Applying Harmonised Geothermal Life Cycle Assessment Guidelines to the Rittershoffen Geothermal Heat Plant

Mélanie Douziech, Lorenzo Tosti, Nicola Ferrara, Maria Laura Parisi, Paula Pérez-López and Guillaume Ravier
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Mélanie Douziech: Centre Observation, Impacts, Energie (O.I.E.), MINES ParisTech, PSL University, CEDEX, 06904 Sophia Antipolis, France
Lorenzo Tosti: Center for Colloid and Surface Science (CSGI), 50019 Florence, Italy
Nicola Ferrara: Center for Colloid and Surface Science (CSGI), 50019 Florence, Italy
Maria Laura Parisi: Center for Colloid and Surface Science (CSGI), 50019 Florence, Italy
Paula Pérez-López: Centre Observation, Impacts, Energie (O.I.E.), MINES ParisTech, PSL University, CEDEX, 06904 Sophia Antipolis, France
Guillaume Ravier: ES-Géothermie, 67450 Mundolsheim, France

Energies, 2021, vol. 14, issue 13, 1-14

Abstract: Heat production from a geothermal energy source is gaining increasing attention due to its potential contribution to the decarbonization of the European energy sector. Obtaining representative results of the environmental performances of geothermal systems and comparing them with other renewables is of utmost importance in order to ensure an effective energy transition as targeted by Europe. This work presents the outputs of a Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) performed on the Rittershoffen geothermal heat plant applying guidelines that were developed within the H2020 GEOENVI project. The production of 1 kWh th from the Rittershoffen heat plant was compared to the heat produced from natural gas in Europe. Geothermal heat production performed better than the average heat production in climate change and resource use, fossil categories. The LCA identified the electricity consumption during the operation and maintenance phase as a hot spot for several impact categories. A prospective scenario analysis was therefore performed to assess the evolution of the environmental performances of the Rittershoffen heat plant associated with the future French electricity mixes. The increase of renewable energy shares in the future French electricity mix caused the impact on specific categories (e.g., land use and mineral and metals resource depletion) to grow over the years. However, an overall reduction of the environmental impacts of the Rittershoffen heat plant was observed.

Keywords: geothermal heat production; LCA; multi-criteria; impact assessment; environmental impact (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q Q0 Q4 Q40 Q41 Q42 Q43 Q47 Q48 Q49 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (5)

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