Assessment on Energy Conversion Efficiency and GHG Emissions Rate for  Coal, Natural Gas and Biomass Power Plant in Malaysia

Radin Diana R. Ahmad; Tiong Sieh Kiong; Sazalina Zakaria; Ahmad Rosly Abbas; Chen Chai  Phing; Kamil Abdullah

Authors

Radin Diana R. Ahmad Built Environment and Climate Change Unit, Generation and Environment Department, TNB Research Sdn. Bhd., 43000 Kajang, Selangor, Malaysia
Tiong Sieh Kiong Institute of Sustainable Energy, Universiti Tenaga Nasional, 43000 Kajang, Selangor, Malaysia
Sazalina Zakaria Built Environment and Climate Change Unit, Generation and Environment Department, TNB Research Sdn. Bhd., 43000 Kajang, Selangor, Malaysia
Ahmad Rosly Abbas Built Environment and Climate Change Unit, Generation and Environment Department, TNB Research Sdn. Bhd., 43000 Kajang, Selangor, Malaysia
Chen Chai Phing Institute of Sustainable Energy, Universiti Tenaga Nasional, 43000 Kajang, Selangor, Malaysia
Kamil Abdullah Center For Energy and Industrial Environment Studies, Universiti Tun Hussein Onn, 86400, Parit Raja, Johor, Malaysia

Keywords:

Energy conversion efficiency, GHGs, coal power plant, natural gas power plant, biomass power plant

Abstract

Three different power plants have been assessed in terms of energy conversion efficiency and GHGs emission rate. The power plants are coal power plant, natural gas power plant and biomass power plant. The assessments are made by collecting fuels consumption data and generated electricity data of each power plant. In addition to the data collection, observation on operational practices have also been carried out. The energy conversion efficiency and the GHGs emission rate for all power plants are recorded to be lower than the typical values proposed by the literature. The biomass power plant recorded the lowest energy conversion efficiency at 6.47 %. Meanwhile, the natural gas power plant utilizing the combined cycle gas turbine technology recorded the highest overall energy conversion efficiency at 48.35 % and rated to emit GHGs at 0.32 kg CO2e per kWh.