Electricity Brazilian hydroelectric power plants, 1kWh (product system)

Description

The LCI covers all relevant process steps / technologies for the construction and operation of an specific hydropower plant in Brazil. The inventory is based on data from interviews and power plant construction reports of Itaipu Binacional. The dam construction started in 1975, and finished during 1986. The first turbine began to operate some years earlier, in 1984. The current installed capacity of energy production of the overall system is 14.0 GW, which represented around 15% of the total installed capacity in Brazil (to notice that the energy produced is consumed in Brazil and in Paraguai). The estimate for the Itaipu average electricity production is 8.92E04 GWh/year, considering a 100 years life span, which was the time frame considered for LCI modeling purposes.

Technology

Electricity from water is generated in hydroelectric power plants like river-run power plants or storage power stations (dam). The system boundaries encompass the construction and operation of the dam, as well as the life-cycles of the most important material and energy consumptions (cement, steel, copper, diesel oil, lubricant oil), as well as construction site operation, emissions from reservoir flooding, material and workers transportation, and earthworks. Therefore, the dam dismantling and the residential site construction was not included in this LCI. The hydroelectric power plant operation considers a lifetime of 100 years. CO2 and CH4 emissions from the reservoir were estimated considering an emission factor of 9.644×104 t CO2/year and 1.175×104 t CH4/year, respectively (Brazil 2002). The decaying of the emissions rate over time was not considered, therefore the emissions are over-estimated. In terms of data quality, the most uncertain estimation is about greenhouse gas emission. It was assumed that the whole area of the reservoir will have the same specific emissions during its operational period; this is an assumption taken in previous studies, which is surely a rough estimation.

Itaipu hydroelectric power plant

Description

The LCI covers all relevant process steps / technologies for the construction of an specific hydropower plant in Brazil. The inventory is based on data from interviews and power plant construction reports of Itaipu Binacional. The dam construction started in 1975, and finished during 1986. The first turbine began to operate some years earlier, in 1984. The current installed capacity of energy production of the overall system is 14.0 GW, which represented around 15% of the total installed capacity in Brazil (to notice that the energy produced is consumed in Brazil and in Paraguai). The estimate for the Itaipu average electricity production is 8.92E04 GWh/year, considering a 100 years life span.

Technology

Electricity from water is generated in hydroelectric power plants. The Itaipu reservoir has an area of 1,350 km2, an extension of 7.9 km, an average depth of 22 meters, reaching 170m next the dam. The dam structure is made of concrete, earth and basalt rock. The system boundaries encompass the construction, the life-cycles of the most important material and energy consumptions (cement, steel, copper, diesel oil, lubricant oil), as well as construction site operation, material and workers transportation, and earthworks. Therefore, the dam dismantling and the residential site construction was not included in this LCI. The hydroelectric power plant operation considers a lifetime of 100 years.

Electricity Brazilian hydroelectric power plants, 1kWh (product system)

Description

Good overall data quality. Energy carrier mix information based on official statistical information. Detailed LCI of the two major hydroelectric power plants in Brazil were used. Inventory is partly based on primary industry data, partly on secondary literature data.

Technology

This dataset represents the electricity production from hydroelectric power plants in Brazil. It considers the LCI of the two major hydroelectric power plants in Brazil. The power plants of Itaipu Binacional and Tucuruí represent, respectively, 16% and 10% of the installed capacity for hydraulic power production in Brazil.

Electricity from Tucuruí power plant, at power plant, 1 kWh - 3.6 MJ (Energy)

Description

Additional remarks: Diesel consumption derived from flow diagram in Pires, A.C. (2012) 2012Z. The LCI covers all relevant process steps / technologies for the construction and operation of an specific hydropower plant in Brazil. The inventory is based on data from power plant construction reports of Eletronorte. The dam construction started in 1975. The first equipments were installed in 1984. New equipments were installed in 2010. The current installed capacity of energy production of the overall system is 8.37 GW, which represented around 10% of the total installed capacity in Brazil. The estimate for the Tucuruí average electricity production is 7.21E04 GWh/year, considering a 60 years life span, which was the time frame considered for LCI modeling purposes.

