Study Guide

Objective

You are familiar with the key concepts of life cycle management and life cycle analyses. You know about different types of renewable energy systems and how they are applied at the community level. You know the standards guiding the life cycle analyses. You know how to carry out life-cycle inventory data collection, life cycle impact assessment, and interpret the results. You can analyse the life-cycle environmental impacts of community-based energy systems and communicate the results to stakeholders at an appropriate level.

Content

Key contents of this course include:

- Background knowledge on life cycle management and analyses
- Knowledge of standards and professional routines used in conducting life cycle analyses
- Creating a life-cycle model of a community renewable energy system
- Analysing and communicating the environmental impacts of community energy transition

Location and time

Course takes place at Wärtsilä Campus; most of the practices and team work is also scheduled in calendar.

Materials

Materials will be appointed in Moodle; they include ISO Standards, Life Cycle Analyses Text book chapters and lecture presentations.

Teaching methods

The course will provide an introduction to the conceptual framework of LCA and the basic principles according to ISO 14040/44. You will learn on defining the Goal and setting the scope of a LCA study, how to use an iterative approach to LCA, and identify purpose and target audience. You will learn to use SimaPro LCA software in tutorial practices, and crease a life cycle model of a wind power plant as a joint tutorial practice. The course includes a living-lab assignment where Life Cycle Model is established for a local community energy / energy resource system. Project is carried out as a team work.

Employer connections

LCA case study will be carried out in collaboration with regional stakeholders. This will include collaboration in data collection, modelling and presenting the study results.

Student workload

Theoretical backgrounds 8 hours, LCA practices 16 hours and Case-based LCA teamwork 30 hours. In addition, small assignments and team work completion in own time.

Content scheduling

LCA background theory (lectures) and SimaPro Practices are studies by mid-October. LCA case study will be carried out from mid-October until December.

Evaluation scale

H-5

Assessment methods and criteria

Assessment is based on exam (40%), small assignments (pass/fail), and LCA case study (40%) and presentation (20%) conducted as a teamwork.

Professional task: Analysing and comparing life-cycle environmental impacts of community renewable energy systems.
Product: LCA report on community renewable energy system.
- You are familiar with the key concepts of life cycle management and life cycle analyses.
- You know about different types of renewable energy systems and how they are applied at the community level.
- You know the standards guiding the life cycle analyses.
- You know how to carry out life-cycle inventory data collection, life cycle impact assessment, and interpret the results.
- You can analyse the life-cycle environmental impacts of community-based energy systems and communicate the results to stakeholders at an appropriate level

Assessment criteria, satisfactory (1-2)

- Student knows basic concepts and approaches in LCA
- Student can establish simple LCA model and analyse single impacts
- Student works in sufficient detail to create reliable results and is able to present them for the stakeholders

Assessment criteria, good (3-4)

- Student has good understanding on LCA concepts and approaches
- Student is able to establish a basic LCA model on energy systems and analyse multiple impacts
- Student works and reports systematically and appropriately for the stakeholders

Assessment criteria, excellent (5)

- Student has comprehensive understanding on LCA concepts and approaches
- Student is able to establish a complex LCA model on energy systems and analyse multiple impacts
- Student works and reports systematically supporting the learning of others, and presents work appropriately and creating-added value for the stakeholders