Initial exploration of Water recreation
product LCA and EVR
Introduction
For the analysis of the environmental impact of water recreation products, the assumed most
polluting product group has been selected: rental motor yachts with cabin, in Friesland.
These products are assumed to be the most polluting within the water recreation system due to its
energy technology, design and use scenario (the use phase for rental (PSS) products is expected to be
much more intensive than for privately owned products).
From a questionnaire handed out in the summer of 2010, we know that the average boat length is
approx. 10 meters in the province of Friesland, which we adopt as the mean boat size in Friesland.
Since around 60% of motor yachts are made from steel for the hull and deck, and wood for the
interior, we focus this LCA on these designs.
Calculation of LCA cradle to gate
First we want to calculate the eco-burden in ecocosts for the production of the actual physical
product. Interviewing renowned naval product designers we have estimated the material use roughly
in order to perform a fast-track LCA.
The results of this fast-track LCA is shown below:
Parts
Main Material
Weight (kg.)
Hull
Idemat2012 Steel beams,
pipes, sheet (from market
mix)
Idemat2012 Steel beams,
pipes, sheet (from market
mix)
Idemat2012 MDF (750
kg/m3)
Idemat2012 GX12Cr14
(CA15)
Idemat2012 Aluminium trade
mix (45% prim 55% sec)
Deck
Interior
Systems
Engine
Propulsion (shaft &
propellor)
Propulsion (shaft &
propellor)
Controls
Battery
2800
Estimated
material loss
during
production
40%
Amount Ecocosts
of raw
material
needed
3920
1400
40%
1960
2500
50%
3750
2759,95
0,704
1379,98
0,704
568,34
0,152
600
20%
720
1058,84
1,471
300
20%
360
764,30
2,123
75
Idemat2012 CuNi44Mn
Idemat2012 X5CrNiMo18
(316)
Idemat2012 Steel beams,
pipes, sheet (from market
mix)
Idemat2012 Lead battery
cars (39 Wh per kg)
ecocosts
per part
10%
82,5
715,32
8,671
75
10%
82,5
246,14
2,983
150
20%
180
100
0%
100
126,73
0,704
65,72
0,657
Total:
7685,32
The results of the fast-track LCA indicate a total of approx. 7700 euro per average rental motor yacht.
Note that it is not the goal of this LCA to precisely calculate the eco-burden of all materials in these
products, but to get a rough idea of the magnitude of the eco-costs for such products.
From interviews with yacht rental agencies we know that the estimated life-cycle of these products is
five years, before being resold. The average fee for 1 week rental is approx. 1% of the price of the
product (rule of thumb of the rental industry). This is confirmed by the fact that a Linssen 34.9 Grand
Sturdy costs approx. € 250.000,-, and rental fees are 2450,- per week in The Netherlands.
(http://www.jachtcharter.com)
(http://www.linssenyachts.com/site_pub/index.php/en/linssen-price-list)
Calculation of LCA gate to gate
The calculation of the use phase of the selected water recreation products is slightly more complex.
First the assumption is made that the gate to gate phase eco-costs are primarily caused by the use of
energy since it is a mobility product, in this case Diesel. The ecocosts of maintenance and repair etc.
are for now discarded since these are expected to have insignificant environmental impacts relative
to the ecocosts of energy-use.
The functional unit is for now set on the use of average rental water recreation products for one
week. Actual sailing: 3 hrs/day totaling 21 hrs. of nominal use per week.
The first information we need is what kind of engine is typically installed in these products (approx.
10 m.). A short web-query showed that the max. power installed in these products is around 75 hp
engines:
www.friesland-boating.nl:
www.holidayboatin.nl:
62 hp. 250 l. €1250,-
4-5 l/h
88 hp. 500 l. €1550,-
5-8l/h
75 hp. 400l.
4-5l/h
€1250,-
However the problem with these products is that these aren’t available new, so there is no accurate
pricing information about these products.
Therefore we focus this part on the Linssen Grand Sturdy 34.9, because these are available for rental
in the Netherlands, and their pricing is known.
Linssen Grand Sturdy 34.9
Length: 10.70 meter
Engine: 75 hp Volvo Penta Diesel
(http://vppneuapps.volvo.com/ww/PIE/ViewFileFrame.aspx?n=195639&r=2008-08-13-10-1605&t=PDF1P&a=7749292&p=T416&d=Product%20Bulletins&s=787196&model=D275&transClassId=9&segmentId=13&lang=en-GB)
Weight: 8500-9000 kg.
Tank: 240 litre
Another assumption concerns the nominal power output, revs/minute and fuel consumption during
normal cruising. The estimation is now set at a fuel consumption of 22 kW/30 hp , at 2200
revs/minute and approx. 7 l./hr. for the use of the Volvo Penta engine on board of rental Linssen
yachts.
These figures will need to be checked against the numbers rental agencies have…:
7 litres/hr. results in a fuel consumption of 5,81 kg. Diesel/hr.
Multiplying this with the functional unit yields a use of 122 kg. Diesel per week.
The ecocosts of 122 kg. of Diesel equal 122 * 1,271 (Idemat2012 Diesel low-sulphur including
combustion) = € 155,- ecocosts per week.
122 kg. Diesel/ 147 litres of Diesel per week = 147 * 1,45 (current price of Diesel) = € 213,If we are to compare this with electric drive systems, that have the same perceived value as the
incumbent Diesel systems, the same power output must be available.
Therefore, we have to calculate the ecocosts and costs of 22 kW of power for 21 hrs./week.
22 * 21 * 1.105 = 510 kWh of electricity = € 127,5 (at a price of 0,25 euro/kWh) (note: 1.105 is for the
motor efficiency, see also http://www.engineeringtoolbox.com/electrical-motor-efficiencyd_655.html
The ecocosts of 510 kWh of electricity is 510 * (Idemat2011 Electricity domestic (UCTE)): 0.105 = €
53.55 * 1.2 = 64.26 ecocosts per week (1.2 is battery efficiency).
Or 510 * (0.0095 + 0.0098)* 1.1 * 1.2= 13 euro per week windmill power + grid
Note: the windpower is 0.0095 (Idemat windpower), the grid is 0.0098 (average grid NL, Ecoinvent low
voltage NL)
Batteries for 1 day = 3 hours: 22.000*3 /39 * 1.2 = 2030 kg * 0.657 = 1334 euro eco-costs, 8120 euro
real price (4 euro per kg).
Note a battery is 39 Wh/kg in Idemat
0r for 1 day = 8 hours: 22.000 * 8 / 39 *1.2 = 5415 kg * 0.657 = 3558 euro eco-costs, 21.660 euro real
price (4 euro per kg)
EVR comparison
Now we have enough estimate information to fill in the EVR diagram (price-based) to compare a Linssen Grand
Sturdy 34.9 Diesel vs. Electric.
€ 232 ecocosts/week
€ 2500/week
€ 2713/week
€ 3000/week
€ 3115/week
€ 77 + ?? ecocosts/week
€ 77 ecocosts/week
€ 121 + ?? ecocosts/week
€ ??/week