Technology

Eletricity generation started in 1984 with a generation of 4,240 MW for the first phase, 12 generators with type 330 MW Francis tubines and 2 stand-by of 20 MW, resulting in 1.74W/m2 (MCT, 2006). Second phase after 2010 operating 11 tubines. (Pires, 2012). Reservoir has an area of 2,430 km2, and total volume of 45.8E+9 cubic meters. The dam has an extension of 8.0 km which 1.19 km is a concrete structure. (MCT, 2006).

hydropower plant construction, run-of-river, UPR, ecoinvent 3.6, Undefined

Description

Location: CA-QC - Canada, Québec
This dataset represents the construction of a run-of-river hydropower power plant in Quebec. This dataset is based on study on the production, transmission and distribution of electricity in Quebec. It represents an average of all the run-of-river power plants that belong to Hydro-Quebec, which is the main electricity provider in the region (about 95% of the total electricity produced). The inventory is based on a sample of 42 run-of-river power plants that combine for 13787MW, with different capacity (from 1800 MW to 4MW) and all the dams and derivations that were built to ensure the operation of the plants. Lifetime is assumed to be 100 years for the plant. The data refers to plant construction of a mix of types of dams built between 1910 and 2014, therefore they might not be representative for an individual type of hydropower power plant. Lifetime is assumed to be 100 years for the plant and 50 for most of the equipments included (turbine-generator, valves, cranes, etc.)
[The full documentation of this dataset was originally provided in the corresponding ecoinvent report from the Swiss Centre for Life Cycle Inventories, which is accessible for free to guests and users of ecoinvent version 2 (https://www.ecoinvent.org/login-databases.html). The dataset may subsequently have been subjected to central changes to the database, as described in the respective change report for each new release.]
Undefined unit processes (UPRs) are the unlinked, multi-product activity datasets that form the basis for all of the system models available in the ecoinvent database. This is the way the datasets are obtained and entered into the database by the data providers. These activity datasets are useful for investigating the environmental impacts of a specific activity (gate-to-gate), without regard to its upstream or downstream impacts.

Technology

"The data refers to plant construction of a mix of types of dams built between 1930 and 2011, therefore they might not be representative for an individual type of hydropower power plant.

All the technologies (type of dam, type of turbine, etc.) and capacities present in the region are included in the dataset.
Several types of regulation works and dams are included (weight and vault concrete dams, morraine structures, etc.)"

Completeness

100

hydropower plant construction, reservoir, UPR, ecoinvent 3.6, Undefined

Description

Location: CA-QC - Canada, Québec
This dataset represents the construction of a hydropower power plant reservoir in Quebec. This dataset is based on study of the production, transmission and distribution of electricity in Quebec. It represents an average of all the reservoir power plants that belong to Hydro-Quebec, which is the main electricity provider in the region (about 95% of the total electricity produced). The inventory is based on a sample of 20 reservoir power plants that total 22583 MW, with different capacities (from 5600 MW to 51MW) and all the dams and derivations that were built to ensure the operation of the plants. The data refers to plant construction of a mix of types of dams built between 1930 and 2014, therefore they might not be representative of an individual type of hydropower plant. Lifetime is assumed to be 100 years for the plant and 50 for most of the equipments included (turbine-generator, valves, cranes, etc.)
[The full documentation of this dataset was originally provided in the corresponding ecoinvent report from the Swiss Centre for Life Cycle Inventories, which is accessible for free to guests and users of ecoinvent version 2 (https://www.ecoinvent.org/login-databases.html). The dataset may subsequently have been subjected to central changes to the database, as described in the respective change report for each new release.]
Undefined unit processes (UPRs) are the unlinked, multi-product activity datasets that form the basis for all of the system models available in the ecoinvent database. This is the way the datasets are obtained and entered into the database by the data providers. These activity datasets are useful for investigating the environmental impacts of a specific activity (gate-to-gate), without regard to its upstream or downstream impacts.

Technology

"The data refers to plant construction of a mix of types of dams built between 1930 and 2011, therefore they might not be representative for an individual type of hydropower plant.

All the technologies (type of dam, type of turbine, etc.) and capacities present in the region are included in the dataset.
Several types of regulation works and dams are included (weight and vault concrete dams, morraine structures, etc.)"

