V3I5P32

Carbon Dioxide Emission Modelling in Power Plants: An Analysis of Otukpo Rice Mill and Sawmill in Benue State, Nigeria

Emmanuel Daniel Onoja^1*, Edwin Hart Ogwuche², Ejila Odeh Anthony³, Alfred Daniel Owoicho¹

Abstract

Due to Nigeria’s ongoing grid electricity supply shortage, many small and medium-sized businesses are now forced to rely largely on fossil fuel-powered generators, which raises carbon dioxide (CO₂) emissions and the related environmental effects. In this study, CO2 emissions from power plants used in a sawmill and rice mill in Otukpo, Benue State, Nigeria, are modelled. Over the course of six months, operational data such as operating hours, load factor, generator capacity, and fuel consumption rate were gathered. Multiple linear regression was used to model the relationship between CO₂ emissions and important operational parameters, and the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) emission factor approach was used to estimate carbon dioxide emissions. The most significant predictors of CO2 emissions, according to the results, were fuel consumption and operating hours (p < 0.05). In comparison to the rice mill, the sawmill showed higher emission intensity because of its longer operating hours and higher load demand. With coefficient of determination (R2) values above 0.85, the developed model showed good predictive performance. In addition to offering a useful modelling framework to assist emission reduction strategies and sustainable energy planning in developing regions, this study offers a localised emissions inventory for small industrial power plants.

Keywords:

Carbon dioxide emissions; Emission modelling; Diesel generators; Rice mill; Sawmill; Otukpo; Nigeria