Integrated Sustainability Analysis
@ The University of Sydney

Life-Cycle Assessment

The University of Sydney and the Centre for Water and Waste Technology at the University of New South Wales cooperate on developing and applying hybrid Life-Cycle Assessments (LCAs), combining input-output analysis with process analysis. By taking this approach, on-site, first- and second-order process data on environmental impacts is collected for the product or service system under study, while higher-order requirements are covered by input-output analysis.

'Conventional' LCAs are based only on process analysis approach, meaning that only on-site, most first-order, and some second-order impacts are considered. However, the truncation of the system boundary leads to a significant underestimation of the true impact (see the boundary problem). Using input-output analysis, the error caused by this truncation can be avoided. A comparative example is given in the table below: Embodied emissions are at least twice as much when comparing the conventional LCA method with the holistic, hybrid input-output analysis approach.

Our LCA projects are commissioned by various stakeholders, such as industry, government agencies, NGOs and research institutions. We have carried out LCA projects have been carried for:

1. Water service providers;
2. Food industry;
3. Manufacturing industry;
4. Waste management;
5. Energy sector and
6. Electronic industry.

1. Life Cycle Assessment studies based on hybrid, process and input-output approach depending on the specific needs of the client
2. Life Cycle Costing studies and
3. Life Cycle Engineering studies.

For more information - Contact us for copies of articles on life-cycle assessment of energy supply systems:

• Lenzen M and Wachsmann U, Wind energy converters in Brazil and Germany: an example for geographical variability in LCA, Applied Energy, in press, 2003.
• Lenzen M and Munksgaard J, Energy and CO2 life-cycle analyses of wind turbines � review and applications, Renewable Energy 26 (3), 339-362, 2002.
• Dey C and Lenzen M, Greenhouse gas analysis of electricity generation systems, ANZSES Solar 2000 Conference, Griffith University, Brisbane, Australia, 2000.
• Lenzen M, Greenhouse gas analysis of solar-thermal electricity generation, Solar Energy 65 (6), 353-368, 1999.

For further information please contact