1.27 Life Cycle Assessment of Energy

Abstract In this chapter, the methods of life cycle assessment (LCA), which are commonly used to analyze the life cycle of a system or service from cradle to grave, are presented, discussed from various perspectives and applied to various energy systems and applications to really reflect the importance and potential use in comprehensive analysis and assessment studies. Such methods are crucial for the development of sustainable energy systems which implies comprehensive analyses that go beyond thermodynamics, such as conducting LCA studies. In this regard, the importance of such LCA studies for energy systems and applications becomes critical for a complete understanding, assessment, evaluation, and comparison. In this contribution, there are various methodologies and approaches and applications presented comprehensively along with impact categories. Various case studies ranging from conventional to renewable resources for energy production and utilization are performed for comparison and assessment purposes.