Completeness

100

hydropower plant construction, run-of-river, UPR, ecoinvent 3.6, Allocation, cut-off

Description

Reference product: hydropower plant, run-of-river [unit]
Location: CA-QC - Canada, Québec
This dataset represents the construction of a run-of-river hydropower power plant in Quebec. This dataset is based on study on the production, transmission and distribution of electricity in Quebec. It represents an average of all the run-of-river power plants that belong to Hydro-Quebec, which is the main electricity provider in the region (about 95% of the total electricity produced). The inventory is based on a sample of 42 run-of-river power plants that combine for 13787MW, with different capacity (from 1800 MW to 4MW) and all the dams and derivations that were built to ensure the operation of the plants. Lifetime is assumed to be 100 years for the plant. The data refers to plant construction of a mix of types of dams built between 1910 and 2014, therefore they might not be representative for an individual type of hydropower power plant. Lifetime is assumed to be 100 years for the plant and 50 for most of the equipments included (turbine-generator, valves, cranes, etc.)

[The full documentation of this dataset was originally provided in the corresponding ecoinvent report from the Swiss Centre for Life Cycle Inventories, which is accessible for free to guests and users of ecoinvent version 2 (https://www.ecoinvent.org/login-databases.html). The dataset may subsequently have been subjected to central changes to the database, as described in the respective change report for each new release.]
[This dataset has been generated using the system model "Allocation, cut-off by classification". A system model describes how activity datasets are linked to form product systems. The allocation cut-off system model subdivides multi-product activities by allocation, based on a physical properties, economic, mass or other properties. By-products of waste treatment processes are cut-off, as are all by-products classified as recyclable. Markets in this model include all activities in proportion to their current production volume.
Version 3 of the ecoinvent database offers three system models to choose from. For more information, please visit: https://www.ecoinvent.org/database/system-models-in-ecoinvent-3/system-models-in-ecoinvent-3.html)]

Technology

"The data refers to plant construction of a mix of types of dams built between 1930 and 2011, therefore they might not be representative for an individual type of hydropower power plant.

All the technologies (type of dam, type of turbine, etc.) and capacities present in the region are included in the dataset.
Several types of regulation works and dams are included (weight and vault concrete dams, morraine structures, etc.)"

Completeness

100

hydropower plant construction, reservoir, UPR, ecoinvent 3.6, Allocation, cut-off

Description

Reference product: hydropower plant, reservoir [unit]
Location: CA-QC - Canada, Québec
This dataset represents the construction of a hydropower power plant reservoir in Quebec. This dataset is based on study of the production, transmission and distribution of electricity in Quebec. It represents an average of all the reservoir power plants that belong to Hydro-Quebec, which is the main electricity provider in the region (about 95% of the total electricity produced). The inventory is based on a sample of 20 reservoir power plants that total 22583 MW, with different capacities (from 5600 MW to 51MW) and all the dams and derivations that were built to ensure the operation of the plants. The data refers to plant construction of a mix of types of dams built between 1930 and 2014, therefore they might not be representative of an individual type of hydropower plant. Lifetime is assumed to be 100 years for the plant and 50 for most of the equipments included (turbine-generator, valves, cranes, etc.)

[The full documentation of this dataset was originally provided in the corresponding ecoinvent report from the Swiss Centre for Life Cycle Inventories, which is accessible for free to guests and users of ecoinvent version 2 (https://www.ecoinvent.org/login-databases.html). The dataset may subsequently have been subjected to central changes to the database, as described in the respective change report for each new release.]
[This dataset has been generated using the system model "Allocation, cut-off by classification". A system model describes how activity datasets are linked to form product systems. The allocation cut-off system model subdivides multi-product activities by allocation, based on a physical properties, economic, mass or other properties. By-products of waste treatment processes are cut-off, as are all by-products classified as recyclable. Markets in this model include all activities in proportion to their current production volume.
Version 3 of the ecoinvent database offers three system models to choose from. For more information, please visit: https://www.ecoinvent.org/database/system-models-in-ecoinvent-3/system-models-in-ecoinvent-3.html)]

Technology

"The data refers to plant construction of a mix of types of dams built between 1930 and 2011, therefore they might not be representative for an individual type of hydropower plant.

All the technologies (type of dam, type of turbine, etc.) and capacities present in the region are included in the dataset.
Several types of regulation works and dams are included (weight and vault concrete dams, morraine structures, etc.)"

