Life cycle assessment of two different 2 MW class wind turbines

Begoña Guezuraga, Rudolf Zauner and Werner Pölz

Renewable Energy, 2012, vol. 37, issue 1, 37-44

Abstract: Although wind technology produces no emissions during operation, there is an environmental impact associated with the wind turbine during the entire life cycle of the plant, from production to dismantling. A life cycle assessment is carried out to quantify the environmental impact of two existing wind turbines, a 1.8 MW-gearless turbine and a 2.0 MW turbine with gearbox. Both technologies will be compared by means of material usage, carbon dioxide emissions and energy payback time based on the cumulative energy requirements for a 20 year life period. For a quantitative analysis of the material and energy balances over the entire life cycle, the simulation software GEMIS® (Global Emission Model of Integrated System) is used.

Keywords: Life cycle assessment; LCA; Wind turbine; Turbine materials; CO2; Energy payback time (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2012
References: View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (57)

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:eee:renene:v:37:y:2012:i:1:p:37-44

DOI: 10.1016/j.renene.2011.05.008

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