Energy and environmental aspects of distributed generation and electric-vehicle integration from a LCA perspective. A case study in Mendoza, Argentina

The energy sector is moving from a rigid, concentrated system towards a flexible, decentralized one enabling the exchange of energy between many actors. Distributed renewable energy generation is a key player in this new system, offering many advantages, but their intermittent character and the lack of synchronicity between demand and supply introduce new challenges to the utilities. Storage systems could help mitigating these negative issues, but they require additional costs, and incorporate new environmental problems. Another key player in the new energy sector will be represented by the growing number of electric vehicles which are populating the urban space, which will challenge the system trying to charge their batteries. However, these vehicles will remain idle most of the time, thus offering an opportunity to electricity storage on their underutilized batteries. In this paper the environmental consequences of distributed FV generation and storage in electric vehicles in Argentina are explored, following a life cycle perspective. Results show that the Vehicle-to-Grid and Grid-for-Vehicle management strategies will play an important role on demand curve peak-shaving. The scenarios analysis show that the transition to the electric vehicle alone does not ensure lower emissions, if advances in the electricity decarbonization are not accomplished.