Sustainability Metrices for Wind turbine life cycle with environmental
impacts, embodied energy and Human toxicity using Open LCA.
Abstract
Wind turbines produce electricity with almost no emissions; nonetheless,
there are environmental consequences associated with their life cycle
stages. The present study focus on offshore wind farm in rural areas of
Tamilnadu during their entire life cycle from Manufacturing,
transportation, installation, operation and maintenance, finally
decommissioning with cradle to grave system boundary. The process is
modelled by Open LCA software following ISO 14044 standards. CML, TRACI,
Ecoindicator, and ReCiPe were compared for environmental impacts and
cumulative energy demand for embodies energy assessment respectively.
Acidification, Eutrophication, Global warming, Ozone layer depletion,
and human toxicity were some of the impacts. A Sensitivity analysis was
performed with recycling scenarios for 50% and 80% showed 6 times and
negligible reduction of global warming potential respectively. According
to life cycle analysis, environmental consequences are concentrated in
the manufacturing stage, which accounts for 78% of impacts. Assumptions
in the LCA procedure were methodically addressed, with special emphasis
on the O&M and transportation stages. Steel, iron, epoxy fibers in the
manufacturing stage contributes 84%, 78%, and 86% of total CO2, SOx
and CFC, concrete contributed 85% in the installation stage produces
more emissions and energy intensive. Significant impact category among
all is the human toxicity which contributed by styrene and glass fibres
predominantly affects adults on dermal exposure. The energy pay back
time 1.51 months for the embodied energy calculated was 539 MJeq. Higher
percentage of recycling at the decommissioning stage reduces the kg CO2
emissions by 74 – 83% average.