Decarbonized electricity systems to drive metal demand and urban sprawl
The Environmental Assessment Framework for Energy System Analysis (EAFESA) combines life cycle assessment and energy systems models to evaluate the environmental impacts of energy scenarios. By applying EAFESA to analyze potential future European electricity systems, researchers found that a decarbonized system will lead to increased metal demand and urban land occupation. This integrated approach helps identify non-climate environmental impacts and highlights the importance of considering both life cycle and energy systems perspectives when planning for a sustainable energy future.