Reducing energy and environmental challenges by modeling clean electricity generation in oil-rich regions

Abstract

Reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions induced environmental hazards is one of the most important goals of future research the energy economy and the environment. This challenge is becoming more important in developing countries, including Iran, with high energy intensity and is one of the leading countries in GHG emissions. This study aims to visualize emissions from electricity generation in Khuzestan province, southern Iran. Khuzestan is the largest producer of electricity and the country's energy capital. Khuzestan's electricity supply and demand system was simulated and examined under green scenarios till 2050 by assessing the existing situation and choosing a suitable low-carbon energy system for the future. One of the results of this research is to reduce emissions in terms of energy management strategies in the short term and the ineffectiveness of development strategies regardless of consumption management strategies. Electricity supply optimization scenarios are attractive in the long term, which indicates the costly implementation of development strategies. Combining solutions to balance the energy economy and environment is more effective. The OKEP scenario as a combination of consumption management and development strategies showed that it would maintain its positive impact in the short and long term and successfully reduce emissions. In this scenario, the net present value (NPV) attractiveness is over $ 6706 million and saves the emission of 179 MtCO_2e. Compared to the business as usual (BAU) scenario, more than 90 Bm³NG_e savings and a 3.62% increase in renewables share are other benefits of this scenario.