Fundamentals of Life Cycle Assessments (LCA) for Industrial Products
RWTH Certificate Course Fundamentals of Life Cycle Assessments (LCA) for Industrial Products
LCA as a Holistic Environmental Inspection Method
Learn to represent and quantify material and energy flows relevant to the process as input or output variables in the various life phases of the product, process or service. In addition, you will be able to use the Life Cycle Assessment tool for process optimisation decisions that focus on added value.
Course Content
▶ Various phases of LCA and their areas of application ▶ Autonomous implementation of life cycle assessments ▶ Development of standardized methods for account balancing according to DIN norm ▶ Interpretation of LCA analyses and evaluation of improvement potentials
Group of Participants You are an engineer and/or project manager from the fields of production, environmental management, research and development or strategic management with at least one year of relevant professional experience.
Motivation Achieving a leading role in environmental protection and thus remaining competitive in the climate policy environment requires many industrial companies to implement decisive measures to reduce environmental impacts. In order to identify suitable activities, a detailed environmental assessment is required: the so-called "Life Cycle Assessment" offers a widely approved and highly effective method for this purpose.
Methodology In five days of attendance, participants will learn to evaluate analysis results and to evaluate potential for improvement through lectures and the independent performance of an LCA study. The new knowledge is complemented by a company visit and introduction to the GaBi software, including a corresponding application exercise.On the last day of the course, participants take an exam in the form of a LCA group work followed by a presentation of the results.
Further information regarding the certificate course "Fundamentals of Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) for Industrial Products"
On the first day of the course the following topics will be taught:
Life Cycle Assessment: Introduction and application fields
Phase 1: Goal and Scope Definition of target and scope of assessment
Phase 2: Life Cycle Inventory (LCI) theoretical background for data collection, building of an LCI model, software tools and databases
On the second day of the course the following topics will be taught:
Phase 3: Life Cycle Impact Assessment overview on and computation of environmental impacts based on LCI results
Phase 4: Intepretation and Sensitivity
Interpretation and communication of LCA results
Specific industrial production process in the field of carbon capture and utilisation
Portrayal and implementation of LCA in industrial processes of decision-making and introduction to the case study
On the third day of the course the following topics will be taught:
Modelling course: LCI, Allocation, Life Cycle Impact Assessment
Conducting an industry-related LCA case study
On the fourth day of the course the following topics will be taught:
Independent LCA study based on the data obtained during the company visit
Comprehensive communication of LCA results both within the company and towards stakeholders
Group work: Preparation for final presentation
On the fifth day of the course the following topics will be taught:
Prospects of LCA and Wrap-Up
Examination of group presentation and feedback
Awarding of Certificates
Lecturers
Institute Chair of Technical Thermodynamics and Institute of Thermodynamics, RWTH Aachen University
Scientific Lead Prof. Niklas von der Aßen
Lecturers Prof. Niklas von der Aßen, Dr. Arne Kätelhön, Raoul Meys