Scheme for generating upscaling scenarios of emerging functional materials based energy technologies in prospective LCA (UpFunMatLCA)

Abstract

Upscaling scenarios are indispensable elements of prospective life cycle assessment (LCA). However, current studies reveal confusing terminology and a wide range of approaches in this area. Therefore, we first defined the term upscaling scenario as the description of a possible future target stage of emerging technology, including the development pathway from a current stage within the course of research and development to this future stage. Second, we developed the novel systematic scheme UpFunMatLCA for generating explorative scenarios based on possible development pathways of the specific group of emerging functional material (FunMat)-based energy technologies, including status quo developments. UpFunMatLCA represents a threestep extension of conventional LCAs to upscale the life cycle inventory of emerging FunMats. UpFunMatLCA is based on a clear definition of a current status quo (conceptual, lab, or pilot stage) and a target matured (fab) development stage. A core part of UpFunMatLCA is the so-called upscaling module, providing specific modeling methods and data for the upscaling of FunMats. Using perovskite solar cells, photovoltaic devices based on several FunMats and attached with great expectations regarding the future efficient provision of solar energy, we demonstrate the application of UpFun-MatLCA, focusing on the upstream greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions of the prospective manufacturing. In the discussion, we point out the application area of UpFunMatLCA and the possible extension to depict further environmental impacts beyond GHG to contribute to the sustainability assessment of emerging technologies in the early stages of development.

Are Perovskite Solar Cells an Environmentally Sustainable Emerging Energy Technology? Upscaling from Lab to Fab in Life Cycle Assessment

“…29 Prospective LCA. The prospective LCA is carried out following the four LCA phases according to the ISO standards 14040/14044, 10,11 combined with recommendations of LCA on emerging PVs 19 and extended by the three-step UpFunMatLCA: 22 Goal and Scope Definition−Upscaling Definition and Leap. The goal is the evaluation of the prospective environmental impacts of the selected PSC samples upscaled and integrated into a PV module as an alternative to today's electricity mix.…”

“…In addition, the three upscaling mechanisms recommended for PSC upscaling using UpFunMatLCA are illustrated there (Supporting Information, Figure S1). 22 As the first step of UpFunMatLCA, the upscaling definition includes the description of the current development stage, labeled as GLab, in this study and described above. The target stage, labeled as GFabM, considers the upscaling of the main contributor to lab manufacturing, the processing energy.…”

“…The target stage, labeled as GFabM, considers the upscaling of the main contributor to lab manufacturing, the processing energy. 22 Therefore, the considered upscaling leap as the second step of UpFunMatLCA covers only the process learning with its three upscaling modules: technological learning, size scaling, and industrial learning. Furthermore, the two other upscaling mechanisms, material learning (ML) and external developments (ED), are only applied in a simplified way to generate the three additional upscaling scenarios, labeled as GLab+ED, GFabM+ML, and GFabM+ML+ED.…”

“…The prospective LCA is carried out following the four LCA phases according to the ISO standards 14040/14044, , combined with recommendations of LCA on emerging PVs and extended by the three-step UpFunMatLCA: (1) goal and scope definition, including the two UpFunMatLCA extensions, (I) upscaling definition and (II) upscaling leap; (2) life cycle inventory (LCI), extended by the (III) upscaling model and data; (3) life cycle impact assessment (LCIA); and (4) interpretation.…”

“…20−22 For FunMat-based energy technology, a scheme for generating upscaling scenarios in prospective LCA, called UpFunMatLCA, was recently published. 22 UpFunMatLCA implements upscaling systematically and comprehensively by modeling prospective technology development using three upscaling mechanisms: (1) process learning, upscaling of the manufacturing demand; (2) material learning, anticipating prospective materials and linked processes; and (3) external developments to model temporal changes of the background system. However, previous PSC's LCAs exclude upscaling as described above 19 or include upscaling not comprehensibly or systematically.…”