Research on the Technical Path of Carbon Footprint Accounting for the Whole Life Cycle of Pumped Storage Power Stations

As a complex systematic project, pumped storage power stations (PSPS) are characterized by long life cycles and large-scale engineering, requiring precise identification and accounting of carbon emissions. This study introduces the scientific connotation the concept of carbon footprint. And based on the Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) method, this study proposes a technical path of carbon footprint accounting for PSPS, which encompasses three stages: preparation, accounting, and analysis. The key contents mainly include data collection and monitoring, determining the objectives and scope, selecting functional units, delineating system boundaries, and completing the life cycle inventory. Carbon footprint accounting for PSPS serves as the foundation for scientifically and objectively grasping its life cycle carbon emissions, and it is also a crucial metric for evaluating their low-carbon and clean attributes. Furthermore, it provides technical support for achieving the dual carbon goals.