• New & Renewable Energy
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• v.1 no.3 s.3
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• pp.42-50
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• 2005

This paper deals with the economic feasibility model and analysis of a hydrogen fuel-cell vehicle [FCV] against two similar types of non-business vehicles fueled with gasoline [GV] and diesel [DV] considering greenhouse gas [GHG]. Considering the price of vehicles and annual operating cost, we build a classical economic feasibility model. Since the economic feasibility could be affected by many input factors such as the prices of vehicles, the price of fuels, annual driving distance and so on, we estimate the average future values of input factors, which is defined as "the average case". Based on the average case, we assess the representative economic feasibility of a FCV with/without GHG, and by changing various annual driving distances, we assess its economy in terms of net-present value, internal rate of return, and payback period. In addition, we make some sensitivity analysis of its economic feasibility by changing the values of the critical input factors one at time. Based on the average case, it turns out that the consumer of a FCV could save 25,000 won/year for a GV, but the consumer could pay 120,000 won/year more for a DV. This indicates that gasoline vehicles could be replaced gradually by FCVs in Korean market which might be formed by those consumers driving annually more than approximately 14,800 km. As the results of our sensitivity analysis, it turns out that a FCV is no more economical if the difference of the prices between FCV and GV is more than 10,130,000 won or the price of hydrogen fuel could be more than 5,136 won/kg.

• Clean Technology
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• v.27 no.3
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• pp.269-274
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• 2021

Bioenergy is generally considered to be one of the options for pursuing carbon neutrality. However, for a period of time, combustion of harvested plant biomass inevitably causes more carbon dioxide in the atmosphere than combustion of fossil fuels. This paper proposes a method that predicts and minimizes the total amount and payback period of this carbon debt. As a case study, a carbon cycle impact assessment was performed for immediate switching of the currently used fossil fuels to biomass. This work points out a fundamental vulnerability in the concept of carbon neutrality. As an action plan for the sustainability of bioenergy, formulas for afforestation proportional to the decrease in the forest area and surplus harvest proportional to the increase in the forest mass are proposed. The results of optimization indicate that the carbon debt payback period is about 70 years, and the carbon dioxide in the atmosphere increases by more than 50% at a maximum and 3% at a steady state. These are theoretically predicted best results, which are expected to be worse in reality. Therefore, biomass is not truly carbon neutral, and it is inappropriate as an energy source alternative to fossil fuels. The method proposed in this work is expected to be able to contribute to the approach to carbon neutrality by minimizing present and future carbon debt of the bioenergy that is already in use.