Influence of Thermoelectric Generation Primary Data and Allocation Methods on Life Cycle Assessment of the Electricity Generation Mix: The Case of Italy

This study presents a comprehensive life cycle assessment of the Italian electricity mix, by employing primary data for the thermoelectric power generation and applying different allocation methods for the combined heat and power generation. In Italy’s electricity mix thermoelectric plants account for 51% of the total installed capacity, thus playing a crucial role within the Italian power generation system, despite the growing relevance of renewable energy sources. Emissions primary data have been extracted from the environmental statements related to the Italian power plants that hold an EcoManagement and Audit Scheme certification. Moreover, an exergy-based allocation method has been used along with an energy-based one, to enable an improved analysis of the thermal energy output from combined heat and power plants. The comparative analysis between the utilization of primary data and data from available database has revealed substantial disparities in terms of outcomes, thus shedding light on the relevance of the use of reliable primary data to achieve robust results. Furthermore, the exploitation of the allocation method used to deal with the multifunctionality of combined heat and power generation shows a substantial influence on the final impacts of the electricity mix.