Weisser - A guide to life-cycle greenhouse gas

Question 1

What was the aim of this study?

Answer 1

Life-cycle assessment (LCA) of different power-plants. During which stages do emissions occur? Where can GHG emissions be reduced?

Question 2

What is a life-cycle assessment?

Answer 2

systematic analyses of potential environmental impacts and energy balance of products (e.g. during production, use, disposal)

Question 3

What was the empirical puzzle?

Answer 3

Many researchers assessed GHG life-cycle and had significantly different results → confused policy makers and scholars

Question 4

What are upstream groups?

Answer 4

fuel exploration, mining, fuel transport

Question 5

What are downstream groups?

Answer 5

decommissioning, waste management and disposal

Question 6

How did Weisser analyze/compare the different power plants?

Answer 6

Categorization in upstream and downstream groups of all processes and associated emissions with power plant operation

Question 7

What kind of power plants did Weisser analyze?

Answer 7

Fossil energy technologies, nuclear and renewable energy technologies (RETs), carbon capture and storage (CCS), energy storage systems

Question 8

What are the 9 common life-cycle impact categories in addition to GHG emissions?

Answer 8

1. stratospheric ozone depletion;
2. acidification;
3. eutrophication;
4. photochemical smog;
5. terrestrial toxicity;
6. aquatic toxicity;
7. human health;
8. resource depletion; and
9. land use

Question 9

Empirical findings: fossil

Answer 9

• Majority during the operation of the power plant
• downstream negligible

Question 10

Empirical findings: coal

Answer 10

• Largest part arises at the power plant
• downstream negligible
• Upstream can be significant

Question 11

Empirical findings: oil

Answer 11

• Arise from operation of the power plant
• Downstream negligible

Question 12

Empirical findings: natural gas

Answer 12

• Arise during operation of the power plant
• No significant downstream

Question 13

Empirical findings: CCS

Answer 13

can add significantly to the GHG emissions of an electricity supply system

Question 14

Empirical findings: nuclear

Answer 14

Differences in GHG emissions due to technologies, enrichment vs. nuclear energy technology

Question 15

Empirical findings: renewable technologies

Answer 15

Occur upstream of the plant operation

Question 16

What are his resulting 5 carbon-mitigation options resulting from his analyses?

Answer 16

1. More efficient conversion of fossil fuels
2. Switching to low-carbon fossil fuels
3. Increasing the use of nuclear power
4. Increasing the use of renewable sources of energy
5. Decarbonisation of fuels and flue gases, and CCS