This project aims to propose a methodology for the spatio-temporal life cycle assessment of energy generation and storage systems, based on a socio-environmental and energetic approach. The adoption of this methodology allows for the comparison between systems, in order to support decision-making processes in national planning across different time horizons and regions. The central themes that make up the study, as applied to the systems under consideration, are: (i) Spatio-temporal life cycle assessment (LCA); (ii) Assessment of impacts on biodiversity and landscape ecology to be included in the LCA; (iii) Social life cycle assessment (S-LCA); and (iv) Energy return on energy investment (EROI).
The following electricity generation and storage systems are evaluated: (i) Hydroelectric power plants; (ii) Natural gas thermoelectric plants; (iii) Sugarcane biomass generation plants; (iv) Solar photovoltaic plants; (v) Wind power plants; (vi) Pumped-storage hydropower plants; (vii) Lithium-ion batteries.
Finally, a computational tool is built to support decisions regarding the expansion of electricity generation in Brazil.
