Life Cycle Analysis Partners
Completed Projects

In this project, the effects of adopting new technologies on energy and material flows within the US iron and steel industry were examined. The goal was to develop a comprehensive understanding of historical trends in resource use and emissions in the US steel industry, while exploring the potential impacts of emerging innovations in coke, iron, and steel production. Deliverables included detailed historical data compilations for material and energy flows, emissions estimates across air, water, and solid waste, an overview of technological advancements, discussions on emission-influencing factors, and a comparative evaluation of technical, environmental, and economic attributes of various production methods. Additionally, a life cycle economic model was developed to analyze process choices and their implications for costs and environmental impacts across different and novel plant configurations, ranging from fully integrated plants to scrap-based operations. The impact of carbon taxes on optimal technology choices was also examined.

 

The analysis helps decision-makers understand the tradeoffs between technology selection, cost efficiency, and environmental performance in steel manufacturing, offering practical tools for scenario planning and policy evaluation. The analysis provides a structured approach to assessing innovations that could enhance resource use without imposing undue burdens on operations.

In this project, the total social cost of competing methods of ethanol production was analyzed. Production from conventional corn-based methods was compared to emerging methods that utilize cellulosic biomass from non-food sources like crops and waste materials. The goal was to assess both private operational costs and broader social costs, including environmental externalities, while examining how these technologies perform under varying economic conditions. Deliverables included a detailed analysis framework, cost comparisons across key metrics, and sensitivity analysis of factors such as capital cost, feedstock prices, energy costs, and uncertainty in estimates of social costs, providing a structured basis for understanding the viability of these two ethanol production technologies.

 

These results enable more informed evaluation of private and public biofuel policy, highlighting potential pathways for reducing reliance on subsidies and addressing environmental concerns. The analysis provides important information for policymakers, energy economists, and other stakeholders regarding the tradeoffs between economic and environmental performance in a complex and dynamic energy landscape.