Development and Life-Cycle Inventory Analysis of Wind Energy in Taiwan
Publication: Journal of Energy Engineering
Volume 134, Issue 2
Abstract
This study conducted a life-cycle inventory analysis of wind energy utilization in Taiwan. Life-cycle stages of wind turbine manufacturing, foundation construction, as well as operation and disposal of the systems are considered. The functional unit is defined as per kWh of electricity generated by the wind power systems. In 2006, the electricity generated from wind power systems stands at 0.124% of the total electricity supply in Taiwan. Moreover, the estimated potential capacity of wind energy inland falls within the range of . The resource inputs resulting from the life-cycle inventory analysis are: Steel , aluminum , copper , sands , glass , plastics , petrochemical products , and concrete (per kWh of electricity generated). The intensities of energy consumption and emission amount to about and , respectively. Furthermore, the payback time of energy input is estimated as .
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Acknowledgments
An early version of this paper was presented at the Seventh International Conference on EcoBalance held in Tsukuba, Japan (November 14–16, 2006).
References
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© 2008 ASCE.
History
Received: Jun 15, 2007
Accepted: Oct 18, 2007
Published online: Jun 1, 2008
Published in print: Jun 2008
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