scholarly journals Comparative life cycle assessment of lithium-ion capacitors production from primary ore and recycled minerals

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Peter I. Chigada ◽  
Olivia Wale ◽  
Charlotte Hancox ◽  
Koen Vandaele ◽  
Barbara Breeze ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Life Cycle Assessment ◽  
Life Cycle ◽  
Environmental Impact ◽  
End Of Life ◽  
Product Life Cycle ◽  
Lithium Ion ◽  
Lca Methodology ◽  
Bottom Line ◽  
Recycled Materials ◽  
Lithium Ion Capacitor

The Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) methodology which allows quantification of environmental performance of products and processes based on complete product life cycle was utilised to evaluate the environmental burdens associated with manufacturing a 48 V lithium-ion capacitor (LIC) module. The prospective LCA compared the environmental impact of manufacturing a LIC module using primary ore materials and recycled materials from end-of-life LICs. For both the primary ore and recycled materials processes, the anode preparation stage was associated with the majority of the climate change and terrestrial acidification burdens. LIC module production utilising recovered materials from end-of-life LICs reduced the environmental impact compared to utilisation of primary ore resources. Application of the LCA methodology in early phase R&D activities was demonstrated with a case study on reagent choice decision-making process that accounted for environmental impact, technical performance and costs in alignment with the sustainability triple bottom line concept.

scholarly journals Comparative life cycle assessment of LED lighting products

2017 ◽  
Vol 50 (6) ◽  
pp. 801-826 ◽  
Author(s):  
JL Casamayor ◽  
D Su ◽  
Z Ren
Keyword(s):  
Life Cycle Assessment ◽  
Life Cycle ◽  
Environmental Impact ◽  
End Of Life ◽  
Product Life Cycle ◽  
Functional Unit ◽  
System Boundaries ◽  
Led Lighting ◽  
Life Cycle Stages ◽  
Life Options

The use of LED lighting products is growing rapidly. However, there are no in-depth, updated studies that show how to assess and compare these products for eco-design purposes. This research aims to inform eco-design by assessing and comparing the environmental impact of a new LED eco-lighting product with an existing LED lighting product. A cradle to grave life cycle assessment is conducted. The system boundaries include all product life cycle stages, except the maintenance of the luminaires and the manufacturing of the packaging. A novel functional unit is defined for the assessment, which is more suitable for LED lighting products. Six scenarios are considered, including three probable useful lives of the luminaires (1000, 15,000 and 40,000 hours) and two end of life options (domestic bin and recycling centre). The life cycle assessment results reveal that the new eco-lighting product has about 60% less environmental impact than the existing lighting product in all scenarios. The life cycle stages with the biggest impacts are, in decreasing order: (1) use, (2) manufacturing, (3) end of life and (4) transport. Recommendations for the eco-design of LED lighting products are proposed, and the challenges in applying life cycle assessment for eco-design are discussed.

Emissions life cycle assessment of diesel, hybrid and electric buses

2021 ◽  
pp. 095440702110343
Author(s):  
Enoch Zhao ◽  
Paul D Walker ◽  
Nic C Surawski
Keyword(s):  
Life Cycle Assessment ◽  
Life Cycle ◽  
Environmental Impact ◽  
Product Life Cycle ◽  
Lithium Ion ◽  
Low Carbon ◽  
Product Life ◽  
Study Approach ◽  
Electric Bus ◽  
Hybrid Bus

This paper applies a case study approach for Australia and calculates the equipment life cycle assessment of diesel, hybrid and electric buses. This study prepared the assessment according to the procedures and methodologies outlined in the ISO 14040:2006 Environmental Management – Life Cycle Assessment. The authors have chosen three bus models currently in service in the Australian bus fleet to serve as a baseline model for comparison. The amount of greenhouse gas emissions were calculated from the production, assembly, transportation, maintenance and disposal phases. The results in this study show that the electric bus has a higher total environmental impact than the diesel and hybrid bus, mainly due to the manufacturing of the lithium-ion battery. The results also show that the electric bus has a higher environmental impact than the diesel and hybrid bus (18.2% and 14.7% higher, respectively), albeit specific to the product life cycle and without including operation emissions. However, there are many opportunities to reduce product life cycle emissions, such as improvement in manufacturing efficiency, developing new battery technology and production in regions with low carbon-intense grid-mixes.

scholarly journals Attributional & Consequential Life Cycle Assessment: Definitions, Conceptual Characteristics and Modelling Restrictions

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (13) ◽  
pp. 7386
Author(s):  
Thomas Schaubroeck ◽  
Simon Schaubroeck ◽  
Reinout Heijungs ◽  
Alessandra Zamagni ◽  
Miguel Brandão ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Life Cycle Assessment ◽  
Life Cycle ◽  
Environmental Impact ◽  
Product Life Cycle ◽  
Sustainability Assessment ◽  
Consequential Life Cycle Assessment ◽  
Modelling Framework ◽  
Potential Environmental Impact ◽  
Reference Environment ◽  
The Impact

