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Environmental Impact and Material Demand of Direct Current-Based Grid and Charging Infrastructures in Large-Scale Future Applications.

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Title: Environmental Impact and Material Demand of Direct Current-Based Grid and Charging Infrastructures in Large-Scale Future Applications.
Authors: Daun, Philipp1 (AUTHOR), Elsobki, Menna1 (AUTHOR), Litzenberger, Thiemo1 (AUTHOR), Praktiknjo, Aaron1 (AUTHOR) apraktiknjo@eonerc.rwth-aachen.de
Source: Energies (19961073). Apr2026, Vol. 19 Issue 7, p1595. 34p.
Subject Terms: *Environmental impact analysis, *Electric power distribution grids, *Copper prices, *Infrastructure (Economics), *Product life cycle assessment, *Global warming, *Electrification
Geographic Terms: Germany
Abstract: The electrification of mobility increases the need for efficient local distribution and charging infrastructures. In this context, direct current (DC) architectures may reduce conversion stages, transmission losses, and material demand compared with alternating current (AC) systems. This study aims to quantify the environmental implications of AC- and DC-based grid and charging infrastructures for large-scale rollout in Germany. For this purpose, a dynamic life-cycle assessment (DLCA) is conducted for parking garages, parcel centers, and delivery bases over the period 2023–2045, covering the production and use phases with respect to global warming potential (GWP) and material demand. The results show that DC configurations achieve lower total GWP across all application contexts investigated. For parking garages, DC reduces total GWP by 9.3% compared with AC, while for parcel logistics facilities the reduction amounts to 5.7%. Copper is identified as the dominant material driver, and DC reduces copper demand by 17.1–58.7% depending on the application. A screening-based supply-risk assessment further indicates the elevated relevance of copper due to rising demand and Germany's import dependence. Overall, the findings provide quantitative evidence that DC-based infrastructures can reduce both environmental impacts and copper demand in large-scale charging infrastructure deployment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
Database: Energy & Power Source
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  Availability: 1
Header DbId: enr
DbLabel: Energy & Power Source
An: 192958999
AccessLevel: 6
PubType: Academic Journal
PubTypeId: academicJournal
PreciseRelevancyScore: 0
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  Data: Environmental Impact and Material Demand of Direct Current-Based Grid and Charging Infrastructures in Large-Scale Future Applications.
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="JN" term="%22Energies+%2819961073%29%22">Energies (19961073)</searchLink>. Apr2026, Vol. 19 Issue 7, p1595. 34p.
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  Data: *<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Environmental+impact+analysis%22">Environmental impact analysis</searchLink><br />*<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Electric+power+distribution+grids%22">Electric power distribution grids</searchLink><br />*<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Copper+prices%22">Copper prices</searchLink><br />*<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Infrastructure+%28Economics%29%22">Infrastructure (Economics)</searchLink><br />*<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Product+life+cycle+assessment%22">Product life cycle assessment</searchLink><br />*<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Global+warming%22">Global warming</searchLink><br />*<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Electrification%22">Electrification</searchLink>
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Germany%22">Germany</searchLink>
– Name: Abstract
  Label: Abstract
  Group: Ab
  Data: The electrification of mobility increases the need for efficient local distribution and charging infrastructures. In this context, direct current (DC) architectures may reduce conversion stages, transmission losses, and material demand compared with alternating current (AC) systems. This study aims to quantify the environmental implications of AC- and DC-based grid and charging infrastructures for large-scale rollout in Germany. For this purpose, a dynamic life-cycle assessment (DLCA) is conducted for parking garages, parcel centers, and delivery bases over the period 2023–2045, covering the production and use phases with respect to global warming potential (GWP) and material demand. The results show that DC configurations achieve lower total GWP across all application contexts investigated. For parking garages, DC reduces total GWP by 9.3% compared with AC, while for parcel logistics facilities the reduction amounts to 5.7%. Copper is identified as the dominant material driver, and DC reduces copper demand by 17.1–58.7% depending on the application. A screening-based supply-risk assessment further indicates the elevated relevance of copper due to rising demand and Germany's import dependence. Overall, the findings provide quantitative evidence that DC-based infrastructures can reduce both environmental impacts and copper demand in large-scale charging infrastructure deployment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
PLink https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=enr&AN=192958999
RecordInfo BibRecord:
  BibEntity:
    Identifiers:
      – Type: doi
        Value: 10.3390/en19071595
    Languages:
      – Code: eng
        Text: English
    PhysicalDescription:
      Pagination:
        PageCount: 34
        StartPage: 1595
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      – SubjectFull: Environmental impact analysis
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Electric power distribution grids
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Copper prices
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Infrastructure (Economics)
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Product life cycle assessment
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Global warming
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Electrification
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Germany
        Type: general
    Titles:
      – TitleFull: Environmental Impact and Material Demand of Direct Current-Based Grid and Charging Infrastructures in Large-Scale Future Applications.
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            NameFull: Daun, Philipp
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            NameFull: Elsobki, Menna
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            NameFull: Litzenberger, Thiemo
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            NameFull: Praktiknjo, Aaron
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            – D: 01
              M: 04
              Text: Apr2026
              Type: published
              Y: 2026
          Identifiers:
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              Value: 19961073
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              Value: 19
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              Value: 7
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            – TitleFull: Energies (19961073)
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