Abstract
Purpose
Life cycle inventories (LCI) of electricity generation and supply are among the main determining factors regarding life cycle assessment (LCA) results. Therefore, consistency and representativeness of these data are crucial. The electricity sector has been updated and substantially extended for ecoinvent version 3 (v3). This article provides an overview of the electricity production datasets and insights into key aspects of these v3 inventories, highlights changes and describes new features.
Methods
Methods involved extraction of data and analysis from several publically accessible databases and statistics, as well as from the LCA literature. Depending on the power generation technology, either plant-specific or region-specific average data have been used for creating the new power generation inventories representing specific geographies. Whenever possible, the parent–child relationship was used between global and local activities. All datasets include a specific technology level in order to support marginal mixes used in the consequential version of ecoinvent. The use of parameters, variables and mathematical relations enhances transparency. The article focuses on documentation of LCI data on the unlinked unit process level and presents direct emission data of the electricity-generating activities.
Results and discussion
Datasets for electricity production in 71 geographic regions (geographies) covering 50 countries are available in ecoinvent v3. The number of geographies exceeds the number of countries due to partitioning of power generation in the USA and Canada into several regions. All important technologies representing fossil, renewable and nuclear power are modelled for all geographies. The new inventory data show significant geography-specific variations: thermal power plant efficiencies, direct air pollutant emissions as well as annual yields of photovoltaic and wind power plants will have significant impacts on cumulative inventories. In general, the power plants operating in the 18 newly implemented countries (compared to ecoinvent v2) are on a lower technology level with lower efficiencies and higher emissions. The importance of local datasets is once more highlighted.
Conclusions
Inventories for average technology-specific electricity production in all globally important economies are now available with geography-specific technology datasets. This improved coverage of power generation representing 83 % of global electricity production in 2008 will increase the quality of and reduce uncertainties in LCA studies worldwide and contribute to a more accurate estimation of environmental burdens from global production chains. Future work on LCI of electricity production should focus on updates of the fuel chain and infrastructure datasets, on including new technologies as well as on refining of the local data.
Similar content being viewed by others
Notes
A global (GLO) dataset is supposed to represent the average global production of a certain good (or service). Currently, many of the global datasets are just extrapolated from one of the existing regional (local) datasets. The GLO datasets provide a basis for approximation for countries where a certain activity does not yet exist in the ecoinvent database (Weidema et al. 2013, Chapter 1.2.5).
A global dataset can be the parent of the local datasets, which is useful for groups of closely related datasets. The local datasets inherit all information from their global parent; whenever necessary, the data can be adapted to the local conditions (Weidema et al. 2013, Chapters 1.2.5 and 1.2.6).
“Negative reference product” means that the activity is supplying the service of treating or disposing of the reference product (Weidema et al. 2013).
The datasets “heat and power co-generation, biogas, in gas engine” are also treatment activities, even if this is not indicated by the name.
Multicyclone emission control for particle removal or further emission controls installed, e.g. selective noncatalytic reduction filter.
References
Bauer C, Bolliger R, Tuchschmid M, Faist Emmenegger M (2007) Wasserkraft. Sachbilanzen von Energiesystemen: Grundlagen für den ökologischen Vergleich von Energiesystemen und den Einbezug von Energiesystemen in Ökobilanzen für die Schweiz. Paul Scherrer Institut Villigen, Swiss Centre for Life Cycle Inventories, Dübendorf, CH, Final report ecoinvent No. 6-VIII
Bauer C, Dones R, Heck T, Hirschberg S (2008) Environmental assessment of current and future Swiss electricity supply options. Paper presented at the International Conference on the Physics of Reactors “Nuclear Power: A Sustainable Resource”, Interlaken, Switzerland, 14–19 September, 2008
Bousquin J, Gambeta E, Esterman M, Rothenberg S (2012) Life cycle assessment in the print industry. J Ind Ecol 16:S195–S205
Caduff M, Huijbregts MAJ, Althaus H-J, Koehler A, Hellweg S (2012) Wind power electricity: the bigger the turbine, the greener the electricity? Environ Sci Technol 46(9):4725–4733
