Wiedmann, T, Suh, S, Feng, K et al. (4 more authors) (2011) Application of hybrid life cycle approaches to emerging energy technologies – the case of wind power in the UK. Environmental Science and Technology, 45. 5900 - 5907. ISSN 0013-936X
Abstract
Future energy technologies will be key for a successful reduction of man-made greenhouse gas emissions. With demand for electricity projected to increase significantly in the future, climate policy goals of limiting the effects of global atmospheric warming can only be achieved if power generation processes are profoundly decarbonized. Energy models, however, have ignored the fact that upstream emissions are associated with any energy technology. In this work we explore methodological options for hybrid life cycle assessment (hybrid LCA) to account for the indirect greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions of energy technologies using wind power generation in the UK as a case study. We develop and compare two different approaches using a multiregion input-output modeling framework Input-Output-basedHybrid LCA and Integrated Hybrid LCA. The latter utilizes the full-sized Ecoinvent process database. We discuss significance and reliability of the results and suggest ways to improve the accuracy of the calculations. The comparison of hybrid LCA methodologies provides valuable insight into the availability and robustness of approaches for informing energy and environmental policy.
Metadata
Item Type: | Article |
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Authors/Creators: |
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Dates: |
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Institution: | The University of Leeds |
Academic Units: | The University of York > Faculty of Sciences (York) > Stockholm Environment Institute at York (York) The University of Leeds > Faculty of Environment (Leeds) > School of Earth and Environment (Leeds) |
Depositing User: | Symplectic Publications |
Date Deposited: | 16 Feb 2015 12:33 |
Last Modified: | 02 May 2015 02:05 |
Published Version: | http://dx.doi.org/10.1021/es2007287 |
Status: | Published |
Publisher: | American Chemical Society |
Identification Number: | 10.1021/es2007287 |
Open Archives Initiative ID (OAI ID): | oai:eprints.whiterose.ac.uk:82915 |