Decarbonization Pathways: Assessing Life Cycle GHG Emissions in Malaysia's Electricity Generation

• Published in: Engineering, Technology and Applied Science Research
• Main Author: Mohd Nordin A.H.; Sulaiman S.I.; Mustapa R.F.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Dr D. Pylarinos 2024
• Online Access: https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-85207485385&doi=10.48084%2fetasr.8025&partnerID=40&md5=a624f52c58c7ef02b53fadf7d990a0d2

Electricity generation is a key contributor to global Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions. The urgent need to mitigate climate change demands a transition to more sustainable ways of electricity generation. However, focusing on operational emissions without assessing their life cycle may lead to less effective decisions on energy policy and technology advancements. This study examines the life cycle GHG emissions of major electricity generation systems in Malaysia, employing the life cycle assessment approach. The systems are based on energy resources of coal, natural gas, hydro, and solar photovoltaic (PV). Furthermore, five types of PV systems with different capacity range and module technologies were compared. Furthermore, the study also compares the scenarios of PV installation in major cities in the country. The results show that electricity produced by renewable energy yields substantially lower GHG emissions compared to fossil fuel energy. Throughout their lifetime, PV and hydro electricity systems release GHG emissions at least 5 and 7.4 times lower than coal respectively, and at least 3.5 and 5.2 times lower than natural gas, respectively, under the worst-case uncertainty scenario. Besides, the GHG emissions of PV system installed in major cities in Malaysia ranges from 61.4 to 72.5 g CO2-eq/kWh. The study highlights the potential of renewable energy in promoting sustainability within the energy sector, offering a viable pathway towards the decarbonization of the energy sector. © by the authors.