Course content

Life-cycle assessment (LCA) is the prevailing framework for evaluation of the environmental consequences of products, services and energy systems to mention a few. LCA allows for consistent comparisons of alternate system designs with respect their environmental performance. This involves assessment of multiple environmental impact categories: From climate change via acidification to toxic impacts to mention some. A wide perspective is central to ensure that our efforts to mitigate climate change do not cause other adverse environmental problems. Further, consistent choice of system boundaries is essential. For example, car manufacture and fuel chain emissions account for a quarter of the total life cycle climate impacts for a conventional car today. Consistent assessments of future transportation systems therefore evidently warrants system boundaries extending well beyond the tailpipe. LCA is designed to deal with such issues.

This course provides a master level introduction to life cycle assessment. The course is divided in two main sections: The first section deals with the methodological essentials of LCA, and its terms and conceptual elements. This involves the mathematical structure of LCA and how they are applied to model and understand product systems and their impact on ecosystems, human health and resource depletion. It also covers methodological concepts in scoping and interpreting LCAs. The second section involves case work and applications of LCA to energy, materials, transport and food systems. Students will be guided to analyze a selection of these cases themselves through the provided problem sets. The course involves programming in Python and software tools for LCA case studies.

Learning outcome

Knowledge: – The course provides the student with knowledge about: – Life Cycle Assessment (LCA), a framework for evaluation of the environmental footprint of various systems and technologies. – Application of Life Cycle Assessment on various energy, product and transport technologies and systems. The course gives the student insight about: - How to perform robust assessments of the environmental characteristics of systems. Skills: The course should enable the student to: - Perform a moderately complex LCA under supervision in Python. - Discuss and critically review LCA studies. General competence: The course should give the student insight on: - How to assess the environmental performance of energy and product systems.

Learning methods and activities

The course is taught using a combination of online teaching resources, lectures, problem sets and tutoring sessions. The first part covers the conceptual and mathematical theory of modelling product systems in LCA through goal and scope, inventory analysis, impact assessment and interpretation. The second part of the course focuses on case studies and applications of LCA to various product systems.

Requirements for assignments and compulsory activity for exam registration is informed in the course startup.

The lectures and exercises are in English. Problem sets require use of Python as well as other tools. Since the teaching is given in English the Examination papers will be given in English only. Autumn of 2025 the course is lectured physically in Trondheim with streaming.

Compulsory assignments

• Exercises

Required previous knowledge

Basic university maths including matrix algebra. The problem sets require that the candidates master or acquire basic programming skills in Python.

Course materials

All material will be distributed via Blackboard.