Syllabus

TN0313 Life Cycle Assessment for Environmental Engineering, 5.0 Credits

Subjects

Education cycle

Modules

Advanced study in the main field

Grading scale

Language

Prior knowledge

Objectives

The purpose of the course is to provide knowledge and skills in quantification of natural resource use in a life cycle perspective and the environmental load caused by this use. The aim is also to apply and develop skills in formulating problems, critical reviewing and written and oral presentation.

After the course the student should be able to:

• perform a limited life cycle assessment for a production system, for example a food product

-analyse a given LCA by considering the important factors that affect its results

• describe and apply methods for quantification of the effects of uncertain and varying input data in life cycle assessments

• describe and assess methods for environmental impact assessment in LCA

• describe the opportunities and constraints for use of the method as a decision support tool in policy-making and industry.

Content

Lectures cover energy analysis, quality aspects of energy, data sources and data security, and the different parts of life cycle assessments: ¨

• definition of purpose, system limits and functional units

• inventory (LCI)

• impact analysis (LCIA)

• result interpretation, sensitivity analysis

The course also includes a project where students perform a limited LCA, which includes collection of data, calculation of energy balance and environmental load, as well as analysis of uncertainty and sensitivity. The course also includes a seminar with a critical review of an LCA.

Main activities in the course are:

• Scheduled activities: lectures, supervision and presentation of project work (compulsory), study visit (compulsory), examination and evaluation.

• Group activities, not scheduled: group assignments.

• Individual studies, not scheduled: literature studies.

Grading form

Formats and requirements for examination

Approved written and oral presentation of project work and seminar work.

Approved examination and participating in compulsory moments.

• If a student has failed an examination, the examiner has the right to issue supplementary assignments. This applies if it is possible and there are grounds to do so.

• The examiner can provide an adapted assessment to students entitled to study support for students with disabilities following a decision by the university. Examiners may also issue an adapted examination or provide an alternative way for the students to take the exam.

• If this syllabus is withdrawn, SLU may introduce transitional provisions for examining students admitted based on this syllabus and who have not yet passed the course.

• For the assessment of an independent project (degree project), the examiner may also allow a student to add supplemental information after the deadline for submission. Read more in the Education Planning and Administration Handbook.

Other information

• The right to participate in teaching and/or supervision only applies for the course instance the student was admitted to and registered on.

• If there are special reasons, students are entitled to participate in components with compulsory attendance when the course is given again. Read more in the Education Planning and Administration Handbook.

Responsible department

Department of Energy and Technology