Integrating Time-Dependent Electricity Datasets into Discrete-Event Life Cycle Assessment for Aircraft

Abstract

Life Cycle Assessments (LCAs) are widely used to evaluate the environmental impact of aircraft throughout their entire life cycle. Ground-based processes, particularly during maintenance activities and the manufacturing of components or spare parts, are significantly influenced by energy use. However, the environmental assessment is highly sensitive to variations in the energy mix, which evolves over time due to the increasing adoption of renewable energy sources. In this study, we demonstrate that the time-dependent energy consumption of long-living products such as aircraft can significantly affect the LCA results. To address this, we use a combined discrete-event LCA framework, which disaggregates complex systems into individual units for detailed analysis. By incorporating time-varying electricity datasets, we demonstrate the feasibility of integrating temporal dynamics into LCA and highlight the potential impact of such dynamic factors on the environmental assessment. This consideration can be particularly important for emerging aircraft designs such as all-electric concepts, where electricity plays an important role during fight operations.