ESU develops since more than 20 years the LCA key parameter models for testing electricity, biomethane, cooling and heat from renewable energy sources. Since the opening of European electricity markets, utilities are launching green electricity products. In Switzerland, the privately initiated ecolabel “naturemade star” ensures the environmental and ecolo­gi­cal quality including life cycle thinking. The evaluation method includes a simplified and partly site-specific life cycle assessment using the ReCiPe 2016 (H, A) impact assessment method.

Simplified LCA approach

ESU-services conducted detailed LCA case studies as a first step for power plants and technologies that are candidates for the “naturemade star” label. This process identifies technology-specific parameters that significantly influence the LCIA outcome and for which the owner or operator of the respective power plant can provide relevant data.

For wood energy, key parameters include annual production, combustion type, and certain emissions. Using insights from the detailed LCA, parameter models for digestion plants handling biomass, wood energy, heat pumps, and waste incineration have been developed in an Excel spreadsheet format. These models are designed for ease of use, making them accessible to SME operators and manufacturers of candidate power plants.

With these key parameter models, power plant operators can complete the required LCA within a few hours. At the same time, they can verify whether their plant meets the “naturemade star” threshold, which is set at 50% of the environmental impact in ReCiP (hierarchist) points compared to a similar natural gas-based production system. Furthermore, the KPM also allow a simplified environmental product declaration for different energy products.