Life Cycle Assessment of Renewable Energy
Description
Goal of the study subject is to provide students with the knowledge of the methods and criteria of energetic evaluation of renewable energy sources, sustainability of renewable energy and to form abilities to analyse, evaluate and apply life cycle assessment methodology for specific renewable energy conversion systems, to provide abilities to analyse weaknesses and advantages of energy conversion systems, compare it with conventional systems.
Aim of the course
To provide students with an understanding of methods for assessing the energy efficiency of renewable energy sources and the sustainability of renewable energy, and to develop their ability to analyze, evaluate, and apply life cycle assessment methodology to specific renewable energy conversion systems.
Prerequisites
Renewable energy sources
Course content
1. Introduction. BCV standardization. Environmental management standards. BCV application objectives and areas.
2. BCV methodological foundations.
3. Definition of purpose and setting of research objectives. Input and output inventory data and their analysis. Data sources, their reliability and inconsistency.
4. Determination of impacts on the environment, raw material sources and the working environment. Sensitivity analysis and interpretation of its results. Categories of environmental impact.
5. Functional unit, product LCA stages.
6. Application of LCA methodology in energy conversion, waste management, agriculture, and forestry systems.
7. LCA of biofuels, solid biofuels, biogas, and biomaterials, transportation.
8. LCA of electricity production from renewable energy sources.
9. Analysis and interpretation of LCA results for various renewable energy systems.
11. Energy and mass balance.
12. Impact of renewable energy sources on climate change assessed according to the life cycle.
Assesment Criteria
1. Understanding and using study subject concepts in a broader subject context.
2. Defining methods and standards for assessing the life cycle of materials and products.
3. Explaining the principles of life cycle assessment in biomass energy.
4. Identifying categories of environmental impact.
5. Demonstration of practical life cycle assessment for various biomass conversion technologies.
6. Creation and evaluation of a life cycle in biomass energy.
7. Justification, comprehensive evaluation, and analysis of life cycle assessment results for different biomass systems.
