1. Increasing Awareness Through the Development of a Web-based Education Tool to Reduce Greenhouse Gas Emissions in Coal Power Plants   Maria Aranguren, Andres Tapia, Brittany Schier, David Olazaba, Jorge Vazquez, James Case Mentors: Drs. Krystel Castillo and Marcio Giacomoni Texas Sustainable Energy Research Institute, University of Texas at San Antonio One UTSA Circle, AET 2.305, San Antonio, TX, 78249, United States
Abstract
A third of American electricity comes from coal power plants, which increases green house gas (GHG) emissions[1]. Our project aims to reduce emissions from a coal power plant while maintaining existing infrastructure and stimulating local economic growth by co-firing coal with biomass. The optimal biomass logistics network is designed to ensure that co-firing biomass becomes a sustainable and competitive alternative. We built a web-based decision support tool to materialize the developed model, data and algorithms.
1. Objectives
• Quantify biomass crop yields and irrigation needs (Fig. 1-3)
• Develop an optimization model for the production/transportation of biomass used in green energy generation (Fig. 6)
• Design and implement a web-based platform to increase awareness about GHG emissions and assist in the deign and planning of biomass co-firing operations.
2. Climate Change Scenarios
• A2 scenario represents a pessimistic future assuming pollution increase, halted economic growth, little technology progress, increase in CO2 levels and temperature (Fig. 3,4)
• B2 scenario corresponds to a moderate increase in CO2 and a smaller temperature increase (Fig. 3,5)
3. Conclusions
• An average of 90% CO2 reduction.
• The social cost of net emissions ($79.3M) is greater than the cost of co-firing 20% switchgrass ($52.7M) (Fig. 7)
• A 20% co-firing rate would save six lives.
4. Acknowledgement
Financial assistance from the U.S. Department of Agriculture/NIFA( ) and U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (SU836794) is gratefully acknowledged.
[1] Pankaj; Alok Short-Term Energy Outlook (STEO)
Legend (lbs/acre/yr)
Fig. 6 Hub-and-spoke Network
Arcs T1
Depots (D)
Land Parcels (P)
Arcs T2
Power Plants (C)
Arcs T3
Fig. 1 SSURGO Soil Data
Fig. 2 Watershed
A2:2050
A2:2080
B2:2050
B2:2080
Total Cost
$52,717,593
Social Savings due to CO2 Reduction
$79,314,165
Parcels Used
1,068
Net emission Reduction
1,829,201 Mg
Average Yield/Hectare
9.61 Mg
Fig. 3 Climate Change Scenarios
Fig. 7 20% Co-firing Current Climate
Fig. 4 20% A2 2050
Fig. 5 20% B2 2050
Proceedings of the 2018 ASEE Gulf-Southwest Section Annual Conference The University of Texas at Austin
April 4-6, 2018