Life Cycle Assessment of a 132 kV Gas Insulated Switchgear substation using LCA methodology

This paper is about the Life Cycle Assessment of a 132 kV hybrid Terna electrical substation realized with SF6 insulated switchgear bays and air insulated bars. References was made to ISO 14040:14044 [1-2]; the substation was studied in its overall form and each functional unit was then divided into assemblies representing the equipment. These last were analyzed based on the materials they are made of, evaluating their use, the weak points and the main characteristic of work, failure and maintenance. Based on the data provided by the companies producing the equipment and construction machinery and the data related to construction and maintenance of the system under evaluation, a total of 21124 processes were examined, with positive and negative contributions to the environment. The impact assessment model divides the emissions into 15 categories representing the 15 impact categories of interest for Terna. Then the phases of the life cycle of the entire substation were evaluated, identifying the most impacting. The examination of the “Global warming” category was examined to obtain the actual value of the kg of CO2 emitted during the substation's life time. At the end of the evaluations, a constructive solution was provided that allows a lower incidence on the totality of impact categories studied and with interest in the “Global warming” category.