Life cycle assessment of CO2 emissions from wind power plants: Methodology and case studies

Wang, Yuxuan; Sun, Tianye

doi:10.1016/j.renene.2011.12.017

Cited by 138 publications

(57 citation statements)

References 10 publications

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“…A principally similar approach is taken in [7], but including also use phase activities. Other studies appear to neglect offshore activities [12] or do not report quantitative assumptions [5,11]. In the above mentioned studies, emissions from offshore activities are either reportedly small or not specified in the results.…”

Section: Installation and Oandm Phases In Other Studiesmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Importance of Ships and Spare Parts in LCAs of Offshore Wind Power

Arvesen

Birkeland

Hertwich

2013

Environ. Sci. Technol.

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We develop and assess life cycle inventories of a conceptual offshore wind farm using a hybrid life cycle assessment (LCA) methodology. Special emphasis is placed on aspects of installation, operation, and maintenance, as these stages have been given only cursory consideration in previous LCAs. The results indicate that previous studies have underestimated the impacts caused by offshore operations and (though less important) exchange of parts. Offshore installation and maintenance activities cause 28% (10 g CO2-Eq/kWh) of total greenhouse gas emissions and 31–45% of total impact indicator values at the most (marine eutrophication, acidification, particulates, photochemical ozone). Transport and dumping of rock in installation phase and maintenance of wind turbines in use phase are major contributory activities. Manufacturing of spare parts is responsible for 6% (2 g CO2-Eq/kWh) of greenhouse gas emissions and up to 13% of total impact indicator values (freshwater ecotoxicity). Assumptions on lifetimes, work times for offshore activities and implementation of NO x abatement on vessels are shown to have a significant influence on results. Another source of uncertainty is assumed operating mode data for vessels determining fuel consumption rates.

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Section: Installation and Oandm Phases In Other Studiesmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Importance of Ships and Spare Parts in LCAs of Offshore Wind Power

Arvesen

Birkeland

Hertwich

2013

Environ. Sci. Technol.

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“…Within the manufacturing process, the steel tower was identified as the main source responsible for more than half of the emissions. Wang and Sun (2012) showed that large CO 2 savings can be made in countries with large territories and wind potential as a result of a case study of wind turbine designs in four characteristic wind power plants (one in China and three in North America and Europe) with Vestas 1.65-, 3.0-and 850-kW wind turbine models. Analysis of the case in China shows that 33% of CO 2 emissions could be saved in the transport stage in large countries by the use of shorter alternative transportation routes.…”

Section: Wind Farm Studies Based On Geographical Scopementioning

confidence: 99%

Comparative LCA of technology improvement opportunities for a 1.5-MW wind turbine in the context of an onshore wind farm

Ozoemena

Cheung

Hasan

2017

Clean Techn Environ Policy

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This paper presents life cycle assessment (LCA) results of design variations for a 1.5-MW wind turbine due to the potential for advances in technology to improve their performance. Five LCAs have been conducted for design variants of a 1.5-MW wind turbine. The objective is to evaluate potential environmental impacts per kilowatt hour of electricity generated for a 114-MW onshore wind farm. Results for the baseline turbine show that higher contributions to impacts were obtained in the categories of ozone depletion potential, marine aquatic eco-toxicity potential, human toxicity potential and terrestrial eco-toxicity potential compared to technology improvement opportunities (TIOs) 1-4. Compared to the baseline turbine, TIO 1 with advanced rotors and reduced tower mass showed increased impact contributions to abiotic depletion potential, acidification potential, eutrophication potential, global warming potential and photochemical ozone creation potential, and TIO 2 with a new tower concept involving improved tower height showed an increase in contributions to abiotic depletion potential, acidification potential and global warming potential. Additionally, lower contributions to all the environmental categories were observed for TIO 3 with drivetrain improvements using permanent magnet generators while increased contributions towards abiotic depletion potential and global warming potential were noted for TIO 4 which combines TIO 1, TIO 2 and TIO 3. A comparative LCA study of wind turbine design variations for a particular power rating has not been explored in the literature. This study presents new insight into the environmental implications related with projected wind turbine design advancements.

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“…Copper is mainly found in the generator [23], a component that is expected to be replaced in some turbines, and therefore the annual amount of waste copper is largely based on replaced components leading to very uncertain predictions. This is also reflected in the resulting chart, as the range between minimum and maximum values is wide.…”

Section: Uncertaintiesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Wind Turbines’ End-of-Life: Quantification and Characterisation of Future Waste Materials on a National Level

Andersen¹,

Eriksson

Hillman

et al. 2016

Energies

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Abstract:Globally, wind power is growing fast and in Sweden alone more than 3000 turbines have been installed since the mid-1990s. Although the number of decommissioned turbines so far is few, the high installation rate suggests that a similarly high decommissioning rate can be expected at some point in the future. If the waste material from these turbines is not handled sustainably the whole concept of wind power as a clean energy alternative is challenged. This study presents a generally applicable method and quantification based on statistics of the waste amounts from wind turbines in Sweden. The expected annual mean growth is 12% until 2026, followed by a mean increase of 41% until 2034. By then, annual waste amounts are estimated to 240,000 tonnes steel and iron (16% of currently recycled materials), 2300 tonnes aluminium (4%), 3300 tonnes copper (5%), 340 tonnes electronics (<1%) and 28,000 tonnes blade materials (barely recycled today). Three studied scenarios suggest that a well-functioning market for re-use may postpone the effects of these waste amounts until improved recycling systems are in place.

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Life cycle assessment of CO2 emissions from wind power plants: Methodology and case studies

Cited by 138 publications

References 10 publications

The Importance of Ships and Spare Parts in LCAs of Offshore Wind Power

The Importance of Ships and Spare Parts in LCAs of Offshore Wind Power

Comparative LCA of technology improvement opportunities for a 1.5-MW wind turbine in the context of an onshore wind farm

Wind Turbines’ End-of-Life: Quantification and Characterisation of Future Waste Materials on a National Level

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