Which version of Ecoinvent 3.11 to use?

Question

Hello,

I want to upgrade our ecoinvent database to version 3.11 (we have the correct licence). What is the difference between the APOS, consequential, cutoff (library, system, unit) versions? Normally we use "cutoff unit processes" as guiding principle for our LCA's. If we then want to do a analysis involving substitution, should we then download the relevant version of ecoinvent? Or are the differences between the ecoinvent databases only marginal?

Regards, Tony Schoen

Answer 1

Hi Tony,
I think ecoinvent presents a nice overview concerning their system models here: https://support.ecoinvent.org/system-models and some learning videos here: https://support.ecoinvent.org/e-learning-fundamentals-database. For system vs. unit processes (aggreggated vs full supply chain), some details are found here: https://support.ecoinvent.org/upr-lci-lcia . A similar question was already answered here: https://ask.openlca.org/5707/which-ecoinvent-database-to-download. Concerning the "substitution" aspect of your question. If you normally work with the ecoinvent cut-off system model, be aware that it handles multi-functionality without using credits (avoided products). Substitution in your foreground relies on introducing such credits, which makes it methodologically incompatible with the cut-off approach in the background. Therefore, you should not combine cut-off datasets with substitution in the same calculation. If you want to apply substitution, you would need to use a system model that includes credits, such as APOS or consequential.

The libraries are a new feature in openLCA introduced in version 2.0. These are pre-computed, non-editable databases designed to accelerate database work and collaboration. There was a webinar about it: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Tv2NmxOLEU and here is the respective chapter in the manual https://greendelta.github.io/openLCA2-manual/libraries/index.html .

Hope this helps