The Open Renewable Energy Journal

2011, 4 : 72-77
Published online 2011 August 12. DOI: 10.2174/1876387101004010072
Publisher ID: TOREJ-4-72

Life Cycle Exergy Analysis of Renewable Energy Systems

Göran Wall
Department of Culture, Energy and Environment University of Gotland Cramérgatan 3, SE-621 67, Visby, Sweden

ABSTRACT

Exergy concepts and exergy based methods offer an insight to the understanding of sustainable energy engineering. The utilization of energy and other resources by applying physical concept as exergy and exergy based methods and the value of these tools in the design are presented, in particular Life Cycle Exergy Analysis (LCEA). LCEA is applied to a typical wind power plant. This brings a new approach and insight to the engineering conditions for a sustainable development that is further elaborated. The importance of introducing this new knowledge into present engineering education and practices is argued for.