CONUEE (2009) Market niches for grid-connected photovoltaic Systems in Mexico. Comision Nacional para el Uso Eficiente de la Energia (Conuee)
Corsten M, Ramirez A, Shen L, Koornneef J, Faaij A (2013) Environmental impact assessment of CCS chains—lessons learned and limitations from LCA literature. Int J Greenh Gas Con 13:59–71
Doka G (2007) Life cycle inventories of waste treatment services. Final report ecoinvent No. 13. Swiss Centre for Life Cycle Inventories, Duebendorf, Switzerland
Dolan SL, Heath GA (2012) Life cycle greenhouse gas emissions of utility-scale wind power. J Ind Ecol 16:S136–S154
Dones R, Bauer C, Röder A (2007) Kohle. Sachbilanzen von Energiesystemen: Grundlagen für den ökologischen Vergleich von Energiesystemen und den Einbezug von Energiesystemen in Ökobilanzen für die Schweiz. Paul Scherrer Institut Villigen, Swiss Centre for Life Cycle Inventories, Dübendorf, Switzerland, Final report ecoinvent No. 6-VI
Dones R, Bauer C, Doka G (2009) Kernenergie. Final report ecoinvent No. 6-VII. Paul Scherrer Institut Villigen, Swiss Centre for Life Cycle Inventories, Duebendorf, Switzerland
EC (2011) National Pollutant Release Inventory. Environment Canada, www.ec.gc.ca/inrp-npri/
EPA (2012) eGRID 2012 Version 1.0. The Emissions & Generation Resource Integrated Database. US Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, DC
EPIA (2011) Global market outlook for photovoltaics until 2015. European Photovoltaic Industry Association,
Eurobserver (2011) Systèmes Solaires - le journal du photovoltaïque. Baromètre Photovoltaïque - Eurobserver Nr5, avril 2011
Faist Emmenegger M, Heck T, Tuchschmid M (2007) Erdgas. Sachbilanzen von Energiesystemen: Grundlagen für den ökologischen Vergleich von Energiesystemen und den Einbezug von Energiesystemen in Ökobilanzen für die Schweiz. Paul Scherrer Institut Villigen, Swiss Centre for Life Cycle Inventories, Dübendorf, Switzerland, Final report ecoinvent No. 6-V
Hawkins T, Gausen O, Strømman A (2012) Environmental impacts of hybrid and electric vehicles—a review. Int J Life Cycle Assess 17(8):997–1104
Heinonen J, Junnila S (2011) Case study on the carbon consumption of two metropolitan cities. Int J Life Cycle Assess 16(6):569–579
Hischier R, Baudin I (2010) LCA study of a plasma television device. Int J Life Cycle Assess 15(5):428–438
Hsu DD, O'Donoughue P, Fthenakis V, Heath GA, Kim HC, Sawyer P, Choi J-K, Turney DE (2012) Life cycle greenhouse gas emissions of crystalline silicon photovoltaic electricity generation. J Ind Ecol 16:122–S135
IAEA (2009) Operating experience with nuclear power stations in member states in 2008. International Atomic Energy Agency, Vienna, Austria
IEA (2006) Compared assessment of selected environmental indicators of PV electricity in OECD cities. International Energy Agency, Paris Cedex
IEA (2008) Analysis of PV system's values beyond energy. International Energy Agency, Paris Cedex
IEA, PVPS (2010) Trends in photovoltaic applications. Survey report of selected IEA countries between 1992 and 2009. vol IEA-PVPS T1-19:2010. International Energy Agency, Photovoltaic Power Systems Programme
IEA (2012) IEA Clean Coal Centre Database on Coal Power Plants
IEA (2010) Trends in photovoltaic applications: survey report of selected IEA countries between1992 and 2009. Report IEA-PVPS T1-19:2010. International Energy Agency, Paris Cedex
IEA, OECD (2010) Electricity Information 2010. International Energy Agency, Paris Cedex
IEA, OECD (2010) Energy balances of non OECD countries 2010. International Energy Agency, Paris Cedex
ISO (2006a) ISO 14040. Environmental management—life cycle assessment—principles and framework. International Organisation for Standardisation (ISO), Geneva
ISO (2006b) ISO 14044. Environmental management—life cycle assessment—requirements and guidelines. International Organisation for Standardisation (ISO), Geneva
Itten R, Frischknecht R, Stucki M (2012) Life cycle inventories of electricity mixes and grid. ESU-services Ltd., Uster
JRC (2011) Photovoltaic geographical information system—interactive maps. European Commission–Joint Research Centre (JRC)–European Solar Test Installation. http://re.jrc.ec.europa.eu/pvgis/apps4/pvest.php
Jungbluth N (2007) Erdöl. Sachbilanzen von Energiesystemen: Grundlagen für den ökologischen Vergleich von Energiesystemen und den Einbezug von Energiesystemen in Ökobilanzen für die Schweiz. Paul Scherrer Institut Villigen, Swiss Centre for Life Cycle Inventories, Dübendorf, Switzerland, Final report ecoinvent No. 6-IV
Jungbluth N, Bauer C, Dones R, Frischknecht R (2005) Life cycle assessment for emerging technologies: case studies for photovoltaic and wind power. Int J Life Cycle Assess 10(1):24–34
Jungbluth N, Stucki M, Flury K, Frischknecht R, Buesser S (2012) Life cycle inventories of photovoltaic power production. ESU-services, Uster. retreived from: www.esu-services.ch/data/public-lci-reports
Kendall A, McPherson E (2012) A life cycle greenhouse gas inventory of a tree production system. Int J Life Cycle Assess 17(4):444–452
