EN15804:2012 Energy Empty

Question

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

Answer 1

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.

Comments

Additional Information: I checked the category impacts under EN15804 and some of the categories have no impact flows. IS this correct?

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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

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Sorry Dina to not having replied and moderated your posts immediately! I`ll reply with more detail tomorrow.

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Thank you. I appreciate your time.

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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

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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

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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

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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

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Do you have anything in any of your guides on how to do this? Your advice does not seem to be very helpful. I figured out exactly what you said on my own but what a software company typically provides in a manual or a user forum where people provide resources on how to do this. I`m looking for the "how" . Please let me know what resources are available.

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Thank you Dina for your advice.
If I may, the question here is not related to software I think but rather to preparing a database which follows certain requirements, and there I cannot say more than what I already explained. And the request to provide an easy to understand manual which allows you to create a database that has been developed by someone with quite some effort, and is offered for a price, is maybe a bit demanding. I hope you understand.
Best wishes,
Andreas