LOFAR Carbon Footprint and Energy Consumption

The LOw Frequency ARray (LOFAR) is a European radio telescope operating since 2010 in the frequency bands 10 - 80 MHz and 110 - 250 MHz. This Excel model provides an analysis of the energy consumption and the carbon footprint of LOFAR. The analysis uses a Life Cycle Analysis following the Green House Gas protocol. Results include the footprint stemming from operations of all LOFAR stations and central processing. The impact of a number of typical science projects is analyzed as well. This model provides a transparent baseline to the sustainability of LOFAR and can serve as a blueprint for the analysis of other research infrastructures.

低频阵列（Low Frequency ARray，缩写LOFAR）是一台自2010年起投入运行的欧洲射电望远镜，工作频段覆盖10 MHz至80 MHz以及110 MHz至250 MHz。本Excel模型可用于分析LOFAR的能源消耗与碳足迹。本次分析遵循《温室气体议定书》开展全生命周期评估，分析结果涵盖LOFAR所有基站与中央处理系统运行阶段产生的碳足迹，同时还对多项典型科学项目的环境影响进行了分析。本模型可为LOFAR的可持续性评估提供透明的基准依据，亦可作为其他科研基础设施开展同类分析的参考范本。