In a world where sustainability and efficiency are paramount, a new approach to environmental impact assessment is making waves across industries, particularly in the energy sector. Dr. Antonia Vyrkou, from the University of Huddersfield’s Department of Physical and Life Sciences, has been at the forefront of this shift, exploring the nuances of Dynamic Life Cycle Assessment (DLCA) and its potential to revolutionize how we monitor and improve environmental performance.
Traditionally, Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) has been a static process, evaluating the environmental impact of a system at a single point in time. However, Dr. Vyrkou’s research, published in the journal ‘Cleaner Environmental Systems’ (translated as ‘Cleaner Production Systems’), highlights the growing trend of DLCA, which continuously assesses systems as they evolve. This dynamic approach offers a more accurate and responsive way to understand and mitigate environmental impacts, particularly in sectors like energy production and water supply.
“The term ‘dynamic’ has been interpreted in various ways,” Dr. Vyrkou explains. “Some studies use historical or predicted data to create time-series analyses, while others aim for real-time data collection. This distinction is crucial because it affects the accuracy and immediacy of the insights we gain.”
The energy sector, in particular, stands to benefit from DLCA. As energy systems become more complex and interconnected, the ability to monitor and assess their environmental performance in real-time or near-real-time becomes increasingly valuable. This can lead to more informed decision-making, improved efficiency, and reduced environmental impact.
Dr. Vyrkou’s review of recent literature shows a significant increase in the adoption of DLCA, with the annual number of articles growing from less than 30 between 2015 and 2019 to 62 in 2023 alone. This growth underscores the growing recognition of DLCA’s potential to provide more accurate and actionable insights.
However, the transition to real-time LCA, which uses live data for continuous assessment, remains challenging. While several studies agree that real-time assessment leads to improved accuracy and better process insights, the effort required to implement it and the added value to industrial plants do not currently justify its wider implementation.
Yet, as industries embrace Industry 4.0 and the digitization of plants, there is an opportunity to incorporate environmental impact assessment into the continuous monitoring of process industries. This could pave the way for more sustainable and efficient operations, particularly in the energy sector.
Dr. Vyrkou’s research not only sheds light on the current state of DLCA but also points to a future where real-time environmental impact assessment becomes a standard practice. As the energy sector continues to evolve, the insights gained from DLCA could play a pivotal role in shaping more sustainable and efficient energy systems.
In the words of Dr. Vyrkou, “The future of environmental impact assessment lies in its ability to adapt and respond to the dynamic nature of the systems we study. As we move towards a more digitized and interconnected world, the potential for real-time assessment becomes increasingly exciting and promising.”