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EN15804:2012 Energy Empty

Posted: 24 May 2017 20:07
by dinaharvard
Hello,

Would anyone know why the energy is 0 in my impact assessment? I even tried a default unit process for electricity to see if there was something wrong with the way I was modeling it and it was still 0. Thanks. Dina
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Re: EN15804:2012 Energy Empty

Posted: 25 May 2017 12:01
by aciroth
Hi Dina,
I guess you might want to provide more background - there can be many reasons for a 0 result in an impact category - database, model, impact assessment method.

Re: EN15804:2012 Energy Empty

Posted: 25 May 2017 19:13
by dinaharvard
Additional Information: I checked the category impacts under EN15804 and some of the categories have no impact flows. IS this correct?

Re: EN15804:2012 Energy Empty

Posted: 26 May 2017 16:52
by dinaharvard
Hello,

I sent 2 posts yesterday as an update to the information asked in trying to fix my issue. Is there more information I can provide to get an answer?

Thank you. Dina

Re: EN15804:2012 Energy Empty

Posted: 28 May 2017 14:05
by aciroth
Sorry Dina to not having replied and moderated your posts immediately! I'll reply with more detail tomorrow.

Re: EN15804:2012 Energy Empty

Posted: 28 May 2017 18:41
by dinaharvard
Thank you. I appreciate your time.

Re: EN15804:2012 Energy Empty

Posted: 29 May 2017 20:07
by aciroth
Hi Dina,
so - yes it is true that in the generic EN15804 method, some categories are empty, namely those that are not LCIA method categories but rather inventory based categories. Reason is that when applying the method, users would anyhow need to modify data sets so that, e.g., use of renewable energy is implemented as elementary flow, in each data set where relevant, by creating and adding then a "use of renewable energy elementary flow" to the processes. This flow should then be added to the respective impact category as well.
The EN15804 EuGeos database, also available on Nexus, contains already a database adapted to meet EN15804 requirements, and together with the database we are providing an LCIA method that contains the respective "pseudo elementary flows" (such as use of renewable energy elementary flow from above) in the categories.
Hope this helps!
Andreas

Re: EN15804:2012 Energy Empty

Posted: 30 May 2017 17:09
by dinaharvard
Hi Andreas,

Thank you for the reply. I am a bit confused. Please help me to understand what my solution is.

Option 1: If I work in the unit process that I have in the database and the datasets I created, I add "use of renewable energy elementary flow" to the processes if that is what I need. Are there instructions on how to do that? Since everything is already complete, I would prefer to learn how to complete this process if possible. I would just need access to instructions. For example, if you look at the default process electricity, medium voltage, at grid-CH. If I wanted it to be part of the total primary energy use impact category, how do I link it? I can see the processes for natural gas but it never seems to get to the impact process shown on the list. I assume this is how they are linked? As stated, a guide or just instructions would be helpful in completing this task.

Option 2: You mentioned that I can purchase the database, EN15804 EuGeos. If I buy this database, do I completely need to redo all my unit processes? Or is there a way to marry the data?

Thank you for your time on this. I am searching for the best solution to completing my EPD model. Also, it might be helpful to put a type of disclaimer that your EPD plugin does not work with your openLCA database without modification. I would have done things differently than waste weeks of my time trying to get it to work when it is not usable in the form it is in.

Dina

Re: EN15804:2012 Energy Empty

Posted: 01 Jun 2017 18:52
by dinaharvard
Hello Again,

I have researched option 2 and that is not an option I can do at this time. I was able to fix total water by adding my water source to the list. Water is a much easier unit process than energy. Is there a way to add all source energy possibilities to the impact for total energy? I see there are factors associated so I am not sure what to add. If you have a list, I could add them all.

D

Re: EN15804:2012 Energy Empty

Posted: 08 Jun 2017 16:54
by aciroth
Hi Dina,
well basically, you need to check which of the energy and waste flows that you have in your database are needed for EN15804, and then add these to processes, and create an LCIA method for them. This is of course feasible but some effort I think.
Best wishes,
Andreas