NE2AP – PRIN 2022 Project

Toward Net-zero infrastructure: advancing the Environmental and Economic Appraisal of Power plants

International debates increasingly focus on climate change and infrastructure development. At COP26, participants pledged to address climate change as a priority. Investments in energy infrastructure—especially power plants—are key: (1) they enable the transition to net zero, particularly as electricity replaces fossil fuels in many sectors; (2) building low-carbon plants (wind, solar, nuclear) demands far more resources than traditional ones. 
This is critical for Italy, given its energy and materials dependency, highlighted by recent geopolitical crises. A full life cycle perspective is therefore essential. This project will advance Life Cycle Assessment by addressing key weaknesses: technological uncertainty, mismatched input–output timescales, varying degrees of freedom depending on life cycle lengths, and weak integration of economic models for policymakers and industry.