The Carbon Footprint Reduction Related to Domestic Heating Using Thermal Power Plant Waste Heat

The carbon emissions created using fossil fuels for energy are the first place the carbon to the environment. Thermal power plants that burn coal or natural gas provide a significant part of this energy. It does not seem possible to avoid thermal power plants in the short term in future policies regarding energy. Thus, using the waste heat of these power plants for domestic heating to reduce carbon emissions for energy production also decreasing the global climate crisis is a critical practice. In terms of reducing the carbon footprint and the adverse effects of thermal power plants these practices are necessary steps.

In this study, two scenarios were created to reduce the carbon footprint of heating based on waste heat from the natural gas thermal power plant in Sakarya. This is considered with the district heating system in houses. For domestic heating, natural gas is used in the first scenario, coal is used in the second scenario, and the carbon footprint is determined. Emissions from the power plant's use of coal and natural gas are also determined. District heating using waste heat and its process and installation cost was also analyzed. As a result, it has been revealed that there will be a carbon reduction of 461,161.2 tons/year CO2e when natural gas is not used for domestic heating and 605,159.6 tons/year CO2e when coal is not used. All this is possible by the use of waste heat. The annual carbon emission of the power plant using natural gas was found to be 1,263,260.8 tons/year CO2e, and the emission value was found to be 9,682,554 tons/year CO2e when coal was used in the power plant. The study results will guide policymakers to reduce the carbon footprint of heating using district heating systems, both in Turkey and developing countries where fossil fuel thermal power plants are used.