René Itten

Position at the ZHAW

Research Associate
Research Group Life Cycle Assessment

www.zhaw.ch/iunr/lca

Expertise and research interests

Life Cycle Assessment, LCA, photovoltaics, electricity production and transmission, Environmental Product Declaration, EPD

Educational background

2008-2010 MSc. in Environmental Engineering ETH Zürich
2005-2008 BSc. in Environmental Engineering ETH Zürich

Professional milestones

2012-2014 Project Manager Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) at treeze Ltd.
2010-2012 Project Manager Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) at ESU-serviced Ltd.

• Extending the lifespan of mobile devices / Team member / 01.06.2019
• Assessment of mineral oil tax relief for synthetic fuels from biological methanation / Deputy project leader / 03.09.2018
• Validation of crude and mineral oil life cycle inventory datasets / Deputy project leader / 09.07.2018
• Regionalised Agricultural Life Cycle Assessment / Project leader / 30.06.2018
• H2020: SHAREBOX / Team member / 01.09.2015
• EAT-IT / Team member / 01.07.2015
• PV2050: Sustainability, market deployment and interaction to the grid – the impacts of advanced PV / Team member / 01.12.2014
• ProPAT / Team member / 01.01.2014

Articles in scientific journal, peer-reviewed

• Itten, René; Stucki, Matthias,

  2017.

  Highly efficient 3rd generation multi-junction solar cells using silicon heterojunction and perovskite tandem : prospective life cycle environmental impacts.

  Energies.

  10(7),

  pp. 1-18.

  Available from: https://doi.org/10.21256/zhaw-1314

• Kuroda, Keisuke; Itten, René; Kovalova, Lubomira; Ort, Christoph; Weissbrodt, David G.; McArdell, Christa S.,

  2016.

  Hospital-use pharmaceuticals in Swiss waters modeled at high spatial resolution.

  Environmental science & technology.

  50(9),

  pp. 4742-4751.

  Available from: https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.est.6b00653

Conference contributions, peer-reviewed

• Jaisli, Isabel; Bättig-Frey, Petra; Itten, René; Stucki, Matthias,

  2018.

  Scientainment for sustainability : the eco-confessional as new approach for awareness raising [poster].

  In:

  1st Life Cycle Innovation Conference (LCIC), Berlin, 29.-31. August 2018.

• Keller, Regula; Itten, René; Stucki, Matthias,

  2018.

  Environmental benefits of a circular economy : connecting waste type and geographic proximity [poster].

  In:

  UNEP SETAC Europe 28th annual meeting, Rome, Italy, 13-17 May 2018.

  ZHAW Zürcher Hochschule für Angewandte Wissenschaften.

  Available from: https://doi.org/10.21256/zhaw-5015

• Stucki, Matthias; Keller, Regula; Itten, René; Eymann, Lea,

  2018.

  Filling the Gap of Overfishing in LCIA: Eco-factors for Global Fish Resources [poster].

  In:

  UNEP SETAC Europe 28th annual meeting, Rome, Italy, 13-17 May 2018.

  ZHAW Zürcher Hochschule für Angewandte Wissenschaften.

  Available from: https://doi.org/10.21256/zhaw-5017

• Frischknecht, Rolf; Bauer, Christian; Bucher, Christof; Ager-Wick Ellingsen, Linda; Gutzwiller, Lukas; Heimbach, Britta; Itten, René; Liao, Xun; Panos, Evangelos; Pfister, Stephan; Schmidt, Tobias; Stahel, Valentin; Stolz, Philippe; Toggweiler, Peter; Treyer, Karin; Villeneuve, Jacques; Wade, Andreas; Weil, Marcel,

  2018.

  LCA of key technologies for future electricity supply : 68th LCA forum, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology, Zurich, 16 April, 2018 [paper].

  In:

  68th LCA forum, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology, Zürich, 16. April 2018.

  Heidelberg:

  Springer.

  pp. 1716-1721.

  Available from: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11367-018-1496-y

• Stucki, Matthias; Itten, René,

  2017.

