Environmental Life Cycle Assessment of a Small Wind Farm

Abstract

Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) is a method of assessing the environmental impacts associated with all stages of the life cycle of a product, process, or service. The construction, operation, and maintenance of wind farms could have adverse effects on the environment. The United Nations (UN) has set seventeen Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) for achieving energy saving, emission reduction, and peace and prosperity for people and the planet. Applying the LCA method to wind farms in the planning and design stages could provide references and viewpoints for assessing the impact of wind farms on the environment from the perspective of the whole life cycle, which is beneficial for realizing the UN SDGs. Depending on the detailed plans, the Economic Input-Output Life Cycle Assessment (EIO LCA) and Athena LCA methods are used to conduct the environmental LCA analysis for a small wind farm project before construction. The results and significance of the LCA analysis are illustrated and explained.