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USEPA / ElectricityLCI v1.0
Citation:
Jamieson, M., W. Ingwersen, G. Schively, T. Ghosh, T. Hottle, B. Young, AND G. Cooney. USEPA / ElectricityLCI v1.0. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, DC.
Impact/Purpose:
The purpose is to share software that produces regionalized US electricity life cycle inventory models based on methodologies and data sources developed and identified by USEPA, National Energy Technology Laboratory and National Renewable Energy Laboratory partners.
Description:
Electricity generation is a major source of environmental impacts to human health and ecosystems. Nearly all goods and services require electricity in their supply chains and many require electricity for use. Accurate data on environmental releases and resources used associated with electricity production and distribution are therefore essential to nearly all studies that assess potential environmental or human health impacts in the supply chain of goods and services. Life cycle inventory models provide a structured and standardized way of organizing data for these assessments. We developed a Python software package for using facility-reported data to create life cycle inventory models for U.S. electricity generation, transmission, and distribution in U.S. regions at various electricity management and trading boundary levels, and based on selection of years, emission data sources, etc. The software also embeds models of upstream datasets for generation fuel and infrastructure. The method to create the models draws upon automated, or rapid life cycle inventory approaches. The software provides a clear tracking of data transformations and facilitates future updates and extensions. The life cycle inventory produced is formatted and described for sharing in the Federal LCA Commons using the standard FEDEFL elementary flow list and linking to compatible life cycle impact assessment factors for impact characterization. Full documentation is provided in a Wiki along with the source code at http://www.github.com/usepa/electricitylci. Agencies in the Federal LCA Commons plan to continue to update and enhance the electricity life cycle inventory using this software.