  High efficient 3rd generation multi-junction solar cells using silicon heterojunction and perovskite technology : life cycle based environmental impacts [poster].

  In:

  Life Cycle Management 2017, Luxembourg, 3.-6. September 2017.

  ZHAW Zürcher Hochschule für Angewandte Wissenschaften.

  Available from: https://doi.org/10.21256/zhaw-4833

• Itten, René; Stucki, Matthias; Steinegger, Tobias,

  2017.

  Wooden mounting systems : how to reduce environmental impacts of building integrated photovoltaic power plants [poster].

  In:

  Life Cycle Management 2017, Luxembourg, 3-6 September 2017.

• Frischknecht, Rolf; Bauer, Christian; Froemelt, Andreas; Hellweg, Stefanie; Biemann, Kirsten; Buetler, Thomas; Cox, Brian; de Haan, Peter; Hoerl, Sebastian; Itten, René; Jungbluth, Niels; Ligen, Yorick; Mathys, Nicole A.; Schiess, Samuel; Schori, Salome; van Loon, Patricia; Wang, Jing; Wettstein, Sarah,

  2017.

  LCA of mobility solutions: approaches and findings : 66th LCA forum, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology, Zurich, 30 August, 2017 [paper].

  In:

  66th LCA forum, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology, Zürich, 30. August 2017.

  Heidelberg:

  Springer.

  pp. 381-386.

  Available from: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11367-017-1429-1

• Koller, Christoph; Stucki, Matthias; Mathez, Stephan A.; Itten, René; Frei, Sabine,

  2016.

  Carbon footprint of a PV/T liquid collector [paper].

  In:

  26. Symposium Thermische Solarenergie : 20. bis 22. April 2016, Kloster Banz, Bad Staffelstein.

  26. Symposium Thermische Solarenergie, Bad Staffelstein, Deutschland, 20.-22. April 2016.

  Bad Staffelstein:

  Ostbayerisches Technologie-Transfer-Institut e. V. (OTTI).

Other publications

• Stucki, Matthias; Itten, René,

  2018.

  Power-to-Gas für den Klimaschutz : wie umweltfreundlich ist synthetisches Methan?.

  Aqua & Gas.

  9,

  pp. 15-19.

• Frischknecht, Rolf; Itten, René; Wyss, Franziska; Blanc, Isabelle; Heath, Garvin; Raugei, Marco; Sinha, Parikhit; Wade, Andreas;

  2015.

  Life cycle assessment of future photovoltaic electricity production from residential-scale systems operated in Europe.

  St. Ursen, Switzerland:

  International Energy Agency Photovoltaic Power Systems Programme (IEA-PVPS).

  ISBN 978-3-906042-30-5.

  Available from: http://iea-pvps.org/index.php?id=314&eID=dam_frontend_push&docID=2391

• Frischknecht, Rolf; Itten, René; Sinha, Parikhit; de Wild-Scholten, Mariska; Zhang, Jia; Fthenakis, Vasilis; Kim, Hyung Chul; Raugei, Marco; Stucki, Matthias,

  2015.

  Life cycle inventories and life cycle assessment of photovoltaic systems.

  International Energy Agency (IEA) PVPS Task 12.

  ISBN 978-3-906042-28-2.

  Available from: http://www.iea-pvps.org/fileadmin/dam/public/report/technical/IEA-PVPS_Task_12_LCI_LCA.pdf

Oral conference contributions and abstracts

• Stahel, Valentin; Itten, René; Stucki, Matthias,

  2018.

  Integration of photovoltaic power plants into the grid : life cycle environmental impacts of infrastructure adaptations for photovoltaic electricity.

  In:

  35th European Photovoltaic Solar Energy Conference and Exhibition, Brussels, Belgium, 28. September 2018.

  Available from: https://www.eupvsec-proceedings.com/proceedings/dvd.html

• Itten, René; Keller, Regula; Stucki, Matthias,

  2018.

