DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1065/lca2002.08.095.1 --- Goal and Background --- Geographical and technological differences
in Life Cycle Inventory data are an important source for
uncertainty in the result of Life Cycle Assessments. Knowledge
on their impact on the result of an LCA is scarce, and also knowledge
on how to manage them in an LCA case study.
--- Objective --- Goal of this paper is to explore these differences for municipal
solid waste incinerator plants, and to develop recommendations
for managing technological and geographical differences. ---
Methodology --- The paper provides a definition of technological and
geographical differences, and analyses their possible impacts. In a
case study, the differences are caused intentionally in ´´games´´, by
virtually transplanting incineration plants to a different location
and by changing parameters such as the composition of the waste
input incinerated. The games are performed by using a modular
model for municipal solid waste incinerator plants. In each case,
an LCA including an Impact Assessment is calculated to trace the
impact of these changes, and the results are compared. ---
Conclusions --- The conclusions of the paper are two-fold: (1) reduce
the differences in inventory data where their impact on the
result is high; where it is possible reducing them to a great extent,
and the effort for performing the change acceptable; in the
case of incineration plants: Adapt the flue gas treatment, especially
a possible DeNOx step, to the real conditions; (2) make
use of modular process models that allow adapting plant parameters
to better meet real conditions, but be aware of possible
modelling errors. The paper invites the scientific community
to validate the model used for a waste incinerator plant,
and suggest putting up similar models for other processes, preferably
those of similar relevance for Life Cycle Inventories. |
