Life cycle assessment tool of electricity generation in Portugal

António A. Martins (), Marta Simaria, Joaquim Barbosa, Ricardo Barbosa, Daniela T. Silva, Cristina S. Rocha, Teresa M. Mata and Nídia S. Caetano
Additional contact information
António A. Martins: University of Porto (FEUP)
Marta Simaria: Polytechnic Institute of Porto (IPP)
Joaquim Barbosa: Polytechnic Institute of Porto (IPP)
Ricardo Barbosa: INEGI – Instituto de Ciência e Inovação em Engenharia Mecânica e Engenharia Industrial
Daniela T. Silva: INEGI – Instituto de Ciência e Inovação em Engenharia Mecânica e Engenharia Industrial
Cristina S. Rocha: LNEG – Laboratório Nacional de Energia e Geologia, I.P.
Teresa M. Mata: University of Porto (FEUP)
Nídia S. Caetano: University of Porto (FEUP)

Environment, Development and Sustainability: A Multidisciplinary Approach to the Theory and Practice of Sustainable Development, 2018, vol. 20, issue 1, No 8, 129-143

Abstract: Abstract This article presents and describes the LCA4Power tool, developed in this work to assess the potential environmental impacts, as, for example, the contribution to global warming, of electricity generation in continental Portugal, not considering the Madeira and Azores archipelagos. Based on a life cycle perspective, the tool considers the life cycles of various available technologies for producing electricity, on a cradle-to-gate perspective, excluding distribution and final use. It was implemented in MS Excel™ using emission factors obtained from the literature and other sources, instead of raw life cycle inventory data. The current version of the tool includes wind and hydroelectric power as renewable energy sources, and thermal and combined heat and power generation from fossil fuels as non-renewable energy sources. The combination of the aforementioned electricity generation technologies is responsible for more than 90% of the electricity generated in continental Portugal. Results were validated comparing the tool’s predictions with data from other LCA studies of electricity production, showing a good agreement, in particular for the greenhouse gas emissions. As added value, this tool provides a user-friendly way of simulating the potential environmental impacts of different endogenous energy mixes in Portugal, thus support decision making and communication. Future developments of the tool will include other technologies for electricity generation and its application to support decision making through the analysis of future scenarios for electricity generation in Portugal.

Keywords: Computational tool; Electricity generation; Environmental impact; Life cycle assessment; Portugal (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2018
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

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DOI: 10.1007/s10668-018-0179-y

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