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 1:
20 - 24 March 2023
(Course Language English | Documents: English) - Course 2:
25 - 29 September 2023 - Course 3:
20 - 24 November 2023
- Study format:
- Certificate Course
- Duration:
- 5 Days
- Teaching:
- Different course dates
- Credit Points:
- 2 ECTS (50 Hrs. Workload)
- Course fees:
- 3,200 € incl. lunch, course documents & accompanying program, excl. accommodation / arrival & departure
- Qualification:
- RWTH Executive Certificate
- Language:
- English/German
You will learn:
- 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
Contents of the Training
In five days of attendance, participants will learn to evaluate analysis results and potential for improvement through lectures and the independent performance of a LCA study. The new knowledge is complemented by an introduction to the OpenLCA 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.
Module Overview
Monday |
Tuesday |
Wednesday |
Thursday |
Friday |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Introduction
|
Phase 3 & 4 of LCA
|
Decision-making processes
|
Examination Case Study
|
Prospects of LCA
|
Lunch |
Lunch |
Lunch |
Lunch |
Lunch |
Phase 1 & 2 of Life Cycle Assessment
|
Introduction to a LCA Software
|
Modelling Course: Case Study
|
CO2 avoidance cost curves as decision-making tool
|
Examination and Awarding of Certificates
|
Networking tip: We cordially invite you to our evening event.
Lecturers of the Course Fundamentals of Life Cycle Assessment
Dr. Arne Kätelhön
Managing Director of Carbon Minds
Dr. Arne Kätelhön has been involved in various research projects on Life Cycle Assessment in the chemical industry and the energy sector and is author of scientific publications in this field. His experience in environmental management is supported by international research stays (e.g. UC Santa Barbara and KEIO University, Tokyo) and his former employment at an environmental consulting firm in China.
Raoul Meys, M.Sc.
Managing Director & CTO at Carbon Minds;
Institute for Technical Thermodynamics at RWTH Aachen University
Raoul Meys heads the company Carbon Minds together with Dr. Arne Kätelhön. His research focuses on the Life Cycle Assessment of renewable carbon feedstocks used for the production of petrochemical products such as polymers, chemicals and fuels. His experience also builds on his continued participation in several industry projects with various petrochemical company partners.
Oskar Vögler, M.Sc.
Consultant & Project Manager at Carbon Minds
Oskar is a member of the Carbon Minds consulting team. In his position, he is in close contact with clients and is responsible for managing several projects. In addition to developing digital optimization models, Oskar supports clients with LCA analysis and thermodynamic problems. Oskar has 3 years of professional experience in modeling complex optimization problems and in life cycle assessment, which he gained during his studies and developed as a project manager at Carbon Minds.
Ronja Hermanns, M.Sc.
Chemical Engineer for Life Cycle Assessment at Carbon Minds
Ronja is the senior chemical engineer at Carbon Minds. She started as a student assistant at Carbon Minds. Since 2021 she is responsible for modeling chemical processes and chemical networks (large volume chemicals to fine chemicals) according to the Carbon Minds methodology and analyzing LCA results of the chemical industry. Through various impact analyses of supply chains and process routes in the context of industry projects, Ronja is very familiar with the LCA of various conventional and alternative technologies for the chemical industry.
Francesco Scalogna, M.Sc.
Consultant & Project Manager at Carbon Minds
Francesco is a Chemical Engineer at Carbon Minds. He joined Carbon Minds in November 2022 and is responsible for modeling chemical processes and chemical networks and analyzing life cycle assessment (LCA) results of the chemical industry. Additionally, he is responsible for the development of a learning platform to facilitate industries’ first contact with LCAs. Besides that, he continues to develop a database with modern technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI).
Scientific Lead
Prof. Dr.-Ing. Dipl.-Wirt.Ing. Niklas von der Aßen is Junior Professor for "Sustainable Life Cycles in Energy, Chemical and Process Engineering" at the Institute of Technical Thermodynamics at RWTH Aachen University.
His research group investigates sustainable technology and product life cycles considering planetary boundaries. To this end, he develops methods for the evaluation and design of closed material cycles in industrial processes using technology integration and sector coupling. One focus is the application and further development of the "Life Cycle Assessment" method for the evaluation and optimization of industrial production systems. Prof. von der Aßen has more than ten years of experience in research and application of LCA, both in academia and industry. He published numerous scientific papers with strong international visibility and reputation and contributed to several industrial research projects.
Participation Requirements and Target Group
- The Fundamentals of Life Cycle Assessment Certificate Course is aimed at engineers as well as project managers.
- You will particularly benefit from the course if you work in the fields of production, environmental management, research and development or strategic management and have at least one year of relevant professional experience.
Course Completion
You will receive the officially recognized Executive Certificate "Fundamentals of Life Cycle Assessments (LCA) for Industrial Products" from RWTH Aachen University. The achievements within the certificate course are consistently marked with the Europe-wide valid instrument "European Credit Transfer Systems" (ECTS): There is the possibility of crediting these to other certified courses or even to a subsequent university course.
After the Course Completion
In addition to the Fundamentals of Life Cycle Assessment certificate course, we offer a variety of other certificate courses, seminars & workshops in different subject areas - e.g. technology management, quality management, electrification & mobility as well as robotics & Industry 4.0.
We would be happy to advise you regarding your next RWTH continuing education!
Why Life Cycle Assessment at the RWTH International Academy?
- Taking a leading role in environmental protection and thus remaining competitive in the climate policy environment requires many industrial companies to take decisive measures to reduce their environmental impact. A detailed environmental assessment is required to identify suitable activities here: "Life Cycle Assessment" offers a generally recognized and highly effective method for this purpose.
- You will receive targeted expertise through the specific supervision of knowledgeable and consulting-experienced Life Cycle Assessment experts from the Chair of Technical Thermodynamics and Institute of Thermodynamics.
- This is a hands-on continuing education program at one of the world's top technical universities, and you will gain knowledge at the cutting edge of technology and science.
- You will obtain a high quality educational qualification through a RWTH Aachen qualification.
Accommodation
Looking for a place to stay during your continuing education with us in Aachen? Why not check in at our boarding house at Elisabethstraße 13:
- close to the City-Center
- very good connection to us in the cluster production technology
- room approx. 20m², completely furnished with kitchenette and private bathroom
Funding Opportunities
If you live/work in Germany, there are some opportunities for government funding of your continuing education. Financial and time support is offered, for example
- the individual federal states (e.g. through Bildungsscheck or QualiCheck)
- the education premium
- the educational leave
Inhouse Possibility
The course, or parts of it, would also be interesting for your entire team/your company? Then applies: our team for your team! We would be happy to advise you on the possibility of an inhouse course. Give us a call or write to us - we will tailor your further training to suit your needs!
Tanja Lux
Head of Business Development
+49 241 80 97860
Contact me
Laura Noske
Program Manager
+49 241 80 97865
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