Kim HC, Fthenakis V, Choi J-K, Turney DE (2012) Life cycle greenhouse gas emissions of thin-film photovoltaic electricity generation. J Ind Ecol 16:S110–S121
Lesage P (2012) Ecoinvent version 3 datasets for electricity production for internal use in the aluminium industry. Data from the International Aluminium Institute. CIRAIG, Canada
Liang X, Wang Z, Zhou Z, Huang Z, Zhou J, Cen K (2013) Up-to-date life cycle assessment and comparison study of clean coal power generation technologies in China. J Clean Prod 39:24–31
McKinsey (2008) The economics of solar power. The McKinsey Quarterly, Energy, Resources, Materials June 2008
Mendoza J-M, Oliver-Solà J, Gabarrell X, Josa A, Rieradevall J (2012) Life cycle assessment of granite application in sidewalks. Int J Life Cycle Assess 17(5):580–592
Milà i, Canals L, Sim S, García-Suárez T, Neuer G, Herstein K, Kerr C, Rigarlsford G, King H (2011) Estimating the greenhouse gas footprint of Knorr. Int J Life Cycle Assess 16(1):50–58
Ministry (2009) Performance Review of Thermal Power Stations 2008–09. Government of India, Ministry of Power, Central Electricity Authority, New Delhi
Mohr N, Meijer A, Huijbregts M, Reijnders L (2009) Environmental impact of thin-film GaInP/GaAs and multicrystalline silicon solar modules produced with solar electricity. Int J Life Cycle Assess 14(3):225–235
Moreno Ruiz E, Weidema BP, Bauer C, Nemecek T, Vadenbo CO, Treyer K, Wernet G (2013) Documentation of changes implemented in ecoinvent Data 3.0. Ecoinvent Report 5(v3). St. Gallen, The ecoinvent Centre
PAS (2011) PAS 2050:2011. Specification for the assessment of the life cycle greenhouse gas emissions of goods and services. British Standards Institute. ICS code: 13.030.40, ISBN 978 0 580 71382 8
Shekar R, Venkataraman C (2002) Inventory of aerosol and sulphur dioxide emissions from India: I—fossil fuel combustion. Atmos Environ 36:677–697
Sopian K, Haris AH, Rouss D, Yusof MA (2005) Building Integrated Photovoltaic (BiPV) in Malaysia—potential, current status. Strategies for long term cost reduction. ISESCO Science and Technology Vision Volume 1—May 2005, pp 40–44
StatCan (2009) Electric power generation, transmission and distribution 2007. Statistics Canada, Manufacturing and Energy Division. Minister of Industry. Catalogue no. 57-202-X
Teehan P, Kandlikar M (2012) Sources of variation in life cycle assessments of desktop computers. J IND ECOL 16:S182–S194
TheWindPower (2011) Wind turbines and windfarms database. www.thewindpower.net
Torrellas M, Antón A, López J, Baeza E, Parra J, Muñoz P, Montero J (2012) LCA of a tomato crop in a multi-tunnel greenhouse in Almeria. Int J Life Cycle Assess 17(7):863–875
Treyer K, Bauer C (2013) Life Cycle Inventories of electricity generation and power supply in version 3 of the ecoinvent database—part II: electricity markets. Int J Life Cycle Assess (this issue)
Volkart K, Bauer C, Boulet C (2013) Life cycle assessment of carbon capture and storage in power generation and industry in Europe. Int J Greenh Gas Con 16:91–106
von Stackelberg K (2011) Power generation and human health. In: Jerome N (ed) Encyclopedia of environmental health. Elsevier, Amsterdam
Wakabayashi H (2010) Solar PV promotion in Japan. Global Warming Potential. http://www.ingcore.org/downloads/Solar-PV-Promotion-20100628.pdf
Weidema BP, Bauer C, Hischier R, Mutel C, Nemecek T, Reinhard J, Vadenbo CO, Wernet G (2013) Overview and methodology. Data quality guideline for the ecoinvent database version 3. St. Gallen: The ecoinvent Centre
Whitaker M, Heath GA, O'Donoughue P, Vorum M (2012) Life cycle greenhouse gas emissions of coal-fired electricity generation. J Ind Ecol 16:53–S72
WNA (2009) WNA Reactor Database. http://www.world-nuclear.org/NuclearDatabase/Default.aspx?id=27232
WWEA (2011) World Wind Energy Report. 10 th World Wind Energy Conference & Renewable Energy Exhibition Greening Energy: Converting Deserts into Powerhouses
Acknowledgments
The authors express their gratitude to Pablo Tirado and Pascal Lesage from CIRAIG, Canada, for supply of high quality inventory data for the individual Canadian provinces; to all the reviewers of the new inventory datasets, particularly Carl Vadenbo and Dominik Saner from ETH Zurich, Switzerland; and to the ecoinvent team for the successful collaboration for integration of the new datasets into the database.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Additional information
Responsible editor: Niels Jungbluth
Electronic supplementary material
Below is the link to the electronic supplementary material.
ESM 1
(DOC 307 kb)
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Treyer, K., Bauer, C. Life cycle inventories of electricity generation and power supply in version 3 of the ecoinvent database—part I: electricity generation. Int J Life Cycle Assess 21, 1236–1254 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11367-013-0665-2
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11367-013-0665-2