Abstract
The aim of this paper is to identify areas of potential improvement of the European Reference Life Cycle Database (ELCD) electricity datasets. The revision is based on the data quality indicators described by the International Life Cycle Data system (ILCD) Handbook, applied on sectorial basis. These indicators evaluate the technological, geographical and time-related representativeness of the dataset and the appropriateness in terms of completeness, precision and methodology. Results show that ELCD electricity datasets have a very good quality in general terms, nevertheless some findings and recommendations in order to improve the quality of Life-Cycle Inventories have been derived. Moreover, these results ensure the quality of the electricity-related datasets to any LCA practitioner, and provide insights related to the limitations and assumptions underlying in the datasets modelling. Giving this information, the LCA practitioner will be able to decide whether the use of the ELCD electricity datasets is appropriate based on the goal and scope of the analysis to be conducted. The methodological approach would be also useful for dataset developers and reviewers, in order to improve the overall Data Quality Requirements of databases.
Highlights
The European Platform of Life Cycle Assessment (EPLCA), a project initiated by the Institute for Environment and Sustainability (IES), has the objective of promoting Life Cycle Thinking (LCT) and providing appropriate support to business and public administrations within the European Union (EU), as well as in close coordination with international activities
Data quality in LCA still represents a major bottleneck to a broader use of LCA and environmental footprint methods in business and in policy (Fazio et al Method applied to the background analysis of energy data to be considered for the European Reference Life Cycle Database (ELCD)
This extended analysis of the ELCD electricity datasets aimed at providing better founded information related to its data quality, following the indicators developed and described within the International Life Cycle Data system (ILCD) handbook (EC-JRC, 2011)
Summary
The European Platform of Life Cycle Assessment (EPLCA), a project initiated by the Institute for Environment and Sustainability (IES), has the objective of promoting Life Cycle Thinking (LCT) and providing appropriate support to business and public administrations within the European Union (EU), as well as in close coordination with international activities This support is essential, and is being achieved through the development of a number of different deliverables, being the European Reference Life Cycle Database (ELCD) one of them. Data quality in LCA still represents a major bottleneck to a broader use of LCA and environmental footprint methods in business and in policy (Fazio et al Method applied to the background analysis of energy data to be considered for the European Reference Life Cycle Database (ELCD). The methodological approach would be useful for dataset developers and reviewers, in order to improve the overall Data Quality Requirements of databases
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