Life cycle assessment of a reciprocating engine power plant in Bangladesh

In view of the severe power crisis in Bangladesh, the government decided to use the quick rental power plants (QRPPs) as its important strategic technique to reduce power shortage in the shortest possible time. Under this strategy, several QRPPs were commissioned with a total capacity of more than 1000 MW. All the quick rental power plants are based on reciprocating engines. About 35.52 % of total generation capacity around 17,043 MW comes from reciprocating engine power plant. The goal of this paper is to perform a life cycle analysis of a 10.2 MW natural gas fired reciprocating engine (RE) power plant, which is being operated to supply electric power to a cement factory, Seven Circle Cement Company at Ghorasal, Narsingdi. The study reveals that the direct combustion of natural gas during the operational phase consumes maximum energy at 91.36% and the contribution of hidden processes is about 9%. Out of this 9%, the production of materials, manufacturing of equipmentand transportation is 0.50%, plant operation and maintenance 0.22%, and fuel cycle 7.91% of the total life cycle energy inputs. However, the energy consumption in decommissioning phases is negligible. This study also reveals that the major GHG emission is accounted for direct combustion of the fuel during operation of the power plant. The total GHG emissions from the 10.2 MW Reciprocating Engine (RE) power plant was estimated to be 672.22 g-CO₂eq/kWh with the lifecycle efficiency of 34.21% and plant fuel efficiency of 37.45%.