To assess the potential environmental impact of human/industrial systems, life cycle assessment (LCA) is a very common method. There are two prominent types of LCA, namely attributional (ALCA) and consequential (CLCA). A lot of literature covers these approaches, but a general consensus on what they represent and an overview of all their differences seems lacking, nor has every prominent feature been fully explored. The two main objectives of this article are: (1) to argue for and select definitions for each concept and (2) specify all conceptual characteristics (including translation into modelling restrictions), re-evaluating and going beyond findings in the state of the art. For the first objective, mainly because the validity of interpretation of a term is also a matter of consensus, we argue the selection of definitions present in the 2011 UNEP-SETAC report. ALCA attributes a share of the potential environmental impact of the world to a product life cycle, while CLCA assesses the environmental consequences of a decision (e.g., increase of product demand). Regarding the second objective, the product system in ALCA constitutes all processes that are linked by physical, energy flows or services. Because of the requirement of additivity for ALCA, a double-counting check needs to be executed, modelling is restricted (e.g., guaranteed through linearity) and partitioning of multifunctional processes is systematically needed (for evaluation per single product). The latter matters also hold in a similar manner for the impact assessment, which is commonly overlooked. CLCA, is completely consequential and there is no limitation regarding what a modelling framework should entail, with the coverage of co-products through substitution being just one approach and not the only one (e.g., additional consumption is possible). Both ALCA and CLCA can be considered over any time span (past, present & future) and either using a reference environment or different scenarios. Furthermore, both ALCA and CLCA could be specific for average or marginal (small) products or decisions, and further datasets. These findings also hold for life cycle sustainability assessment.

A comparative life cycle assessment on lithium-ion battery: Case study on electric vehicle battery in China considering battery evolution

2020 ◽  
pp. 0734242X2096663 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shuoyao Wang ◽  
Jeongsoo Yu
Keyword(s):  
Life Cycle Assessment ◽  
Life Cycle ◽  
Environmental Impact ◽  
Lithium Ion Battery ◽  
Electric Vehicle ◽  
Lithium Ion ◽  
Collection Rate ◽  
Recycling Industry ◽  
Battery Recycling ◽  
The Future

China has become the largest electric vehicle (EV) market in the world since 2015. Consequently, the lithium-ion battery (LiB) market in China is also expanding fast. LiB makers are continually introducing new types of LiBs into the market to improve LiBs’ performance. However, there will be a considerable amount of waste LiBs generated in China. These waste LiBs should be appropriately recycled to avoid resources’ waste or environmental pollution problems. Yet, because LiBs’ type keeps changing, the environmental impact and profitability of the waste LiB recycling industry in China become uncertain. In this research, we reveal the detailed life cycle process of EVs’ LiBs in China first. Then, the environmental impact of each type of LiB is speculated using the life cycle assessment (LCA) method. Moreover, we clarify how LiBs’ evolution will affect the economic effect of the waste battery recycling industry in China. We perform a sensitivity analysis focusing on waste LiBs’ collection rate. We found that along with LiBs’ evolution, their environmental impact is decreasing. Furthermore, if waste LiBs could be appropriately recycled, their life cycle environmental impact would be further dramatically decreased. On the other hand, the profitability of the waste battery recycling industry in China would decrease in the future. Moreover, it is essential to improve waste LiBs’ collection rate to establish an efficient waste LiB industry. Such a trend should be noticed by the Chinese government and waste LiB recycling operators to establish a sustainable waste LiB recycling industry in the future.

Combining Life Cycle Assessment and Linear Regression Analysis to Determine Significant Design Characteristics

2012 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ashley DeVierno ◽  
Brian Thorn ◽  
Andres L. Carrano
Keyword(s):  
Regression Analysis ◽  
Life Cycle Assessment ◽  
Life Cycle ◽  
Linear Regression ◽  
Environmental Impact ◽  
End Of Life ◽  
Significant Relationship ◽  
Linear Regression Analysis ◽  
Cellular Phones ◽  
Design Characteristics

For designers it is difficult to pin-point the design characteristics that could be changed to reduce the environmental impact of their products. This paper describes a method for determining the design characteristics that have a significant relationship with environmental impact that arises at product end-of-life. In this method, Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) and Linear Regression Analysis (LRA) are combined. LCA is used to quantify the environmental impact of products from the extraction of their raw materials to their disposal. LRA is used to determine the design characteristics that have the most significant relationship with environmental impact. Combining LCA and LRA gives the designer the ability to (1) establish a relationship between design characteristics and their environmental impact, (2) determine the most significant design characteristics that influence environmental impact, and (3) validate design changes with their influence on product environmental impact. In the case study described here, the design characteristic, Volume, is shown to have significant relationship with the end-of-life environmental impact of cellular phones. This trend is consistent with the results of the one-phase end-of-life disposition assessments that evaluated disassembled cellular phones. With the results of this method, designers can focus their sustainable design efforts on modifying and improving the design characteristics that have the strongest relationship with environmental impact.

