LCA Process/Methodology

Annexure to LCA of Power Plants - Renewable Energy

PROF M.T. OLADIRAN

Author: LETLHARE-WASTIKC, K.

The LCA process accounts for emissions, habitat alteration and resource depletion associated with all inputs to a product system throughout its entire life cycle. Figure 1 illustrates life cycle stages considered in an LCA, and the typical inputs and outputs that are measured.
Figure 1 - Life cycle stages and life cycle flows typically considered in LCA. Source: Graedel and Allenby (1995)

In the ISO standards, LCA is defined through the procedure of performing an LCA that systematically examines potential impacts of products or services by:

Compiling an inventory of energy and material inputs and outputs of the product system. Evaluating the potential impacts on resource use, human health and ecological systems associated with those inputs and outputs. Interpreting and communicating the results of the assessment according to the goals of the study, which covers the whole life cycle of the system, from raw material acquisition through production, use and disposal ie., cradle to grave.

Figure 2 LCA Procedure as defined by the ISO standards.

Definition of goal and scope This phase determines the direction and depth of the study. The purpose of the study is defined by clearly stating the reason for conducting the assessment, and the intended use of results. The scope of the LCA defines the system, boundaries, data requirements, environmental effects to be reviewed, assumptions, and limitations. The system to be assessed is defined in terms of a functional unit, a measure of performance that the system delivers. This functional unit is specified as a basis for comparison: of a product before and after improvement; a comparison of several design alternatives of a new product; or a comparison between different products with the same function. Data-quality goals should be clearly specified, including the degree of confidence in the data, and ultimately in decisions that will be based upon the data. Life cycle inventory (LCI) analysis In this phase, the unit processes of the system are analyzed to identify and quantify energy, water and materials use and environmental releases; for example, air emissions, solid waste disposal, and wastewater discharge. This can be described in process flow charts, and mass balance equations are used to calculate the net flows of inputs and outputs of the system. The result of this analysis is a long list of resources used and emissions to the environment. Detailed data are required and the quality of the data should be consistent with the purpose and scope of the study, including variability, uncertainties, and gaps. The degree of sub-division of the total system into individual processes is frequently determined by the availability of data and the requirements defined in the goal and scope of study. Life-cycle impact assessment A stand-alone LCI can provide useful information for product improvements, benchmarking, energy savings, and emission reduction, but it does not place the

inventory data and information into perspective for the comparative assessment of product systems. To better understand the relative environmental significance of the inputs and outputs of the system, environmental impacts associated with the inventory are estimated and evaluated in three main steps:

Classification The data collected in the inventory stage are grouped together into a number of impact categories (e.g. global warming). Characterization All the inventory elements within each impact category are translated into a common metric or equivalency factor, e.g., global warming potential in CO2equivalents. Carbon dioxide affects global warming by a factor of 1 and methane affects global warming by a factor of 22. Normalization and weighting Optionally, a further development of the characterization step is to normalize the aggregated data per impact category in relation to the actual magnitude of the impacts within this category to compare the data from the different impact categories. The normalized impact can then be summed to determine a single-figure score (see below). The impact categories can be weighted so that they can be compared and trade-offs can be assessed. The weighted impact can then be summed to determine a single score or ecoindicator. In principle, results of a weighted assessment reflect social values and preferences. This is also not required by the ISO standards but is an option. Interpretation In this phase, the results of the inventory analysis and impact assessment are evaluated and tested to check their validity before making and reporting the conclusions, with a clear understanding of the assumptions used to generate the results. An uncertainty evaluation can be performed as well as sensitivity analysis to test the quantitative effects of various assumptions made in the assessment.