Sustainability and ecological efficiency of low-carbon power system: A concentrating solar power plant in China

Low-carbon power generation has been proposed as the key to address climate change. However, sustainability and ecological efficiency of generating plants have not fully understood. This study applies emergy analysis systems accounting a pilot solar tower plant in China for first time elaborate its sustainable performances. Emergy covers virtually all aspects by considering different forms materials inputs, environmental support human labor on same unit “solar joule”. The input–output based is applied trace complete embodied supply chain product given against back ground complex economic network, which improved accuracy accounting. illustrated unexpectedly low this particular compared with primary (steel, iron, cement, etc.). Purchased responses more than 95% total input construction phase twice much that operation phase. Comparisons other kinds clean energy technologies indicate previous studies may overestimated benefits low-carbon plants. Thus, it necessary establish kind unified framework. In addition, sensitivity suggests strictly controlling monetary costs purchased extending service lifetime improving can promote higher provides comprehensive framework quantitative emergy-based evaluation systems.