A Systematic Approach To Estimation Of Life Cycle Carbon Inventory, Carbon Footprints and Embodied Carbon

Completed

Other Cross-Cutting Technologies or Research(Environmental, social and economic impacts)

Basic and strategic applied research

SOCIAL SCIENCES (Economics and Econometrics)
PHYSICAL SCIENCES AND MATHEMATICS (Chemistry)
ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY

Sociological economical and environmental impact of energy

Professor A Azapagic
Chemical Engineering and Analytical Science
University of Manchester

Standard

EPSRC

13 June 2005

31 July 2006

14 months

£1,050,354

Energy

North West

Energy Research Capacity

Professor A Azapagic, Chemical Engineering and Analytical Science, University of Manchester

Professor R Clift, Centre for Environmental Strategy, University of Surrey
Dr L Elghali, Centre for Environmental Strategy, University of Surrey

Project Contact, Steel Construction Institute
Project Contact, The Concrete Society
Project Contact, Leicester Energy Efficiency
Project Contact, Scottish Energy Environment Foundation
Project Contact, Brick Development Association (The)
Project Contact, British Cement Association
Project Contact, Hydro Polymers Ltd.
Project Contact, R M C Group Plc
Project Contact, Marks and Spencer
Project Contact, Unilever Plc
Project Contact, Corus
Project Contact, Rapra Technology Ltd
Project Contact, Building Research Establishment (BRE) Limited

A successful transition to a low carbon economy will depend on a number of technological, economic, environmental and social factors. However, before we start this process, it is important to understand the full environmental and economic implications of any step changes that this transition may require. In this project we propose to concentrate on developing a methodology and decision-support tools that would help us understand and evaluate environmental and economic consequences of the changes required for "decarbonisation" of the economy. In particular, we propose to develop a methodology for a systematic life-cycle estimation of carbon inventories in different industrial sectors, including "carbon footprints" and "embodied carbon". The project will also investigate the options for, and the associated costs of, carbon mitigation measures by considering standard economic parameters such as investment and operating costs and value added, together with uncertainty and risk where appropriate.. The intention is that the methodology and the tools will be usable for investigation of future scenarios, involving completely new technologies and products. The tools will also help companies to respond to the activities such as carbon management and emissions trading. The industrial sectors to be considered in the project include Food, Chemicals, Plastics, Construction and Biomass

01/01/07