Work Package 2 of the RePower-CEST project will compile and produce data and methods for assessing the life-cycle climate, nature and environmental impacts of technologies related to the clean energy system transition. The goal of the work package is to identify
- which environmental impacts are the most important in terms of clean energy system technologies,
- which factors affect them,
- how environmental impacts can be assessed, and
- how harmful impacts can be managed and minimised.
It is essential to determine the greenhouse gas emissions and natural resource consumption resulting from new energy production and storage technologies, as well as the climate and biodiversity impacts associated with land use and land use planning. Information provision considers the needs and requirements related to legislation and standards.
The clean transition requires the identification of long-term environmental impacts
The analysis of the impacts of the clean transition consists of five tasks:
1. Life-cycle environmental impacts of energy production and storage
The task compiles information on the life-cycle environmental impacts of low-carbon energy production and storage technologies, identifies the most significant impacts of the technologies, and conducts life-cycle assessments of selected new technologies. The results are reported as a scientific article, policy recommendations and a non-technical report.
2. Key guidelines, regulations and impact assessment methods related to Life-Cycle Assessments (LCA)
The task examines and assesses the key guidelines and standards applying the LCA. These include, for example, ISO standards 14040-14044, which form the basis for LCA, ISO 14067 and ISO 14046 for carbon and water footprint. In addition to standards, the task examines other commonly used guidelines related to life-cycle assessment, one of which is the widely applied Greenhouse Gas Protocol of the World Resource Institute (WRI) and the World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD).
During the past 10 to 20 years, LCA has become part of the legislation, and its significance is constantly increasing. As well as guidelines and standards, the task also examines LCA-based regulations related to low-emission energy production, such as the sustainability criteria of the Renewable Energy Directive, the Batteries Regulation and construction-related regulations. The project also examines life-cycle impact assessment methods, especially as the project progresses, with regard to the impacts identified as the most important.
3. Land use issues and methods
The task examines the land use impacts of planned and already implemented renewable energy projects. The work produces a GIS database of carbon storages and carbon sinks in potential renewable energy production areas, as well as prepares guidelines for data updates. The task also includes drawing up recommendations on how biodiversity impacts should be considered in the planning of solar and wind power projects.
4. An analysis of system-level impacts based on the input-output calculation of ENVIMAT models
This task updates and applies the ENVIMAT model family to system-level reviews. In addition to environmental impacts, the analysis also considers economic impacts. The task also produces an open database of the direct and indirect environmental impacts of the investments needed for the energy transition.
5. Land use planning methods
The task examines the use of environmental impact assessment in land use planning and develops methods for the consideration of the combined effects of renewable energy. Also, recommendations on a joint procedure are given and a carbon planning tool is developed.
The Finnish Environment Institute is responsible for the content of this page, as part of the REPower-CEST project.