Evaluating the potential of energy efficiency improvement in combined cycle power generation to minimize the CO2 footprint in the context of Sri Lanka
Main research questions are the estimation of energy efficiency improvements, reduction of carbon footprint per unit power output and the impact energy price due to the investments on energy efficiency measures.
Background
Carbon dioxide emissions from the power generation sector is one of the significant contributors to the global warming issue. There is a world-wide commitment (COP 21 Paris Agreement) to reduce CO2 emissions progressively and completely eliminate carbon dioxide emissions by 2050. However recent research has revealed that there are constrains to achieve net zero emission by 2050 which required to limit global warming to 1.5 ˚C and predicted that global warming headed to 2.3 ˚C by 2100 as continually accumulation of CO2 emission due to lack of net negative emission technologies and carbon removal.
Overall efficiency improvements have been identified as a sustainable solution to increase power supply without changing emission. The efficiency gain has potential to flatten the global energy demand in the next 30 years regardless of a population increment and economic growth. Thermal efficiency improvement has great potential to reduction of CO2 emission through the applications of clean combustion technologies and operations of combined mode of advanced cycles. It was predicted that 40-50% of CO2 reduction in power generation sector in Europe could be achieved by increasing thermal efficiency up to 65% from current 50% with new advanced cycles and technologies. Combined cycle gas turbine power plants contribute vital composition in the thermal power generation sector in the globe. Combined cycle gas turbine power plants are still popular and are increased installation capacity due to its high thermal efficiency, reliability operation and flexible fuel switching options.
Project goal
Within the proposed study project, it is expected for the student to gain deep knowledge and experience on combine cycle power plants systems and operations to perform analysis on system components and functions for achieving optimal power generation efficiencies.
Main research qeustions are the estimation of energy efficiency improvements, reduction of carbon footprint per unit power output and the impact energy price due to the investments on energy efficiency measures.
This project is connected to another collaboration project with Sri Lanka at the department of Energy Technology, with a possible travel and stay for data collection purposes(financed by the connected EU project).
Contact person and Examiner
Jeevan Jayasuriya (Jeevan.jayasuriya@energy.kth.se)