Exploring Challenges and Opportunities of Life Cycle Management in the Electricity Sector

Abstract

Electricity supply is often cited as a significant hot spot in life cycle assessment results, and consequently in life cycle management results. Despite its importance, however, practitioners continue to overuse generic LCI data and different simplified methodologies regarding electricity supply modeling. Such simplifications and inconsistencies can result in difficulties, e.g. to compare the findings of various studies. This chapter is intended to highlight issues on electricity supply modeling, methodological choices and data set selections. Attributional and consequential perspectives as well as systemic aspects of the electricity sector are also reflected. Finally, key challenges and opportunities are summarized and suggestions on how to deal with such problems are provided when possible.