A life cycle assessment scheme for environmental load estimation of power generation systems with NETS evaluation method

Abstract

This research is to analyze the environmental load on three types--natural, fossil-fuel, and nuclear power generation systems in lifecycle from the cradle to the grave. This study presents the numerical results on net energy, resources consumption and emissions of various electricity generation systems, using a whole-fuel-chain approach. For the assessment, the authors evaluated these systems using NETS (Numerical Environment Total Standard) evaluation method that is proposed here. This method describes impact on the environment in which the values change in them according to the maximum sufferable value. The NETS value is calculated from the total summation of respective environmental indices on whole processes in life cycle. As the result, a list of estimations using NETS values in power generation systems for input resources and output emissions is created as points of reference for further development and refinement to much more eco-power generation systems.