Session: Power Generation

Life Cycle Assessment of Distributed Generation Options in California
Margaret K. Mann,^*   National Renewable Energy Laboratory
Michael Whitaker,   Symbiotic Engineering
Marla Mueller,   California Energy Commission

The National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) has been funded by the California Energy Commission to conduct a life cycle assessment (LCA) study on distributed generation (DG) options in California. NREL examined the production of electricity by existing and emerging DG technologies compared to typical peaking power plants being built in California, typical natural gas combined cycle power plants, and possible coal-fired combined cycle power plants.

With this study, policy-makers will have a better understanding of the implications of recommending various options to utilize DG technologies to meet the growing demand for electricity in California. This study is not designed to advocate one option over the other, but instead provides additional information as to the life cycle emissions, resource consumption, and energy use of the various choices for DG. The results of this inventory are appropriate for identifying efforts to mitigate negative effects.

The technologies studied are:

• Peaking power plant specific to California
• Natural gas combined cycle power plant
• Integrated coal gasification combined cycle power plant
• Natural-gas simple cycle turbine power plant
• Natural gas-fired microturbines
• Natural gas-fired reciprocating engines
• Natural gas combined cycle
• Photovoltaics (PV)
• Anaerobic digesters located at waste water treatment plants
• Natural gas-fired molten carbonate fuel cells
• Natural gas-fired phosphoric acid fuel cells
• Small-scale biomass gasification
• Advanced ICE diesel-fired engines
• Anaerobic digesters using dairy waste

Important conclusions for this study are in the following categories: prime mover efficiency, natural gas produciton and delivery, local versus global emissions, and total greenhouse gas emissions. Generalized conclusions and example results to support these conclusions will be discussed.

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