Sensitivity coefficients for matrix-based LCA

By Reinout Heijungs. 2010

98 citations recorded by the source corpus.

Background, aim, and scopeMatrix-based life cycle assessment (LCA) is part of the standard ingredients of modern LCA tools. An important aspect of matrix-based LCA that is straightforward to carry out, but that requires a careful mathematical handling, is the inclusion of sensitivity coefficients based on differentiating the matrix-based formulas.Materials and methodsWe briefly review the basic equations for LCA and the basic theory of sensitivity coefficients.ResultsWe present the complete set of sensitivity coefficients from inventory to weighting through characterization and normalization. We show the specific formulas for perturbation analysis, uncertainty analysis, and key issue analysis. We also provide an example using the ecoinvent data.DiscussionThe limitations of the present approach include the restriction to small changes and uncertainties and the ignorance of correlation between input uncertainties. In contrast to common thinking, there is no restriction to normally distributed uncertainties: Every uncertainty distribution for which a variance can be defined can be submitted to the analytical uncertainty analysis.ConclusionsThis paper provides a useful set of tables for a number of purposes related to uncertainty and sensitivity analysis.Recommendations and perspectivesAlthough the formulas derived are not simple, they are straightforward to implement in software for LCA. Once this is done, the use of these formulas can become routine practice, enabling a key issue analysis and speeding up perturbation and uncertainty analysis.

Subfields: Accounting, Building and Construction, Environmental Engineering

View Paper: https://www.semanticscholar.org/paper/fe7b138de9a56ff38ff1ccd8049320f2385015c3

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In Accounting

1. N. Assen
2. André Bardow
3. Johannes Jung

In Building and Construction

1. N. Assen
2. André Bardow
3. Johannes Jung

In Environmental Engineering

1. N. Assen
2. André Bardow
3. Johannes Jung

Citations in the corpus

• Sensitivity coefficient-based uncertainty analysis for multi-functionality in LCA (2014, methodology): “Analytical uncertainty propagation has successfully been applied to LCA calculations, e.g., by Heijungs (1996), Ciroth (2001), Sakai and Yokoyama (2002), Heijungs and Suh (2002, pp. 131–146), Heijungs and Frischknecht (2005), Heijungs (2010), and Hong et al. (2010).”