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/ Energy Procedia 105 (2017) 3456 – 3463

power from local wind power, we assume a line loss rate of 10%.

4. Data and Assumption

4.1. Parameters and assumptions

We used IPCC data to calculate natural gas heat value (8900 Kcal/M3), and other data used in Stage 1
input conversion is presented in Table 2.

Table 2. Parameters and Assumptions in Different Cases and Processes

Case Electricity Heat and Cooling

1 All NG n/a n/a
2 Coal+Grid Efficiency 35% [8]
Electricity
3 All Coal Efficiency 35% [8]
4 Local Solar Solar Intensity 4000MJ/M2 (assumption);Area 7000
2
Maximum M (project info);Electricity-Solar Conversion Rate
Utilization 74% (assumption) Boiler Efficiency
5 Local Biomass Beer Production 100 thousand ton (project 80% [8];
Maximum info);White Beer/Methane Gas around 505 ml/g COP 4.5 [8]
Utilization [15];Wine Lees/Beer 2.5%
(assumption);Gas/Electricity Efficiency 34% (Solar
T70, project info)
6 Outside Wind Line Loss: 10% (Assumption)
Electricity

Note that we acquired data and made assumption in Case 4 and 5 to model the how much biomass
energy can be used in the Distributed Energy System Project. In Case 4, we calculated the electricity
provided by solar besides the grid. In Case 5, we made sure that the biomass energy can cover the
electricity demand and cooling load.

4.2. Life Cycle Analysis Results of Former Literature

Table 3. LCA Results of Former Literature

Life Cycle Energy Life Cycle GHG Sou

urce
C onsumption/Energy E mission/Energy
Input Input
MJ/MJ g/MJ
Refined Coal 1.2 104.5 [10]
Refined Natural 1.2 72.7 [10]
G as
Mid--China Grid 2.1 196.1 [16]
Electricity
 Liu Hansi et al. / Energy Procedia 105 (2017) 3456 – 3463 3461

S olar 0.5 0.0 [17]

Biomass-- 0.2 45.1 [18]
M ethane
W ind Power 0.0 6.0 [10]

5. Results and Discussion

5.1. Main Results

Table 4. Main Results of This Paper

Case Abbreviation Energy Life Cycle Life Cycle GHG

C onsumption E nergy E mission (CO2-
(10 3 GJ) Consumption E quivalent)
( 10 3 GJJ) ( 100 ton))
1 All NG 521.576 623.804 379.342
2 Coal + Grid 489.129 680.426 614.921
Electricity
3 All Coal 908.518 1064.783 949.401
4 Local Solar 489.129 646.952 574.292
Maximum Utilization
5 Local Biomass 489.129 468.584 443.848
Maximum Utilization
6 Outside Wind 501.716 440.489 400.309
Electricity

Fig.1. Energy Consumption and GHG Emission Reduction in Case Comparisons

As Table 4 and Figure 1 shows, in the base case gas based Distributed Energy System project has
desirable performance in environmental value. When compared with traditional project, gas based
Distributed Energy System project seems to use 7% more energy as input, but in a Life-Cycle view, it
reduces energy consumption and GHG emission significantly (8% and 38% respectively). Compared with
case when electricity is bought from the grid, it has even greater advantage. Renewable energy has the
potential to develop in the future. Constrained by solar resources in Sichuan Province, solar based
Distributed Energy System project has positive but limited effect in energy saving and emission reduction.
3462 Liu Hansi et al. / Energy Procedia 105 (2017) 3456 – 3463

Biomass energy can save life cycle energy consumption 31% compared to the All Coal case , but the
emission reduction rate is not as significant as that in the base case. Wind Power also has good emission
reduction effect. Wind Power reduces energy consumption and GHG emission significantly (35% and
35% respectively) compared to the All Coal case.

5.2. Sensitivity Analysis

As we mentioned above, we relied on data from literature to derive the results. To examine whether
our results are robust, we made sensitivity analysis focusing on refrigeration COP, and boiler efficiency.
As Fig.(2) shows COP doesn’t make a difference in performance of Distributed Energy System projects.
However, when boiler efficiency is set to be 60%, a more modest number, the performance of natural gas
based projects like the base case is even more outstanding.

Fig.2. Sensitivity Analysis: 1) COP (Case 1 versus 2); 2) Boiler Efficiency 60%

5.3. Conclusions and Policy Implication

The project we researched has outstanding performance in energy saving and emission reduction.
Comparing the case using coal and grid electricity, gas based Distributed Energy System project saves
8% energy and reduced GHG emission by 38% in a Life Cycle Analysis view. Renewable energy
technology provides alternatives to reduce GHG emission. Due to the environment of the project site,
solar energy can hardly improve the performance. However, it’s possible to utilize biomass (byproduct of
beer production) or wind power in the distant to improve the system. Thus, it shows renewable energy
technology, especially the integrated use of biomass and wind power, has great potential in the
development of Distributed Energy System projects.

Further research should be made to provide useful information for corporates’ decision making in
resource-seeking, technology use and fund raising. Policy makers should also support Distributed Energy
System projects to internalize the green benefit of them.

Acknowledgements

This work was funded by the National Nature Science Foundation of China
 Liu Hansi et al. / Energy Procedia 105 (2017) 3456 – 3463 3463

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Biography
Xunmin OU. Ph.D, Associate professor of Institute of Energy, Environment and Economy
(3E), Tsinghua University, Beijing, P.R. China. He serves as the Deputy Director of China
Automotive Energy Research Center of Tsinghua University and the Deputy Sectary General of
Energy System Engineering Committee of China Energy Research Society.