  The Generation Z and the environmental impact of their digital media behaviour.

  In:

  1st Life Cycle Innovation Conference (LCIC), Berlin, 29.-31. August 2018.

• Itten, René; Stucki, Matthias,

  2018.

  Transformation of waste to resources : life cycle based benefits of the circular economy.

  In:

  1st Life Cycle Innovation Conference (LCIC), Berlin, 29.-31. August 2018.

• Itten, René; Stucki, Matthias,

  2018.

  Highly efficient multi-junction solar cells using silicon heterojunction and perovskite tandem : prospective life cycle environmental impacts.

  In:

  68th LCA Discussion Forum on Life Cycle Assessment DF 68, Zürich, 16. April 2018.

  Available from: http://www.lcaforum.ch/portals/0/df68/DF68-12_Itten.pdf

• Wettstein, Sarah; Itten, René; Stucki, Matthias,

  2017.

  Environmental impacts of the CO2 methanation value chain : implications on mobility with passenger cars.

  In:

  66th Discussion Forum: LCA of mobility solutions: Approaches and findings, Zürich, 30. August 2017.

  Available from: http://www.lcaforum.ch/portals/0/df66/DF66-13_Itten.pdf

• Itten, René,

  2016.

  Industrial symbiosis and LCA.

  In:

  63rd LCA Discussion Forum: How can LCA support the Circular Economy?, Zurich, 30 November 2016.

Publications before appointment at the ZHAW

PUBLIKATIONEN (non peer-reviewed) / BERICHTE

Frischknecht R., Nathani C., Stolz P., Wyss F. and Itten R. (2015) Extension of a Disaggregated Input-Output Table with Environmental Data for the Year 2008. treeze Ltd / Rütter Soceco AG, commissioned by the Swiss Federal Office for the Environment (FOEN), Uster / Rüschlikon.

Frischknecht R., Nathani C., Büsser Knöpfel S., Itten R., Wyss F. and Hellmüller P. (2014) Entwicklung der weltweiten Umweltauswirkungen der Schweiz; Umweltauswirkungen von Konsum und Produktion von 1996 bis 2011. treeze Ltd / Rütter Soceco AG, commissioned by the Swiss Federal Office for the Environment (FOEN), Uster / Rüschlikon.

Frischknecht R., Nathani C., Büsser Knöpfel S., Itten R., Wyss F. and Hellmüller P. (2014) Technischer Bericht Gesamtumweltbelastung Schweiz. treeze Ltd / Rütter Soceco AG, commissioned by the Swiss Federal Office for the Environment (FOEN), Uster / Rüschlikon.

Frischknecht R. and Itten R. (2014) PEFCR photovoltaic electricity generation. treeze Ltd. commissioned by Technical Secretariat PEF Pilot "Photovoltaic Electricity Generation", Uster, Switzerland.

Frischknecht R. and Itten R. (2014) Comparison of different guidelines and PCRs related to photovoltaic electricity production. treeze Ltd. commissioned by Technical Secretariat PEF Pilot "Photovoltaic Electricity Generation", Uster, Switzerland.

Itten R., Wyss F. and Frischknecht R. (2014) LCI of the global crystalline photovoltaics supply chain and of future photovoltaics electricity production. treeze Ltd., Uster, Switzerland.

Itten R., Frischknecht R. and Stucki M. (2014) Life Cycle Inventories of Electricity Mixes and Grid, Version 1.3. treeze Ltd., Uster, Switzerland, retrieved from: www.treeze.ch.

Itten R. and Frischknecht R. (2014) Primärenergiefaktoren von Energiesystemen, Version 2.2+, Stand April 2014. Im Auftrag des Bundesamt für Umwelt BAFU und der Koordinationskonferenz der Bau- und Liegenschaftsorgane der öffentlichen Bauherren KBOB, Uster, CH, retrieved from: www.treeze.ch.

