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The Tucurui hydroelectric dam in Brazil is noted for the high greenhouse gas emi

ID: 1781861 • Letter: T

Question

The Tucurui hydroelectric dam in Brazil is noted for the high greenhouse gas emissions from its reservoir. The emissions are highly variable, but over a two year period they were found to average 40.85 tons of methane per square kilometer per year and 3.093 tons of CO2 per square kilometer per year. In its original, pre-flooded state the forest ecosystem had emitted 900 tons of Co2-equivalent per square kilometer per year. 1. Assuming the electrical production is constant year to year and that the dam has a 80 year functional lifespan for power generation, what is the effective lifetime greenhouse gas intensity of the concrete used in this dam in kilograms of Co2-equivalent per kWh from the flooded reservoir?

Explanation / Answer

methane gas produced per year for production of x KWhr/yr = 40.85 tons/yr/sq km

Co2 production per year for generation of x Kwhr/year = 3093 tons/sq km/yr

In 80 years total consumtion of co2 = 80 X 3093 = 247,440 tons

In 80 years total consumtion of Methane = 80 X 40.85 tons =3,268 tons =25 X 3268 tons of CO2 =81,700Tons of CO2

In 80 yrs total CO2 eq due to pre-flooded forest = 80 X 900 Tons

Total CO2 equivalent emitted in 80 years due to concrete = 247,440 + 81,700 - 900 X 80

= 257,140 tons of CO2 equivant is released in 80 yrs

Annual production of power ( as per website of Brazil govt) = 21.4 Tera whr =21.4 X 10^9 KwH

80 year production of electricity = 80 X 21.4 X 10^9 = 1712 X 10^9 KwH

CO2 intensity of the plant = 257,140 Tons/(1712 X 10^9) KwH

= 150.2 X 10^(-9) Tons per KwH

= 150.2 X 10^(-9) X 10^3 Kg /KwH

= 1.50 X 10^(-4) Kg/KwH

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