course-details-portlet

FENG2023

Life cycle assessment of energy systems

Choose study year
Credits 7.5
Level Intermediate course, level II
Course start Spring 2025
Duration 1 semester
Language of instruction English
Location Gjøvik
Examination arrangement Assignment and written examination

About

About the course

Course content

Life cycle assessment (LCA) is a widely used methodology to assess the environmental impact of various goods and services, including energy systems. The methodology has a framework that enables consistent comparisons of various system solutions and alternative technologies with respect to environmental properties. Such an assessment can take into account many different environmental impact categories, such as global warming, acidification and toxicity, etc. Such a broad perspective is important in order to avoid that measures to reduce global warming cause other significant environmental problems. An LCA requires system boundaries to be properly set out and designed to meet this type of challenge. The course gives a full understanding of LCA on bachelor level, with emphasis on the use of the methodology for assessing energy systems. The first part of the course consists of the theoretical methodology based on the ISO standards and the use of the Simapro software. In the second part, applications of LCA on various energy systems are presented. Examples will be carried out related to renewable and non-renewable energy sources (fosile fuels, solar, wind, hydropower etc) and their distribution systems (electric grid, district heating grid).

Learning outcome

Knowledge: The course will give the student knowledge about:

  • Life cycle assessments (LCA) for evaluation of the environmental impacts of various systems, technologies and products.
  • The course will give the student insight on how to carry out robust environmental assessments

Skills: The course will enable the student to:

  • Conduct a simplified LCA as independent work, as well as more complex assessments under supervision.
  • To use the software Simapro 9 (faculty version).
  • To write an LCA report.
  • How to apply for obtaining the environmental product declaration (EPD).

General competence: The course will give the student an understanding on

  • How to evaluate the environmental properties of different energy and production systems

Learning methods and activities

The course is taught using different learning methods (lectures, exercises, project work). The first part will mainly be conducted as lectures and discussions with the students. Students are required to contribute actively. Practical examples are performed using LCA computing tools and software. Independent project work is an important part of the learning, and guidance will be offered throughout the semester

Compulsory assignments

  • Approved exercises

Further on evaluation

Compulsory assignments:10 mandatory hands-in (70% of them must be approved). Re-sit of written exam in August. If the Project is not approved, a New Project must be done Next time the course is run. Both parts must be approved.

Continuation and voluntary repetition / improvement can be carried out for some sub-evaluations without having to reassess both sub-evaluations in a topic. There is an opportunity to complain about partial assessments in this topic before all sub-evaluations have been completed.

Course materials

will be given at start of semester

Subject areas

  • Energy and Process Engineering

Contact information

Course coordinator

Department with academic responsibility

Department of Manufacturing and Civil Engineering