Author/Authors :
Raeesi ، Razieh Khorramshahr University of Marine Science and Technology , Ghasemi Varnamkhasti ، Ebrahim Khorramshahr University of Marine Science and Technology , Saeidi ، Nasser Khorramshahr University of Marine Science and Technology, Khorramshahr University of Marine Science and Technology , Kouhbor ، Mohammad Amin Khorramshahr University of Marine Science and Technology
Abstract :
Electricity generation in thermal power plants as the largest producer of electricity in Iran is associated with greenhouse gas emissions. In this paper, using the Malmquist-Luenberger method, green productivity, and efficiency changes are measured for 31 thermal power plants (including 12 steam power plants, 13 gas power plants, and six combined cycle power plants) during 2009-2016. The results show a slight increase in green productivity in gas power plants and a slight reduction in green productivity in combined cycle power plants. Also, green productivity in steam power plants has not changed approximately. The mean values of the Malmquist-Luenberger index for these three types of power plants are 1.007, 0.997, and 1.0005, respectively. Although the environmental performance of gas power plants is slightly better than the two other types of power plants, but the difference of mean values of the Malmquist-Luenberger index for the three types of power plants is small.Furthermore, if we compare the power plants individually, we get different results, the highest and lowest mean values of the Malmquist-Luenberger index (1.06 and 0.982) is for a steam power plant (Shahid Mofateh) and a gas power plant (Konarak) respectively. Therefore, the power generation method and type of power plant (gas, steam and combined cycle) have no significant effect on the environmental performance of power plants and the environmental performance of them can be affected by other factors. The type of fuel consumed by power plants is one of the most critical factors affecting the green productivity of power plants. Over the past two decades, many countries have replaced natural gas with coal to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Hence the abundance of natural gas resources in the country is one of the advantages of thermal power generation taking into account environmental considerations. Another point is that Iran has planned to convert the significant number of gas plants to combined cycle power plants. The research findings support this policy because the results show that combined cycle power plants are more efficient than gas power plants.
Keywords :
Efficiency , Green Productivity , Thermal power plants , Malmquist , Luenberger Method
