No Matter - How? Dealing with Matter-less Stressors in LCA of Wind Energy Systems

TY - JOUR

T1 - No Matter - How? Dealing with Matter-less Stressors in LCA of Wind Energy Systems

AU - Cucurachi, S.

AU - van der Giesen, C. C.

AU - Heijungs, R.

AU - de Snoo, G. R.

N1 - ISI Document Delivery No.: EP5HW Times Cited: 1 Cited Reference Count: 46 Cucurachi, Stefano van der Giesen, Coen C. Heijungs, Reinout de Snoo, Geert R. Heijungs, Reinout/K-7855-2013 Heijungs, Reinout/0000-0002-0724-5962; Cucurachi, Stefano/0000-0003-2748-655X; Cucurachi, Stefano/0000-0001-9763-2669 European Commission under the 7th Framework Programme on Environment; Improved Life Cycle Impact Assessment methods (LCIA) [243827] The present research was partially funded by the European Commission under the 7th Framework Programme on Environment; ENV. 2009.3.3.2.1: LC-IMPACT-Improved Life Cycle Impact Assessment methods (LCIA) for better sustainability assessment of technologies, grant agreement number 243827. 1 8 Wiley Hoboken 1530-9290 <Go to ISI>://WOS:000397410600006

PY - 2017

Y1 - 2017

N2 - The portfolio of impacts that are quantified in life cycle assessment (LCA) has grown to include rather different stressors than those that were the focus of early LCAs. Some of the newest life cycle impact assessment (LCIA) models are still in an early phase of development and have not yet been included in any LCA study. This is the case for sound emissions and noise impacts, which have been only recently modeled. Sound emissions are matter-less, time dependent, and bound to the physical properties of waves. The way sound emissions and the relative noise impacts are modeled in LCA can show how new or existing matterless impacts can be addressed. In this study, we analyze, through the example of sound emissions, the specific features of a matter-less impact that does not stem from the use of a kilogram of matter, nor is related to the emission of a kilogram of matter. We take as a case study the production of energy by means of wind turbines, contradicting the commonly held assumption that windmills have no emissions during use. We show how to account for sound emissions in the life cycle inventory phase of the life cycle of a wind turbine and then calculate the relative impacts using a noise LCIA model.

AB - The portfolio of impacts that are quantified in life cycle assessment (LCA) has grown to include rather different stressors than those that were the focus of early LCAs. Some of the newest life cycle impact assessment (LCIA) models are still in an early phase of development and have not yet been included in any LCA study. This is the case for sound emissions and noise impacts, which have been only recently modeled. Sound emissions are matter-less, time dependent, and bound to the physical properties of waves. The way sound emissions and the relative noise impacts are modeled in LCA can show how new or existing matterless impacts can be addressed. In this study, we analyze, through the example of sound emissions, the specific features of a matter-less impact that does not stem from the use of a kilogram of matter, nor is related to the emission of a kilogram of matter. We take as a case study the production of energy by means of wind turbines, contradicting the commonly held assumption that windmills have no emissions during use. We show how to account for sound emissions in the life cycle inventory phase of the life cycle of a wind turbine and then calculate the relative impacts using a noise LCIA model.

KW - life cycle assessment (LCA) life cycle impact assessment (LCIA) life cycle inventory (LCI) matter less stressors noise impacts wind turbine cycle impact assessment land-surface temperature power framework farms noise emissions turbine Science & Technology

U2 - 10.1111/jiec.12416

DO - 10.1111/jiec.12416

M3 - Article

SN - 1530-9290

VL - 21

SP - 70

EP - 81

JO - Journal of Industrial Ecology

JF - Journal of Industrial Ecology

IS - 1

ER -