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Life cycle assessment of emerging technologies: A review

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  • Sheikh Moniruzzaman Moni
  • Roksana Mahmud
  • Karen High
  • Michael Carbajales‐Dale

Abstract

In recent literature, prospective application of life cycle assessment (LCA) at low technology readiness levels (TRL) has gained immense interest for its potential to enable development of emerging technologies with improved environmental performances. However, limited data, uncertain functionality, scale up issues and uncertainties make it very challenging for the standard LCA guidelines to evaluate emerging technologies and requires methodological advances in the current LCA framework. In this paper, we review published literature to identify major methodological challenges and key research efforts to resolve these issues with a focus on recent developments in five major areas: cross‐study comparability, data availability and quality, scale‐up issues, uncertainty and uncertainty communication, and assessment time. We also provide a number of recommendations for future research to support the evaluation of emerging technologies at low technology readiness levels: (a) the development of a consistent framework and reporting methods for LCA of emerging technologies; (b) the integration of other tools with LCA, such as multicriteria decision analysis, risk analysis, technoeconomic analysis; and (c) the development of a data repository for emerging materials, processes, and technologies.

Suggested Citation

  • Sheikh Moniruzzaman Moni & Roksana Mahmud & Karen High & Michael Carbajales‐Dale, 2020. "Life cycle assessment of emerging technologies: A review," Journal of Industrial Ecology, Yale University, vol. 24(1), pages 52-63, February.
    • Handle: RePEc:bla:inecol:v:24:y:2020:i:1:p:52-63
    DOI: 10.1111/jiec.12965
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    Cited by:

    1. Steffi Weyand & Kotaro Kawajiri & Claudiu Mortan & Liselotte Schebek, 2023. "Scheme for generating upscaling scenarios of emerging functional materials based energy technologies in prospective LCA (UpFunMatLCA)," Journal of Industrial Ecology, Yale University, vol. 27(3), pages 676-692, June.
    2. Sacchi, R. & Terlouw, T. & Siala, K. & Dirnaichner, A. & Bauer, C. & Cox, B. & Mutel, C. & Daioglou, V. & Luderer, G., 2022. "PRospective EnvironMental Impact asSEment (premise): A streamlined approach to producing databases for prospective life cycle assessment using integrated assessment models," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 160(C).
    3. Mitchell K. van der Hulst & Mark A. J. Huijbregts & Niels van Loon & Mirjam Theelen & Lucinda Kootstra & Joseph D. Bergesen & Mara Hauck, 2020. "A systematic approach to assess the environmental impact of emerging technologies: A case study for the GHG footprint of CIGS solar photovoltaic laminate," Journal of Industrial Ecology, Yale University, vol. 24(6), pages 1234-1249, December.
    4. Anna Furberg & Rickard Arvidsson & Sverker Molander, 2022. "A practice‐based framework for defining functional units in comparative life cycle assessments of materials," Journal of Industrial Ecology, Yale University, vol. 26(3), pages 718-730, June.
    5. Mohammad Ali Rajaeifar & Marco Raugei & Bernhard Steubing & Anthony Hartwell & Paul A. Anderson & Oliver Heidrich, 2021. "Life cycle assessment of lithium‐ion battery recycling using pyrometallurgical technologies," Journal of Industrial Ecology, Yale University, vol. 25(6), pages 1560-1571, December.
    6. Celia Sabando-Fraile & Marina Corral-Bobadilla & Rubén Lostado-Lorza & Fátima Somovilla-Gomez, 2023. "Multiresponse Performance Evaluation and Life Cycle Assessment for the Optimal Elimination of Pb (II) from Industrial Wastewater by Adsorption Using Vine Shoot Activated Carbon," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(14), pages 1-20, July.
    7. Mianqiang Xue & Bin-Le Lin & Kiyotaka Tsunemi & Kimitaka Minami & Tetsuya Nanba & Tohru Kawamoto, 2021. "Life Cycle Assessment of Nitrogen Circular Economy-Based NO x Treatment Technology," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(14), pages 1-15, July.
    8. Olivia Pfeiffer & Aliza Khurram & Elsa A. Olivetti & Betar M. Gallant, 2022. "Life cycle assessment of CO2 conversion and storage in metal–CO2 electrochemical cells," Journal of Industrial Ecology, Yale University, vol. 26(4), pages 1306-1317, August.
    9. Yanying Wang & Qingyang Wu, 2024. "Robots, firm relocation, and air pollution: unveiling the unintended spatial spillover effects of emerging technology," Palgrave Communications, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 11(1), pages 1-17, December.
    10. Emma A. R. Zuiderveen & Koen J. J. Kuipers & Carla Caldeira & Steef V. Hanssen & Mitchell K. Hulst & Melinda M. J. Jonge & Anestis Vlysidis & Rosalie Zelm & Serenella Sala & Mark A. J. Huijbregts, 2023. "The potential of emerging bio-based products to reduce environmental impacts," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 14(1), pages 1-7, December.
    11. Balint Simon, 2023. "Material flows and embodied energy of direct air capture: A cradle‐to‐gate inventory of selected technologies," Journal of Industrial Ecology, Yale University, vol. 27(3), pages 646-661, June.

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