MECALO was featured at the SETAC Europe 36th Annual Meeting, held in Maastricht, the Netherlands, from 17 to 21 May 2026. The conference brought together researchers, industry representatives and sustainability experts from around the world to discuss the latest developments in environmental assessment and sustainable innovation.
During the event, David Clousier from the Luxembourg Institute of Science and Technology (LIST) presented the poster entitled “Parametric Life Cycle Assessment: flexible models for complex processes”, showcasing ongoing work within the MECALO project on the development of a flexible sustainability assessment framework.
The presented research focuses on the application of parametric Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) to the production of metallurgical-grade silicon. Unlike conventional LCA studies, the proposed approach allows key process parameters to be modified dynamically, enabling the evaluation of multiple scenarios and a deeper understanding of how process choices affect environmental performance.
The framework integrates process modelling, automated data handling, contribution analysis and visualisation tools to support sustainability assessments of complex industrial systems. Several parameters can be explored, including process yield, carbon source utilisation, electricity mix and carbon capture and storage (CCS).
The results presented at SETAC highlighted several important findings. The carbothermic reduction step was identified as the main contributor to greenhouse gas emissions within the analysed production route. The study also demonstrated the significant influence of electricity sourcing on climate impacts, with regional electricity mixes leading to substantial variations in environmental performance. Furthermore, the analysis showed how improvements in process efficiency and the implementation of CCS technologies could contribute to reducing overall emissions.
An important outcome of this work is the development of an interactive web-based application that enables MECALO partners to explore different process configurations and assess the environmental consequences of design choices through scenario analysis.
The presentation generated valuable discussions on the role of flexible LCA tools in supporting industrial decarbonisation and sustainable process design. The work contributes to MECALO’s broader objective of developing innovative pathways for low-carbon silicon production and providing robust decision-support tools for future industrial implementation.
We thank David Clousier and the co-authors of the poster, Thomas Gibon and Enrico Bentto (LIST), Peter Hinderink and Gustavo Quillo (PDC), and Mari Voldsund (Elkem), for representing MECALO at SETAC Europe 2026 and for sharing the project’s progress with the international sustainability assessment community.