Research in Life Cycle Databases for Wind Energy Systems
The long term goal of this research is to support the wind generation industries, DOE, and the user communities with the expansion of two types of life cycle databases specific to this industrial sector. The Recipient also seeks to expand the life cycle thinking with research in broader sustainability approaches to other sectors. The one year goal of this research is to strengthen, expand, and work on implementing the life cycle databases: 1) the current and future supply chains (such as shifts from glass fiber composites to carbon fiber composites) as new manufacturing processes, materials, and chemicals are evaluated to improve sustainability of these products (gtglci), 2) manufacturing unit process life cycle inventory (uplci) building blocks that when assembled transform chemicals/materials into the components and subassemblies of a wind generator.
Dr. Michael Overcash
mrovercash@earthlink.net
Dr. Janet M. Twomey
janet.twomey@wichita.edu