LIFE CYCLE ASSESSMENT

1. Energy and Sustainable
Development –
Life Cycle Analysis
By HS Che

2. Life Cycle Assessment
• LCA studies the environmental aspects and
potential impacts throughout a product’s life (i.e.
cradler to grave) from raw material acquisition
through production, use and disposal.
• The general categories of environmental impacts
needing consideration include resource use,
human health, and ecological consequences.
ISO 14040:2006 - Environmental management --
Life cycle assessment -- Principles and framework
ISO 14044:2006 - Environmental management --
Life cycle assessment -- Requirements and
guidelines

3. Source: https://www.e-education.psu.edu/eme807/node/690

4. Procedures of LCA
Typically there are 4 stages:
1. Goal definition and scope.
2. Inventory analysis
3. Impact assessment
4. Data interpretation.

5. 1. Goal Definition and Scope
• First, the goal and scope of the study must be stated explicitly.
• This provides the context for the assessment and explains to whom
and how the results are to be communicated.
• This step includes the detailing of technical information – such as
defining the functional unit, the system boundaries, the assumptions
and the (de)limitations of the study, the impact categories and the
methods that will be used to allocate environmental burdens in cases
where there is more than one product or function.

6. 2. Inventory Analysis
• In the second phase, all inputs and output along the whole life cycle
of a product are grouped in an inventory.
• These inputs and outputs need to be identified and quantified energy,
• Inputs may be divided into the following stages:
• Raw materials;
• Manufacturing;
• Use/reuse/maintenance;
• Recycle/waste management.

7. 2. Inventory Analysis – Cont’
• Outputs may be listed as the following:
• The products;
• Atmospheric emissions;
• Waterborne wastes;
• Solid wastes;
• Co-products;
• Other releases.

8. 3. Impact Assessment
• aimed at evaluating the significance of potential environmental
impacts using the results of the life cycle inventory analysis.
• In general, this process involves associating inventory data with
specific environmental impacts and attempting to understand those
impacts.
• The level of detail, choice of impacts evaluated and methodologies
used depends on the goal and scope of the study
• Very often, metrics are quantified.

9. 3. Impact Assessment – Cont’
• The impact assessment phase may include elements such as, among
others :
- assigning of inventory data to impact categories (classification) ;
- modelling of the inventory data within impact categories
(characterization) ;
- possibly aggregating the results in very specific cases and only when
meaningful (weighting).

10. 4. Interpretation
• Interpretation is the phase of LCA in which the findings from the inventory
analysis and the impact assessment are combined together, or, in the case
of life cycle inventory studies, the findings of the inventory analysis only,
consistent with the defined goal and scope in order to reach conclusions
and recommendations.
• The findings of this interpretation may take the form of conclusions and
recommendations to
decision-makers, consistent with the goal and scope of the study.
• The interpretation phase may involve the iterative process of reviewing and
revising the scope of
the LCA, as well as the nature and quality of the data collected consistent
with the defined goal.

11. 4. Interpretation – Cont’
• The findings of the interpretation phase should reflect the results of
any sensitivity analysis that is
performed.
• Though subsequent decisions and actions may incorporate
environmental implications identified in the findings of the
interpretation, they lie beyond the scope of the LCA study, since other
factors such as technical performance, economic and social aspects
are also considered

12. Limitations of LCA
• Dependence on the availability of data; gathering of data can be
problematic; hence a clear understanding of the uncertainty and
assumptions is important.
• Classic LCA will not determine which product, process, or technology is the
most cost effective or top-performing; therefore, LCA needs to be
combined with cost analysis, technical evaluation, and social metrics for
comprehensive sustainability analysis.
• Unlike traditional risk assessment, LCA does not necessarily attempt to
quantify any specific actual impacts. While seeking to establish a linkage
between a system and potential impacts, LCA models are suitable for
relative comparisons, but may be not sufficient for absolute predictions of
risks.

13. Case Study
• We know that the wind farm could mitigate an impressive amount of atmospheric
emissions.
• A few questions that may arise at this point are
(1) Don’t we require energy for manufacturing the turbine and constructing the plant?
(2) Shouldn’t we account the emissions in the manufacturing and commissioning stages
of the system in our analysis?
(3) Shouldn’t we consider the energy required for disposing the plant after its life period?
(4) If we consider these factors, can we say that the process of generating energy from
wind is totally free from atmospheric emissions?
(5) How rapidly could the system recover all the energy consumed for its manufacturing,
installation, operation and dismantling?
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14. • To answer these questions, we should broaden our analysis to the
entire life period of the project. T
• This is called the life cycle analysis (LSA).
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15. • In the life cycle based analysis, we look at a system or technology in its totality and
account the energy use and related emissions involved in all the stages of its production,
use and disposal.
• This essentially should include the extraction of raw materials, its conversion into
different components, manufacturing, commissioning and operation of the system, and
finally its disposal or recycling after use.
• For example, the life cycle of a typical wind turbine is shown in Fig. 6.2.
• When we assess such systems, it is logical to account the energy flow and emission
potential of all the phases of the project life as indicated in the figure.
• Here, upto the phase of turbine manufacturing, energy of various forms are consumed
and thus the system will have a negative impact on environment.
• In contrast, during the operational phase, energy is being generated without any
pollution and thus the project reacts positively to the environment.
• As all the processes involved in the project-right
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20. Group Work
Based on the topic of your group, search for at least 2 papers on LCA of
one key element of the topic.
Extract the data from the 4 stages of LCA based on the 2 references,
and compare their methodology as well as analysis.
Present the findings.

21. Oil Palm Plantation
Palm Oil Production
BioDiesel Production
(Transesterification Process)
Utilization of Biodiesel
(Transportation & Industries)
Fertilizers, Herbicides,
Water, Seeds
Water, Steam, Diesel
Fuel, Electricity,
Chemicals
Alcohol, Catalyst,
Water, Electricity
Wastewater, Air
Emission, Emission to
Soil
Wastewater, Fibre,
Shell, Decanter Cake,
Empty Fruit Bunch
(EFB), Ash
Wastewater, Glycerol
Emissions to Air, Water
Fresh Fruit Bunches
(FFB)
Crude Palm Oil (CPO)
Biodiesel
Distribution
Biodiesel

22. Coal Extraction and
Transportation
Power Plant Operation
(Combustion
Transportation of electricity
End of Life
Energy for Mining
Operations, Land
Resources
Water
Power Grid System
Disturbed Landscapes,
Emissions due to
transportation.
Emission By-products,
Greenhouse gases, ash
Energy Losses,
Infrastructure footprint
Decommissioning of
Plants, Land
Rehabilitation
Extracted Coal
Generated Electricity
Distributed Energy
Utilization of Electricity