This use-case considers a lifecycle Assessment for a brownfield, an existing industrial or civil infrastructure.
Context
In the Operation Phase, an Owner (or Operator) needs to analyze how to reduce the environmental impacts related to his infrastructure / facility. If the goal is reducing the GHG, we are taking about "Decarbonization". So to do so, the owner / operator should have some technical alternatives which will ensure the same (or better) technical performance. The feasibility of these alternatives considers technical, economic, as well as environmental aspects.
Overview
This use-case contains 8 steps. Fully aligned with the LCA standard ISO 14040 concerning the Environmental Management - Lifecycle Assessment Principals and framework.
Use-case Description
Step 1: Goal & Scope Definition
LCA (Lifecycle Assessment) is a system thinking based methodology. The first step of the LCA is to define the goal and the scope of the evaluation, by defining what we call "System Of Interest". To do so, we need to find answers for some questions, depending on the stakeholder to whom the evaluation will be performed. As an example:
- WHY this evaluation is performed ?
- WHAT is the scope of this evaluation ? all the facility, concerned unit, etc. ?
- WHAT will be taken into account in this evaluation?
- WHO will be responsible of the generated impact?
- WHAT lifecycle phases should be considered?
Next to this first step, the system of interest will be defined. This definition could be expressed by a “Functional Unit”. The functional unit of a product system is a quantified description of the performance requirements that the product system fulfils. It will be used as a reference to which the inputs and outputs are related. It is an important element of the LCA study to ensure comparability of LCA results and to allow the LCA practitioner to compare different structures alternatives, which is the case for this master thesis. Note that a system may provide several functions at the same time, and that consequently, several functional units are possible and that the most relevant ones should be identified.
3DEXPERIENCE Solution for this step : CATIA System Design with RFL Model. The Functional unit can be defined as requirements in the R, detailed in functions and relations in the F, represented and structured with the attached flows in the L.
Step 2: Lifecycle Inventory Definition (LCI)
For an existing infrastructure / facility, the inventory should be easier to assess. Because we know the different breakdown structures of the asset, and we know what processes are used. We need to gather everything in a DigitalTwin, allowing to have a structure data model of this asset.
This DigitalTwin should contain the breakdown structures of the system: functional breakdown structure, product breakdown structure, work breakdown structure and geographic breakdown structure. The aim is to assess the components concerned by the evaluation. This will allow an identification of the scope and where the evaluation will stop. it will also allow a definition of the environmental budgets given later to subcontractors.
3DEXPERIENCE Solution for this step : CATIA System Design FLP as explained obviously.
Step 3: LCA Principals Definition
The aim of this step is to select the environmental indicators that could be of interest to a specific stakeholder of the project. This will allow to choose the right environmental method. To know, five methods are available in our Ecodesign apps as following.
In this step, we can also define targets for each environmental indicator. These targets will be considered as an impact budget, so the assessment should not exceed it. These targets could be based on similar projects feedback (with the same functional units), measured or estimated.
In the "Decarbonization" Case, we are looking at one environmental indicator which is GHG. But we can imagine other indicators like water consumption, energy consumption, waste management, etc.
3DEXPERIENCE Solution for this step is Business Target Definition app, available within Eco-Design Engineer and Sustainability Manager roles.
Step 4: LCA impacts computation
LCA is performed through ingoing and outgoing flows impacts calculation. This is the main step where we will be able to assess the environmental impacts related to this flows. The values of the impacts are issued from a holistic and cross-industry database which name is ecoinvent. It publishes the world’s most consistent and transparent life cycle inventory database. The ecoinvent database enables users to gain a deeper understanding of the environmental impacts of their products and services. It is a repository covering a diverse range of sectors on global and regional level. It currently contains more than 18’000 activities modelling human activities or processes.
So in this step we need to pick-up the right human activities related to the system of interest components and processes. Then compute the impacts in order to get the global assessment.
3DEXPERIENCE Solutions for this step are:
- Business Value Definition: to define the human activities related to the different breakdown structures of the system.
- Business Activities Definition: to capture the company knowhow in term of sustainability and environmental impacts.
- Ecodesign Assessment: to assess and compute the environmental impacts related to the system of interest.
Step 5: Changes Identification
Once the environmental impacts of the current facility / infrastructure are assessed, we will be able to identify the desired changes by the operator, then to recompute the impacts basing on the new technical solution.
As an example, if we have a factory with a heat production unit working on a coal energy, and the operator would like to change this unit by another working with electricity. This change should be technically analyzed, then we will be able to integrate this change within a "what if" scenario, aiming to compare them.
3DEXPERIENCE Solution for this step is : EcoDesign Assessment app, and Business Target Definition app.
Step 6: Identify Alternatives
In this step, the owner will be able to select among several alternatives, those whose the environmental impacts are the lowest.
3DEXPERIENCE Solution for this step is : EcoDesign Assessment app to compare the different trade-offs and select the best in term of environmental assessment.
Step 7: Decision Making Matrix
This step should help owner to take decision, which alternative is the best in term of sustainability assessment. So the environmental assessment is a pillar, but we need to have a look on the technical feasibility, productivity, social value, economic profitability, etc.
3DEXPERIENCE Solution for this step could be suggested by NETVIBES, and based on Cost Intelligence solutions.