scholarly journals Energy Optimization and Environmental Impact of an Office Building at Biskra City, Algeria: Life Cycle Assessment, Applied to the Building Envelope in Hot and Dry Climate

2021 ◽  
Vol 16 (2) ◽  
pp. 287-297
Author(s):  
Azzedine Dakhia ◽  
Noureddine Zemmouri
Keyword(s):  
Life Cycle Assessment ◽  
Life Cycle ◽  
Energy Consumption ◽  
Environmental Impact ◽  
Social Issues ◽  
Building Envelope ◽  
Environmental Indicators ◽  
Office Building ◽  
Insulation System ◽  
Recycled Materials

This work assesses the environmental impact generated by an office building in arid region throughout its life cycle (cradle to grave), by means of a Life Cycle Assessment (LCA). This study focuses on a comparison of different external wall systems that are conventionally used in building. With recycled materials and thermal insulation system, it’s possible to reduce demand of energy consumption, evaluate their environmental indicators impacts, and also reduce them, throughout the building life cycle. In doing so, this work can contribute not only to control energy, long-term economic growth, but also to address pressing social issues, and mainly environmental impacts. We use an environmental analysis with a thermal dynamic simulation, to test the hypothesis on a data base of hot and dry climate of Biskra city. The last part consists of a technical approach, indicating the economy is the use of ecological and recycled materials. The results of this study show that the exterior insulation system, obtained the best environmental scores, being 30% less than the interior insulation system and 50% less than the distributed insulation system. Also, recycled materials save energy in their manufacture, and building energy consumption for its use and have a reduced building impact on the environment throughout its life cycle (cradle to grave). This work shows how LCA application is not only feasible, but recommended because it is a decision support tool in the search for sustainability and make use of recycled materials.

scholarly journals Environmental Impact Analysis in the Cement Industry with Life Cycle Assessment Approach

2021 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
pp. 139
Author(s):  
Rika Chairani ◽  
Aulia Risky Adinda ◽  
Dennis Fillipi ◽  
Muhamad Jatmoko ◽  
I Wayan Koko Suryawan
Keyword(s):  
Carbon Dioxide ◽  
Life Cycle Assessment ◽  
Life Cycle ◽  
Environmental Impact ◽  
Product Life Cycle ◽  
Cement Industry ◽  
Environmental Loads ◽  
The Third ◽  
Coal Fuel ◽  
The Impact

The cement industry is one type of industry that has implications for the emergence of environmental pollution problems and a decrease in environmental quality due to dust pollution. The cement industry can also increase air temperature and noise in operational activities by using machines. In addition, the impact of the cement industry is the decline in the quality of soil fertility due to clay mining. Thus, an analytical study is needed that can be used as one of the policy bases in the operational process of the cement industry. This study aims to conduct an analysis of environmental loads at each stage in the product life cycle, make decisions to identify environmental loads, and evaluate the environmental impact of a product that plays an important role in sustainable development. This method is known as Life Cycle Assessment (LCA). In this study, the boundary system used is cradle to gate with a three-scenario approach. The first uses 100% coal fuel, the second uses 90% coal fuel, and the third uses 10% rice husk biomass. Then the analysis was carried out using the OpenLCA software. The results of the analysis showed that the most significant emission load was carbon dioxide of 1229.31 kg CO2eq. The third scenario produces the lowest carbon dioxide emission load compared to other methods of 849.1 kg.

Study on Typical Visible Light Photocatalytic Liquid under the Life Cycle Assessment

2019 ◽  
Vol 944 ◽  
pp. 1152-1157
Author(s):  
Yan Jiao Zhang ◽  
Wen Xiu Liu ◽  
Wen Bin Cao ◽  
Chun Zhi Zhao ◽  
Jia Jun Peng
Keyword(s):  
Life Cycle Assessment ◽  
Life Cycle ◽  
Environmental Impact ◽  
Visible Light ◽  
Product Life Cycle ◽  
Building Materials ◽  
Pollutant Emissions ◽  
Main Stage ◽  
Liquid Products ◽  
Visible Light Photocatalytic

With people's increasing demands for the improvement of air quality and quality of life, the demand for new decorative materials with air purification function will be increasing. This study is based on a life cycle assessment (LCA)-based approach to develop a list of resources, energy consumption and pollutant emissions in the life cycle of typical visible light photocatalytic liquid products, to calculate the important environmental impact of visible light photocatalytic liquid products, and to analyze and identify the critical stages affecting environmental performance of product, to guide the selection of green buildings and the development of ecological building materials. The results show that, for the purpose of visible light photocatalytic liquid, the global warming potential is 40.97kgCO2 equivalent/t, the abiotic depletion potential is 9.34×10-5kgSb equivalent/t, the respiratory inorganic index is 7.88×10-2kgPM2.5 equivalent/t, and the eutrophication is 4.13×10-2kgPO43-equivalent/t, acidification effect is 0.34kgSO2 equivalent/t; and the environmental impact in the product life cycle for the purpose of this study are mainly resulted from energy use, and transport process represents the main stage of eutrophication.

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