Should I use EF v3.1 oder EF v3.1 Method (adapted)?

Question

Since EF v3.1 is classified as ecoinvent LCIA method and the adapted version as open LCIA method in the calculation properties, I am confused which one I should use when my database is ecoinvent.

What are the differences between them? I  have not found anything about this in the openLCA manual, the download area or the forum, except that they have different normalization factors but I don't know on which basis they were adapted.

Answer 1

Why are the normalization factors different? I checked it and they are the same for the same impact categories. The LCIA methods from the implementation by the ecoinvent association do not come with normalization and weighting factors by default, but they are easy to add. For convenience we also added them to the EF 3.1 ecoinvent method only and they have the same factors as in "EF 3.1 (adapted)" from the openLCA methods package 2.4.3 implementation. The normalization and weighting factors come from the original EF 3.1 implementation by the JRC.

The difference between the ecoinvent implementation and the openLCA methods package implementation is the same as for any other method:

The methods implementation from the ecoinvent association can be used only in the ecoinvent database, these methods are always unregionalised and they give the results as in ecoquery for comparison.

The methods inside the openLCA methods package are compatible to more databases on Nexus and not only compatible to ecoinvent, they contain some regionalised methods for regionalised calculations and more characterization factors and elementary flows (that are for example not used inside the ecoinvent database).

Comments

Thank you very much, that is very helpful! If the regionalisation is the only difference in this case, I will go for the openLCA method.

Just slightly different, but apparently not important as you stated here https://ask.openlca.org/6244/method-method-adapted-different-normalisation-documentation

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Yes, in the comment of your link I was referring to EF 3.0. The values that are inside the EF 3.1 ecoinvent version and inside the EF 3.1 openLCA methods package version are the same as from the official EF 3.1 source of the reference package and slightly different to the previously used EF 3.0 values.
 
https://eplca.jrc.ec.europa.eu/permalink/EF3_1/EF-v3.1.zip

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@Conrad Spindler - I didn't quite understand the second statement, "methods inside the openLCA methods package are compatible to more databases on Nexus and not only compatible to ecoinvent"

Is it a recommendation that only ecoinvent LCIA package must be used with the ecoinvent database and with all other databases (on nexus), openLCIA package must be used?

And if not – what’s the recommendation for the selection of LCIA package (by openLCA or ecoinvent) when I’m using ecoinvent database in openLCA software?

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@Manish: yes, that is the suggestion: the ecoinvent LCIA is only suitable for ecoinvent, the openLCA LCIA pack for many databases on Nexus (not for all, of course; not EF, not exiobase and PSILCA; but many). Thank you!

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Thank you so much, Andreas.

So my current understanding is:
Ecoinvent LCIA pack is only compatible with only Ecoinvent Database
OpenLCIA LCIA pack is compatible with many databases (excluding the three databases listed above, but including Ecoinvent)  

While searching for answers I also saw this page https://www.openlca.org/lcia-methods-databases/  , which says "The openLCA method (2.2.1) pack is recommended (with ecoinvent 3.7.1 database), the ecoinvent original pack provided rather for reference"

So, OpenLCIA package is recommended over Ecoinvent LCIA pack even though both LCIA packages are compatible with Ecoinvent database  

Is this the correct interpretation?

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@Manish, I would say yes, the statement you cite is a bit older, the openLCA LCIA methods are maintainted by us, and the ecoinvent LCIA methods by ecoinvent; some time ago, the ecoinvent methods were somewhat outdated, and thus openLCA LCIA methods were much better / more up to date for (even) ecoinvent, but recently ecoinvent puts more attention to the methods -> it becomes a bit a matter of taste. I personally use the openLCA methods, but I am of course maybe biased.

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This helps, thank you very much for the clarification, Andreas. Really appreciate your quick response.