Sustainability assessment of products - Case study of wind turbine generator types

This study proposes a product sustainability assessment tool (PSAT) that addresses the environmental, health and safety, social, economic aspects from life cycle perspective. The proposed PSAT uses principles of Green Chemistry, Industrial Ecology, Engineering as guidelines in development its criteria. developed criteria are expressed easy-to-answer questions covering safety sustainability. also incorporates impact categories Circular Economy approach. comprises an Excel checklist questionnaire with drop-down list answers to select describing assessed product. serves highlight hotspots product's cycle. consists qualitative quantitative contains total 97 questions, out which there 11 design 22 materials selection 31 manufacturing 24 use 9 end-of-life questions. scoring system enables users compare performance their products. aims aid making informed decisions before purchasing based on information how is designed what it contains, was manufactured, will perform during use, happen at end useful life. It manufacturers designers incorporating into all stages methodology promotes holistic view cycle, including design, selection, manufacturing, stage. As case study, used comparative two types 3 MW rated power wind turbines: direct-drive permanent magnet synchronous generator (PMSG) doubly-fed induction gearbox (DFIG). results reveal DFIG turbine had better than PMSG stages. On other hand, use. Overall, demonstrated PMSG.