LCA-NETS tool for environmental design of natural gas-fired power generation systems in Thailand

Natural gas power generating plants account for 52.5% of all of the electricity produced in Thailand. The attractiveness of small amount combustion gas emission has brought about an increase in the number of natural gas power plants. On the other hand, natural gas is not a renewable energy source. The life cycle efficiency is negative, indicating that more energy is consumed by the steam than is produced in the form of electricity. It is very important, therefore, to understand environmental influences due to electricity production from natural gas, which can be an instructive component of any plan to reduce total emissions and also resource consumption. This study has introduced LCA and LCC to three kinds of natural gas power plant systems. As a result from the LCA and LCC point of view, the environmental load and the economical cost are discussed for further ecological and economical improvement.