Course - Life Cycle Assessment - TEP4223
TEP4223 - Life Cycle Assessment
About
Examination arrangement
Examination arrangement: School exam
Grade: Letter grades
| Evaluation | Weighting | Duration | Grade deviation | Examination aids |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| School exam | 100/100 | 4 hours | C |
Course content
Life-cycle assessment (LCA) is the prevailing framework for evaluation of the environmental consequences of products, services and energy systems to mention a few. LCA allows for consistent comparisons of alternate system designs with respect their environmental performance. This involves assessment of multiple environmental impact categories: From climate change via acidification to toxic impacts to mention some. A wide perspective is central to ensure that our efforts to mitigate climate change do not cause other adverse environmental problems. Further, consistent choice of system boundaries is essential. For example, car manufacture and fuel chain emissions account for a quarter of the total life cycle climate impacts for a conventional car today. Consistent assessments of future transportation systems therefore evidently warrants system boundaries extending well beyond the tailpipe. LCA is designed to deal with such issues. This course provides a master level introduction to life cycle assessment. The course is divided in two main sections: The first section deals with the methodological essentials of LCA. This involves the mathematical structure of LCA, modeling of production systems and methods for environmental impact assessment. The final part presents applications LCA to a variety of systems including on- and offshore wind, photovoltaic systems, bio-energy, bio-fuels, conventional cars and electric vehicles among others. The students will be guided to analyze a selection of these cases themselves through the provided problem sets. Both sections of the course make extensive use of programming in Python across all problem sets.
Learning outcome
Knowledge: The course provides the student with knowledge about: Life Cycle Assessment (LCA), a framework for evaluation of the environmental footprint of various systems and technologies. Application of Life Cycle Assessment on various energy, product and transport technologies and systems. The course gives the student insight about: - How to perform robust assessments of the environmental characteristics of systems. Skills: The course should enable the student to: - Perform a moderately complex LCA under supervision in Python. General competence: The course should give the student insight on: - How to assess the environmental performance of energy and production systems.
Learning methods and activities
The course is taught using a combination of online lectures, problem sets and tutoring sessions. The first part covers the basic theory of modelling systems in Life Cycle Assessment, while the second part covers Life Cycle Impact Assessment. The final part of the course focuses on application of LCA. The lectures and exercises are in English. All problem sets require use of Python. Since the teaching is given in English the Examination papers will be given in English only. The course will be taught in a hybrid physical and online form in the autumn of 2024.
Compulsory assignments
- Exercises
Further on evaluation
If there is a re-sit examination, the examination form may be changed from written to oral exam.
Required previous knowledge
Basic university maths including matrix algebra. The problem sets require that the candidates master or acquire basic programming skills in Python.
Course materials
All material will be distributed via Blackboard.
No
Version: 1
Credits:
7.5 SP
Study level: Second degree level
Term no.: 1
Teaching semester: AUTUMN 2024
Language of instruction: English
Location: Trondheim
- Energy and Process Engineering
- Industrial Ecology
- Technological subjects
- Economics and Administration
Department with academic responsibility
Department of Energy and Process Engineering
Examination
Examination arrangement: School exam
- Term Status code Evaluation Weighting Examination aids Date Time Examination system Room *
- Autumn ORD School exam 100/100 C INSPERA
-
Room Building Number of candidates - Summer UTS School exam 100/100 C INSPERA
-
Room Building Number of candidates
- * The location (room) for a written examination is published 3 days before examination date. If more than one room is listed, you will find your room at Studentweb.
For more information regarding registration for examination and examination procedures, see "Innsida - Exams"