Water impact analysis due to coal-electricity generation using the life cycle assessment method: a case study in Malaysia

Coal power plants adversely impact air pollution, but they also pose a risk to our water sources. Discharge wastewater from power plants may degrade the quality of nearby water bodies. This study evaluates the potential water-related environmental impacts of electricity generation at an ultra-supercritical coal power plant in Malaysia using the life cycle assessment method. The inventory data were gathered from a Malaysian power plant, and supporting data were taken from the relevant literature. Utilizing the ReCiPe 2016 impact assessment method, this study analyses the mid-point impact categories of freshwater eutrophication (FEP), marine eutrophication (MEP), freshwater ecotoxicity (FETP), and marine ecotoxicity (METP). The results indicate that METP is the leading risk, with an average impact of 1.94 × 10^-2 kg 1,4-DCB per kWh electricity generated, followed by FETP (1.40 × 10^-2 kg 1,4-DCB), FEP (4.66 × 10^-4 kg P eq), and MEP (2.95 × 10^-5 kg N eq). About 95% of the mid-point impact is due to the extraction and processing of hard coal. These findings underscore a critical aspect of environmental management at the supply chain level. Furthermore, mitigating direct emissions from power generation could reduce the mid-point impact, as demonstrated by comparisons with previous research.