Environmental Sustainability Assessment of Refurbished Turbomachines: Methodological Approach and Application to an Aeroderivative Gas Turbine’s Cartridge

The remanufacturing process is critical to facilitate the transition to a circular economy by extending the life cycle of products through the regeneration of their components. This approach aligns with the core principles of Design for Life Extension, which emphasize environmental sustainability by enabling reusing products, reducing waste generation and minimizing the need to extract and process virgin raw materials. By closing the product life cycle loop, remanufacturing significantly contributes to resource conservation and environmental impact reduction, offering a viable solution for industries seeking to adopt more sustainable practices. In this paper, a comprehensive analysis of the environmental impacts associated with the remanufacturing process of the HSPT G4 gas turbine manufactured by Baker Hughes has been conducted. The study employs the structured framework of the Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) methodology, following the guidelines outlined in ISO 14040 and ISO 14044 standards. These standards ensure a rigorous, transparent, scientifically validated environmental performance assessment throughout remanufacturing. To quantify the environmental benefits, particularly carbon dioxide (CO2) equivalent emission savings, a comparative analysis has been carried out between the production of a newly manufactured turbomachinery and its remanufactured alternative, assuming that the remanufacturing operations are done in accordance with the manufacturer quality standard. This comparison adopts a strategic functional unit that effectively captures the relationship between manufacturing and remanufacturing processes, ensuring a consistent basis for environmental evaluation. By focusing on emissions, resource use, and overall environmental performance, the study highlights the potential of remanufacturing to significantly reduce the carbon footprint of industrial equipment while simultaneously supporting sustainable development objectives. The findings of this research underscore the importance of integrating remanufacturing strategies into the product life cycle, particularly in industries characterized by high energy consumption and resource demand, such as turbomachinery production. Adopting remanufacturing processes delivers tangible environmental benefits up to 40% and aligns with broader circular economy goals, positioning remanufacturing as a key enabler of sustainable industrial practices.