Admission requirements
Required course(s):
None.
Description
Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) is a methodology used to assess the environmental impacts of products and services. It is widely used in science, industry, and policy making to guide decisions, e.g. on investments, policy instruments and technological development directions. LCA takes a life cycle approach by covering the entire life cycle of products and services, starting with raw material extraction and ending with recycling or end-of-life waste treatment. LCA is becoming the standard methodology for evaluating the contribution of technologies and business models to the energy transition and the circular economy. The Institute of Environmental Sciences (CML) at Leiden University is one of the globally best known institutes in LCA method development.
Course Objectives
The goal of this course is to introduce students to the quantitative assessment of environmental impacts of economic systems, with a focus on the LCA methodology, and to develop related academic skills. More specifically, at the end of the course students are able to:
Get a good understanding of the LCA methodology.
Describe and discuss the main modeling choices in LCA that can determine LCA results or the ranking of alternatives in a comparative LCA.
Conduct a literature review, give a presentation and report on practical exercises regarding LCA using LCA software and data, thereby gaining practical experience in LCA and other scientific skills in general.
Conduct basic LCA project, focusing on a comparative assessment of energy sources.
Describe the position of LCA in the broader toolbox of life cycle sustainability assessment, such as environmental and economic input-output analysis, life cycle costing and social LCA.
Timetable
Timetables for courses offered at Leiden University College in 2024-2025 will be published on this page of the e-Prospectus.
Mode of instruction
We use a mix of instruction modes including lectures, class discussions, workshops, assignments (both group and individual), and student presentations. This course is project-based, meaning that the main part of the course centers on students working in groups on an LCA project focused on energy systems.
Assessment Method
Individual assignment (15%), Week 2
Group assignment (15%), Week 3
LCA project: Report + Presentation (40%), Week 7
Final exam (15%)
In-class participation (15%), ongoing from week 1 to 7
Reading list
Guinée, J. (ed.) Handbook on Life Cycle Assessment – Operational Guide to the ISO Standards. Kluwer Academic Publishers, Dordrecht, 2002 (PDF of the non-typeset manuscript will be made available).
Heijungs. R. and S. Suh. The Computational Structure of Life Cycle Assessment. Springer, Dordrecht, 2002 (PDF of the non-typeset manuscript will be available).
ILCD Handbook. General guide for Life cycle assessment - Provisions and action steps, General guide for Life cycle assessment – Detailed guidance. EU DG JRC IES, 2010, https://eplca.jrc.ec.europa.eu/uploads/ILCD-Handbook-General-guide-for-LCA-DETAILED-GUIDANCE-12March2010-ISBN-fin-v1.0-EN.pdf
Registration
Courses offered at Leiden University College (LUC) are usually only open to LUC students and LUC exchange students. Leiden University students who participate in one of the university’s Honours tracks or programmes may register for one LUC course, if availability permits. Registration is coordinated by the Education Coordinator, course.administration@luc.leidenuniv.nl.
Contact
Dr. Robert Istrate, i.r.istrate@cml.leidenuniv.nl (coordinator)
Dr. Bernhard Steubing, b.steubing@cml.leidenuniv.nl
Remarks
For conducting LCAs we will use the OpenLCA software (https://www.openlca.org/).