Energy is part of the life cycle
The electricity and fuels used in production, transport, use and end-of-life processes can significantly influence Life Cycle Assessment results. An assessment should therefore not consider only the energy mix where the final product is manufactured: supply chains may involve several countries and energy systems.
A transition with several dimensions
Expanding renewable sources such as solar and wind is an important part of the energy transition. But transforming the energy system also depends on grid upgrades, interconnection between regions, storage, demand management and available infrastructure.
Geographic integration can help balance variable renewable generation, but its benefits depend on local conditions, consumption profiles, available resources and required investment. Scenarios published in 2020 with targets for 2030 or 2050 should be read as projections made at that time, not guaranteed outcomes.
Representing energy in an LCA
When modelling a product or service, select electricity and fuel data that are consistent with the location, period, technology and supply chain under study. Assumptions about imports, self-generation, grid losses and power-purchase contracts should also be documented.
A lower-carbon electricity mix may reduce certain impacts, but it does not automatically resolve other environmental impacts or replace assessment of the full life cycle. The energy transition and LCA are complementary: one transforms energy systems; the other helps understand the effects of those changes across value chains.