Life cycle assessment of wind farm: A review on current status and future knowledge

Abstract

With rising concerns over climate change and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, wind power has gained attention as a clean energy source. However, Wind Power Plants (WPPs) generate emissions throughout their life cycle, from raw material extraction to decommissioning. Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) is a key tool for evaluating these environmental impacts. This paper reviews LCA studies of onshore and offshore WPPs, focusing on global warming potential (GWP) and energy payback time (EPBT) to assess their sustainability. Findings reveal that offshore WPPs generally exhibit higher GHG emissions due to complex installation and transportation but benefit from shorter EPBT due to higher wind speeds. Conversely, onshore WPPs have lower upfront emissions but experience longer EPBT due to variable wind conditions. The manufacturing and transportation phases contribute the highest emissions. Recycling and material optimization can reduce environmental impact by up to 30 %. Identified research gaps include data accuracy issues, limited offshore LCA studies, and lack of component-specific analyses. This study provides a pathway for optimizing wind power sustainability, emphasizing material efficiency, logistics improvements, and policy advancements.