Life Cycle Assessment of Traditional vs. Alternative Power Plants<br />By: Asst. Lecturer Shahad Ammar Hatem<br /><br />Sustainable Development Goals:<br /> Goal 13: Climate Action<br /> Goal 12: Responsible Consumption and Production<br /> Goal 7: Affordable and Clean Energy<br /><br />Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) is a comprehensive tool used to evaluate the environmental impact of products and systems throughout their entire lifespan—from raw material extraction, through operation, to disposal. When applied to power plants, LCA provides essential insights into the true cost of energy generation.<br /><br />Traditional fossil fuel-based power plants, such as coal and natural gas facilities, emit large quantities of CO₂, sulfur oxides, and particulate matter during operation. But their environmental burden starts much earlier, including land disruption from mining and emissions during fuel transportation.<br /><br />In contrast, alternative energy systems like solar, wind, and hydroelectric plants exhibit significantly lower emissions across their life cycles. Although solar panel production and battery storage entail environmental costs, their operational phase is clean and carbon-free. Wind turbines have among the lowest life cycle emissions, especially when manufactured using renewable energy sources.<br /><br />LCA also highlights hidden trade-offs, such as land use for large-scale renewables or the rare materials needed in batteries and solar cells. These findings guide engineers and policymakers in making more informed, balanced decisions that prioritize both climate goals and resource efficiency.<br /><br />By comparing life cycle profiles, LCA encourages the transition to cleaner technologies and supports the design of future energy systems with reduced ecological footprints.<br /><br />Al-Mustaqbal University – The No. 1 Private University in Iraq