Wyss F., Frischknecht R., Itten R., Pfäffli K. and John V. (2014) Richtwert Gesamtumweltbelastung Gebäude - Entwurf. Bundesamt für Energie, BfE Bundesamt für Umwelt BAFU Amt für Hochbauten Stadt Zürich AHB.

Wyss F., Frischknecht R. and Itten R. (2014) Hintergrundbericht zur Aktualisierung der Materialdaten der KBOB-Liste, v2.2+ Stand 2014. Bundesamt für Umwelt BAFU, Koordinationskonferenz der Bau- und Liegenschaftsorgane der öffentlichen Bauherren KBOB

Frischknecht R., Büsser Knöpfel S. and Itten R. (2013) Indicators on Global Environmental Impacts Related to Domestic Consumption. treeze Ltd., Uster, CH.

Frischknecht R., Stucki M., Flury K. and Itten R. (2013) Life cycle assessment of amorphous and micromorphous PV modules. In proceedings from: EU PVSEC, Paris, retrieved from: www.photovoltaic-conference.com.

Itten R. and Frischknecht R. (2013) Externe Kosten von Energiesystemen gemäss ECOPLAN. treeze Ltd., Uster, CH

Frischknecht R. and Itten R. (2012) Book, trade and claim systems in LCA: how to model certificates delinked from physical flows. In: SETAC Europe 22nd Annual Meeting, May 20-24, 2012. Society for Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry SETAC, Berlin, Germany.

Itten R., Frischknecht R. and Stucki M. (2012) Life Cycle Inventories of Electricity Mixes and Grid. ESU-services Ltd., Uster, Switzerland, retrieved from: www.esu-services.ch.

Jungbluth N. and Itten R. (2012) Umweltbelastungen des Konsums in der Schweiz und in der Stadt Zürich: Grundlagendaten und Reduktionspotenziale, . Energieforschung der Stadt Zürich, Bericht Nr. 8, Forschungsprojekt FP-1.1, Zürich.

Jungbluth N., Itten R. and Stucki M. (2012) Umweltbelastungen des privaten Konsums und Reduktionspotenziale. ESU-services Ltd. im Auftrag des BAFU, Uster, CH, retrieved from: www.esu-services.ch/projects/lifestyle/.

Jungbluth N., Itten R. and Schori S. (2012) Environmental impacts of food consumption and its reduction potentials. In proceedings from: 8th International Conference on LCA in the Agri-Food Sector, Rennes, France, 2-4 October 2012, retrieved from: colloque4.inra.fr/lcafood2012.

Flury K., Frischknecht R. and Itten R. (2012) Life cycle assessment of Oerlikon Solar mC-Si solar modules. treeze Ltd., Uster.

Stucki M., Schori S., Itten R. and Jungbluth N. (2012) Aus Umweltsicht prioritäre Produkte in der Schweiz. ESU-services GmbH, Uster, im Auftrag des Bundesamtes für Umwelt (BAFU) (unpublished), Uster, CH.

Frischknecht R., Stucki M. and Itten R. (2011) Primärenergiefaktoren von Transportsystemen, Version 2.2. im Auftrag des Bundesamtes für Energie BfE, ESU-services Ltd., Uster, CH, retrieved from: www.esu-services.ch/publications/energy/.

Frischknecht R. and Itten R. (2011) Primärenergiefaktoren von Energiesystemen, Version 2.2. im Auftrag des Bundesamtes für Energie BfE, ESU-services Ltd., Uster, CH, retrieved from: www.esu-services.ch/publications/energy/.

Itten R., Jungbluth N. and Stucki M. (2011) Life Cycle Assessment of Burning Different Solid Biomass Substrates. im Auftrag des Bundesamtes für Energie BfE, ESU-services Ltd., Uster, retrieved from: www.esu-services.ch/publications/energy/.

Stucki M., Büsser S., Itten R., Frischknecht R. and Wallbaum H. (2011) Comparative Life Cycle Assessment of Geosynthetics versus Conventional Construction Material. ESU-services Ltd. commissioned by European Association for Geosynthetic Manufacturers (EAGM), Uster and Zürich, CH.

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