Use of LCA and LCT within technology development of carbon capture, utilisation and storage

Other conference contribution, 2024

Employing life cycle assessment (LCA), particularly prospective LCA, in the early stages of technology development presents certain challenges. Carbon capture, utilisation and storage (CCUS) are emerging technologies that convert carbon dioxide (CO2) into products for storage, and LCA is often used to demonstrate their viability or evaluate process designs. This study draws from the firsthand experiences of LCA practitioners involved in CCUS projects to investigate the knowledge requirements encountered during early technology development.

The research entails using social science methods to analyse LCA practices in two collaborative R&D projects. The projects, DECREASE and PYROCO2, aim to advance CO2 utilisation technologies, with LCA playing a pivotal role in evaluating the environmental benefits and sustainability implications of the proposed solutions. The DECREASE project focuses on generating insoluble carbonate minerals or organic carbonates from industrial byproducts and CO2, while the PYROCO2 project aims to produce acetone from industrial CO2 and green hydrogen.

The findings from the two case studies demonstrate different uses of LCA in the projects at different Technology Readiness Levels (TRL), 3-4 and 4-5 respectively. In the first case study, LCA was employed to improve the project group's understanding of the system's properties, the implications of process design decisions, and the directions of future work. In the second case study, LCA was employed to learn about activities with high impact, the potential to produce acetone with lower impact than conventional methods, implications of process design outcomes, implications of location and the choice of carbon dioxide. In summary, LCA offers diverse applications as a learning tool in R&D projects.

Using "ordinary" quantitative LCA, even prospective LCA, during technology development poses a challenge due to the lack of data and concrete designs in the early stages. Multiple LCA studies are necessary to address various knowledge needs and adapt to the project's development stage. The influence of LCA information on decision-making and project development is heavily influenced by each participant's perspective and openness. In conclusion, different LCA approaches are required depending on the knowledge needed in a project, and there is a need for a shift in perception and better understanding of the context of technology development for more effective LCA studies.