Completeness

100

hydropower plant construction, run-of-river, UPR, ecoinvent 3.6, Consequential

Description

Reference product: hydropower plant, run-of-river [unit]
Location: CA-QC - Canada, Québec
This dataset represents the construction of a run-of-river hydropower power plant in Quebec. This dataset is based on study on the production, transmission and distribution of electricity in Quebec. It represents an average of all the run-of-river power plants that belong to Hydro-Quebec, which is the main electricity provider in the region (about 95% of the total electricity produced). The inventory is based on a sample of 42 run-of-river power plants that combine for 13787MW, with different capacity (from 1800 MW to 4MW) and all the dams and derivations that were built to ensure the operation of the plants. Lifetime is assumed to be 100 years for the plant. The data refers to plant construction of a mix of types of dams built between 1910 and 2014, therefore they might not be representative for an individual type of hydropower power plant. Lifetime is assumed to be 100 years for the plant and 50 for most of the equipments included (turbine-generator, valves, cranes, etc.)

[The full documentation of this dataset was originally provided in the corresponding ecoinvent report from the Swiss Centre for Life Cycle Inventories, which is accessible for free to guests and users of ecoinvent version 2 (https://www.ecoinvent.org/login-databases.html). The dataset may subsequently have been subjected to central changes to the database, as described in the respective change report for each new release.]
[This dataset has been generated using the system model “Substitution, consequential, long-term". A system model describes how activity datasets are linked to form product systems. This consequential system model uses substitution (also known as "system expansion") to substitute by-product outputs. It includes only activities to the extent that they are expected to change in the long-term as a consequence of small-scale changes in demand, following a consequential approach, taking into account both constrained markets and technology constraints.
Version 3 of the ecoinvent database offers three system models to choose from. For more information, please visit: https://www.ecoinvent.org/database/system-models-in-ecoinvent-3/system-models-in-ecoinvent-3.html)]

Technology

"The data refers to plant construction of a mix of types of dams built between 1930 and 2011, therefore they might not be representative for an individual type of hydropower power plant.

All the technologies (type of dam, type of turbine, etc.) and capacities present in the region are included in the dataset.
Several types of regulation works and dams are included (weight and vault concrete dams, morraine structures, etc.)"

Completeness

100

hydropower plant construction, reservoir, UPR, ecoinvent 3.6, Consequential

Description

Reference product: hydropower plant, reservoir [unit]
Location: CA-QC - Canada, Québec
This dataset represents the construction of a hydropower power plant reservoir in Quebec. This dataset is based on study of the production, transmission and distribution of electricity in Quebec. It represents an average of all the reservoir power plants that belong to Hydro-Quebec, which is the main electricity provider in the region (about 95% of the total electricity produced). The inventory is based on a sample of 20 reservoir power plants that total 22583 MW, with different capacities (from 5600 MW to 51MW) and all the dams and derivations that were built to ensure the operation of the plants. The data refers to plant construction of a mix of types of dams built between 1930 and 2014, therefore they might not be representative of an individual type of hydropower plant. Lifetime is assumed to be 100 years for the plant and 50 for most of the equipments included (turbine-generator, valves, cranes, etc.)

[The full documentation of this dataset was originally provided in the corresponding ecoinvent report from the Swiss Centre for Life Cycle Inventories, which is accessible for free to guests and users of ecoinvent version 2 (https://www.ecoinvent.org/login-databases.html). The dataset may subsequently have been subjected to central changes to the database, as described in the respective change report for each new release.]
[This dataset has been generated using the system model “Substitution, consequential, long-term". A system model describes how activity datasets are linked to form product systems. This consequential system model uses substitution (also known as "system expansion") to substitute by-product outputs. It includes only activities to the extent that they are expected to change in the long-term as a consequence of small-scale changes in demand, following a consequential approach, taking into account both constrained markets and technology constraints.
Version 3 of the ecoinvent database offers three system models to choose from. For more information, please visit: https://www.ecoinvent.org/database/system-models-in-ecoinvent-3/system-models-in-ecoinvent-3.html)]

Technology

"The data refers to plant construction of a mix of types of dams built between 1930 and 2011, therefore they might not be representative for an individual type of hydropower plant.

All the technologies (type of dam, type of turbine, etc.) and capacities present in the region are included in the dataset.
Several types of regulation works and dams are included (weight and vault concrete dams, morraine structures, etc.)"

Completeness

100