Page 85 - Materials Chemistry, Second Edition

80 4. Life cycle sustainability assessment: An ongoing journey

FIG. 4.14 Sustainability scores for dif-
ferent substitutes of cement for FA in con-
crete (Wang et al., 2017).

(CCGT), nuclear (pressurized water reactor), offshore wind, and photovoltaics. Forty-three
sustainability indicators developed by Stamford and Azapagic (2011) from direct stakeholder
(industry, government, academia, and NGOs) engagement and literature review were used.
Environmental impacts (LCA) were calculated using GaBi v4.4 software and Ecoinvent v2.2
database. All data were revised to reflect UK conditions.
They report from their assessment, coal (pulverized) power, even though second cheapest
option, had the worst environmental performance. CCGT was found to be the cheapest option
but with the highest cost variability, high fossil fuel depletion, and lowest employment. Nu-
clear power performed better in eight environmental indicators but had the second lowest life
cycle employment, highest health impact from radiation, and highest number of fatalities in a
single incident. Wind, like nuclear power, was the best in terms of environmental impacts,
second highest in employment provision, increased energy security, but worse in freshwater
and terrestrial eco-toxicity as well as nonfossil resource depletion. Offshore PV performed
badly in terms of environmental and economic dimensions, but provides the highest
employment.
The authors, therefore, concluded that no single electricity option in United Kingdom is
most sustainable and that there is the need for trade-offs and compromises.

4.4.7.2 Grid-connected photovoltaic systems in Northeast England
Similarly, Li et al. (2018) proposed and applied a comprehensive LCSA model on three
types of grid-connected solar photovoltaic (monocrystalline silicon, s-Si; polycrystalline sili-
con, p-Si; and cadmium telluride, CdTe thin film) electricity generation cells in northeast
England. In this case study, a 4kWp residential roof-mounted grid-connected system is used
with functional unit of per unit of electricity produced. Both top-down and bottom-up
approaches were used to select 13 sustainability indicators through relevant stakeholder
engagement and literature review. GaBi professional v6.1 15 software and Ecoinvent 3.1 in-
tegrated database were used for assessment of environmental impacts. Table 4.3 shows the
sustainability rankings of the three solar PV systems.