NREL database import
Posted: 17 Aug 2012 10:36
The NREL database (formerly at http://www.nrel.gov/lci, now at the USDA website (https://www.lcacommons.gov/nrel) is a US based database that is provided in EcoSpold format. Import into openLCA works fine, you only need to assign units for those units that are not recognised by openLCA (such sh.tn).
However, afterwards, you will realise that the processes do not combine to product systems, even if you click the autoconnect feature.
Reason for this is that the flow locations are not consistent in the database.
For example, the process "Electricity, at grid, US, 2000"
has an input product "Electricity, biomass, at power plant". This product has a geographic location of "RNA". A product Electricity, biomass, at power plant is also provided by a process in the NREL database
However, this product has a geographic location of "US".
If you create a product system, openLCA connects those flows where the location and the name are identical and the units convertible. And the location seems different for openLCA here (and I would say it also is since RNA is not only the US but I am living in Europe of course). So, a product system with Electricity, at grid, US, 2000 as the core process will contain only this process since linking to other processes fails.
It can of course be calculated but the results are identical to the process inputs and outputs.
As this is not what users may expect, we will contact USDA and NREL about this matter.
However, afterwards, you will realise that the processes do not combine to product systems, even if you click the autoconnect feature.
Reason for this is that the flow locations are not consistent in the database.
For example, the process "Electricity, at grid, US, 2000"
has an input product "Electricity, biomass, at power plant". This product has a geographic location of "RNA". A product Electricity, biomass, at power plant is also provided by a process in the NREL database
However, this product has a geographic location of "US".
If you create a product system, openLCA connects those flows where the location and the name are identical and the units convertible. And the location seems different for openLCA here (and I would say it also is since RNA is not only the US but I am living in Europe of course). So, a product system with Electricity, at grid, US, 2000 as the core process will contain only this process since linking to other processes fails.
It can of course be calculated but the results are identical to the process inputs and outputs.
As this is not what users may expect, we will contact USDA and NREL about this matter.