A Conceptual Review on Using Consequential Life Cycle Assessment Methodology for the Energy Sector
Energy is engaged in the supply chain of many economic sectors; therefore, the environmental impacts of the energy sector are indirectly linked to those of other sectors. Consequential life cycle assessment (CLCA) is an appropriate methodology to examine the direct and indirect environmental impacts...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
MDPI AG
2020-06-01
|
| Series: | Energies |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/13/12/3076 |
| _version_ | 1797565369112592384 |
|---|---|
| author | Quyen Le Luu Sonia Longo Maurizio Cellura Eleonora Riva Sanseverino Maria Anna Cusenza Vincenzo Franzitta |
| author_facet | Quyen Le Luu Sonia Longo Maurizio Cellura Eleonora Riva Sanseverino Maria Anna Cusenza Vincenzo Franzitta |
| author_sort | Quyen Le Luu |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Energy is engaged in the supply chain of many economic sectors; therefore, the environmental impacts of the energy sector are indirectly linked to those of other sectors. Consequential life cycle assessment (CLCA) is an appropriate methodology to examine the direct and indirect environmental impacts of a product due to technological, economic or social changes. To date, different methodological approaches are proposed, combining economic and environmental models. This paper reviews the basic concept of CLCA and the coupling of economic and environmental models for performing CLCA in the energy sector during the period 2006–2020, with the aim to provide a description of the different tools, highlighting their strengths and limitations. From the review, it emerges that economic modelling tools are frequently used in combination with environmental data for CLCA in the energy sector, including equilibrium, input-output, and dynamic models. Out of these, the equilibrium model is the most widely used, showing some strengths in availability of data and energy system modelling tools. The input-output model allows for describing both direct and indirect effects due to changes in the energy sector, by using publicly available data. The dynamic model is less frequently applied due to its limitation in availability of data and modelling tools, but has recently attracted more attention due to the ability in modelling quantitative and qualitative indicators of sustainability. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T19:11:10Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-7c45fe5bc3974b00acac86faf7856511 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1996-1073 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T19:11:10Z |
| publishDate | 2020-06-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Energies |
| spelling | doaj.art-7c45fe5bc3974b00acac86faf78565112023-11-20T03:46:30ZengMDPI AGEnergies1996-10732020-06-011312307610.3390/en13123076A Conceptual Review on Using Consequential Life Cycle Assessment Methodology for the Energy SectorQuyen Le Luu0Sonia Longo1Maurizio Cellura2Eleonora Riva Sanseverino3Maria Anna Cusenza4Vincenzo Franzitta5Dipartimento di Ingegneria, Università degli Studi di Palermo, Viale delle Scienze Ed.9, 90128 Palermo, ItalyDipartimento di Ingegneria, Università degli Studi di Palermo, Viale delle Scienze Ed.9, 90128 Palermo, ItalyDipartimento di Ingegneria, Università degli Studi di Palermo, Viale delle Scienze Ed.9, 90128 Palermo, ItalyDipartimento di Ingegneria, Università degli Studi di Palermo, Viale delle Scienze Ed.9, 90128 Palermo, ItalyDipartimento di Ingegneria, Università degli Studi di Palermo, Viale delle Scienze Ed.9, 90128 Palermo, ItalyDipartimento di Ingegneria, Università degli Studi di Palermo, Viale delle Scienze Ed.9, 90128 Palermo, ItalyEnergy is engaged in the supply chain of many economic sectors; therefore, the environmental impacts of the energy sector are indirectly linked to those of other sectors. Consequential life cycle assessment (CLCA) is an appropriate methodology to examine the direct and indirect environmental impacts of a product due to technological, economic or social changes. To date, different methodological approaches are proposed, combining economic and environmental models. This paper reviews the basic concept of CLCA and the coupling of economic and environmental models for performing CLCA in the energy sector during the period 2006–2020, with the aim to provide a description of the different tools, highlighting their strengths and limitations. From the review, it emerges that economic modelling tools are frequently used in combination with environmental data for CLCA in the energy sector, including equilibrium, input-output, and dynamic models. Out of these, the equilibrium model is the most widely used, showing some strengths in availability of data and energy system modelling tools. The input-output model allows for describing both direct and indirect effects due to changes in the energy sector, by using publicly available data. The dynamic model is less frequently applied due to its limitation in availability of data and modelling tools, but has recently attracted more attention due to the ability in modelling quantitative and qualitative indicators of sustainability.https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/13/12/3076consequential life cycle assessment (CLCA) concepteconomic and environmental modelenergy sector |
| spellingShingle | Quyen Le Luu Sonia Longo Maurizio Cellura Eleonora Riva Sanseverino Maria Anna Cusenza Vincenzo Franzitta A Conceptual Review on Using Consequential Life Cycle Assessment Methodology for the Energy Sector Energies consequential life cycle assessment (CLCA) concept economic and environmental model energy sector |
| title | A Conceptual Review on Using Consequential Life Cycle Assessment Methodology for the Energy Sector |
| title_full | A Conceptual Review on Using Consequential Life Cycle Assessment Methodology for the Energy Sector |
| title_fullStr | A Conceptual Review on Using Consequential Life Cycle Assessment Methodology for the Energy Sector |
| title_full_unstemmed | A Conceptual Review on Using Consequential Life Cycle Assessment Methodology for the Energy Sector |
| title_short | A Conceptual Review on Using Consequential Life Cycle Assessment Methodology for the Energy Sector |
| title_sort | conceptual review on using consequential life cycle assessment methodology for the energy sector |
| topic | consequential life cycle assessment (CLCA) concept economic and environmental model energy sector |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/13/12/3076 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT quyenleluu aconceptualreviewonusingconsequentiallifecycleassessmentmethodologyfortheenergysector AT sonialongo aconceptualreviewonusingconsequentiallifecycleassessmentmethodologyfortheenergysector AT mauriziocellura aconceptualreviewonusingconsequentiallifecycleassessmentmethodologyfortheenergysector AT eleonorarivasanseverino aconceptualreviewonusingconsequentiallifecycleassessmentmethodologyfortheenergysector AT mariaannacusenza aconceptualreviewonusingconsequentiallifecycleassessmentmethodologyfortheenergysector AT vincenzofranzitta aconceptualreviewonusingconsequentiallifecycleassessmentmethodologyfortheenergysector AT quyenleluu conceptualreviewonusingconsequentiallifecycleassessmentmethodologyfortheenergysector AT sonialongo conceptualreviewonusingconsequentiallifecycleassessmentmethodologyfortheenergysector AT mauriziocellura conceptualreviewonusingconsequentiallifecycleassessmentmethodologyfortheenergysector AT eleonorarivasanseverino conceptualreviewonusingconsequentiallifecycleassessmentmethodologyfortheenergysector AT mariaannacusenza conceptualreviewonusingconsequentiallifecycleassessmentmethodologyfortheenergysector AT vincenzofranzitta conceptualreviewonusingconsequentiallifecycleassessmentmethodologyfortheenergysector |