Ex-ante LCA on an emerging electro-mass separation technology: The importance of the background system

Abstract

Ex-ante LCA is a novel approach that provides a way to assess the eventual environmental performance of technologies that are currently under development. Between now and the investigated time several changes may have occurred to the foreand background system, which may affect the results of the assessment. If this is the case, such changes should be integrated in to the life cycle inventory. The goal of this study was to determine how influential those changes are to the foreground system and if it is relevant to apply a cornerstone scenario approach when assessing potential changes. This is analysed using an emerging electro-mass separation technology as a case study. This technology can separate fly ashes based on their particle size. The main benefit of the technology lies in the ultra-fine fly ashes that are produced, which can be used to produce Ultra-High-Performance Concrete. Results showed a considerable difference between the reference and mitigation scenarios, and a smaller but still noticeable difference between the different mitigation pathways.