become inevitable. Thus review of
D. Chakraborty
The remaining part of the paper is structured in four parts. Section 2 comprehends
review of literation, Sect. 3 focuses on the goals and objectives of the present study,
Sect. 4 explains the research methods and data sources, Sect. 5 provides the results
obtained from thermal power plant. Section 6 discusses the green options adopted
by the case study unit and Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) achieved as a
result of adopting the green options. Finally, Sect. 7 concludes the chapter with some
recommendations that the power plant can adopt as its future pathway for achieving
sustainability.
2 Review of Literature
CF is widely accepted as a method of quantifying greenhouse emissions (GHG) of
a product or process during its entire life cycle. In this section, review of literature
is conducted on carbon footprint (CF) estimation of industries (using non-renewable
and renewable sources of energy) in India and abroad based on various methodologies of calculating CF. In 2002 in China, with the aim to make provision of
1kWh of electricity for all consumers, Life cycle inventory (LCI) was quantified
for identifying areas of improvement in the industry [7]; Life-Cycle Assessment
(LCA) methodology was utilized in the industrial level for estimating GHG emissions in coal-based power stations [8]. Later, the emissions from the coal-fired power
stations of China were analyzed using Life cycle accounting model [9]. Studies also
exist relating to estimation of greenhouse gas (GHG) emission of wind electricity in
Europe using LCA approach [10]. A Hungarian biogas power plant estimated carbon
footprint and the associated stability of energy using complete life cycle assessment
of biogas production. Results showed that 50% of the valuable energy is wasted
to measure the needs to be taken to utilize such valuable energy [11]. Study based
on Indian power plants revealed measuring GHG emissions based on methods other
than LCA has been made. Emission from purely coal-based generation plants without
using any kind of non-renewables was studied [12]. Also application of renewable
like sawdust along with coal for generation of electricity was studied for an Indian
thermal plant to reveal the potential option for the energy development programme
[13]. Impacts of using biomass feed-stocks as fuel in gasifiers of Indian thermal
power plants have been done in another work and the bio-energy generated has been
estimated [14]. Further literature review reveals a variety of LCA studies across the
globe that includes—16 different studies related to LCA of the electric grids and their
components were reviewed to compute the impacts on environment due to grid losses
and life-ending condition of grid components [15]. CF estimate based on life cycle
assessment and its related environmental performance assessment, was undertaken
for an electricity grid in Greece using different power generation technologies, [16];
calculation of CF and its environmental significance using different combinations
electricity generation by 2050 was studied for Sri Lanka [17]. However, since the
inception of SDGs in 2015 and also given its gaining importance for businesses,
developing a link between LCA and SDGs has become inevitable. Thus review of