Evaluating Environmental Performance in Low-Carbon Energy Systems

Developing economic well-being and preserving a healthy environment are not opposed forces but do, on the contrary, have a primary relationship and require a similar way of thinking: maximising the efficiency of a product over its life cycle will minimise its total financial cost as well as the total environmental impact over its life cycle.

The case studies below were developed to substantiate this Life-Cycle-Thinking by delivering high-level messages supporting decision making on the sustainable energy arena.

Developed by PE International using the capabilities of the GaBi Software embedded into the Ecodesign Toolbox 3, the case studies provide results for several realistic (future and present) situations in regard to different scenarios and boundary conditions for energy systems.

The aim is to define a common denominator that can be used as a starting point for further developments and discussions. To complement the decision-making landscape, future scenarios are also modelled – not as a straight jacket, but as a means to assess the influence of various trends or decisions.

You can access the full study through the document attached, or each case-study individually through the following links: