course-details-portlet

EP8108

Life Cycle Assessment

Choose study year
Credits 7.5
Level Doctoral degree level
Course start Autumn 2011
Duration 1 semester
Language of instruction English
Examination arrangement Oral examination and Work

About

About the course

Course content

This is an advanced course addressing life-cycle assessment, input-output analysis and the assessment of environmental consequences, with a focus on the former. The course introduces the state-of-the-art and scientific debates connected to both inventory modeling and impact assessment. The core of the course addresses the modeling of product systems and larger production-consumption networks. The course addresses recent advances related to the adaptation of input-output techniques and data for LCA. Allocation issues, attributional and consequential LCA, and the treatment of recycling will be discussed. The impact assessment with impact-category and damage-oriented approaches are reviewed using the new RECIPE method as an example. In addition to the presentation of an up-to-date overview of the LCA methodology, it will be discussed how to use LCA to illuminate critical issues relevant for environmental and technology policy. The planning and interpretation of LCA results will be highlighted using real-world case studies from industry and public policy.

Learning outcome

The aim is to improve the student's understanding of the methods of life cycle assessment and their ability to use these methods in their own research. The course aims to improve the general method competence and the ability to judge different research approaches and methods. Mathematical skills and software knowledge required to conduce environmental systems analysis are not focused on, and it is assumed that the student has the necessary technical-mathematical competence.

Learning methods and activities

The course will be taught as an intensive 2-week session in August, involving both lectures and exercises. The exercises are mostly in the computer lab and utilize the MatLab programming environment. There is an extensive reading list, and students are required to complete the reading before the session. This course is produced in collaboration with other universities in Europe and allows for networking among PhD students.

Compulsory assignments

  • Exercises

Required previous knowledge

Admission to the PhD Program

Course materials

Collection of articles

Subject areas

  • Energy and Process Engineering
  • Industrial Ecology
  • Technological subjects

Contact information

Course coordinator

  • Edgar Hertwich

Lecturers

Department with academic responsibility

Department of Energy and Process Engineering

Examination

Examination

Examination arrangement: Oral examination and Work
Grade: Letters

Ordinary examination - Autumn 2011

Arbeider
Weighting 50/100
Muntlig eksamen
Weighting 50/100 Date 2011-12-07 Duration 30 minutter

Ordinary examination - Spring 2012

Arbeider
Weighting 50/100
Muntlig eksamen
Weighting 50/100 Duration 30 minutter