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Domestic solar thermal water heating: A sustainable option for the UK?

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  • Greening, Benjamin
  • Azapagic, Adisa

Abstract

This paper considers life cycle environmental sustainability of solar water heating systems in regions with low solar irradiation, such as the UK. The results suggest that flat plate collectors have slightly lower environmental impacts than evacuated tube designs. Reducing the current energy losses of 65%–45% would reduce the impacts by around 35%. Compared to a gas boiler, solar thermal systems are a better option for only five out of 11 environmental impacts considered, with global warming and depletion of fossil resources being lower by 88% and 83%, respectively. Other impacts such as human and eco-toxicity are up to 85% higher. The solar systems score better relative to electrical water heating for eight out of 11 impacts. They are also environmentally more sustainable than heat pumps for seven categories. However, their potential is hampered because they need a back-up heating system, typically gas boiler. For this reason as well as due to a lack of suitable locations and poor efficiency, the potential of solar thermal systems to contribute to a more sustainable domestic energy supply in the UK is limited.

Suggested Citation

  • Greening, Benjamin & Azapagic, Adisa, 2014. "Domestic solar thermal water heating: A sustainable option for the UK?," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 63(C), pages 23-36.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:renene:v:63:y:2014:i:c:p:23-36
    DOI: 10.1016/j.renene.2013.07.048
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    4. Lamnatou, Chr. & Chemisana, D. & Mateus, R. & Almeida, M.G. & Silva, S.M., 2015. "Review and perspectives on Life Cycle Analysis of solar technologies with emphasis on building-integrated solar thermal systems," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 75(C), pages 833-846.
    5. Lamnatou, Chr. & Cristofari, C. & Chemisana, D. & Canaletti, J.L., 2016. "Building-integrated solar thermal systems based on vacuum-tube technology: Critical factors focusing on life-cycle environmental profile," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 65(C), pages 1199-1215.
    6. Zempila, Melina-Maria & Giannaros, Theodore M. & Bais, Alkiviadis & Melas, Dimitris & Kazantzidis, Andreas, 2016. "Evaluation of WRF shortwave radiation parameterizations in predicting Global Horizontal Irradiance in Greece," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 86(C), pages 831-840.
    7. Chinese, D. & Orrù, P.F. & Meneghetti, A. & Cortella, G. & Giordano, L. & Benedetti, M., 2022. "Symbiotic and optimized energy supply for decarbonizing cheese production: An Italian case study," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 257(C).
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    10. Hussein, Ahmed Kadhim, 2016. "Applications of nanotechnology to improve the performance of solar collectors – Recent advances and overview," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 62(C), pages 767-792.
    11. Sowmy, Daniel Setrak & Schiavon Ara, Paulo José & Prado, Racine T.A., 2017. "Uncertainties associated with solar collector efficiency test using an artificial solar simulator," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 108(C), pages 644-651.
    12. García, José Luis & Porras-Prieto, Carlos Javier & Benavente, Rosa María & Gómez-Villarino, María Teresa & Mazarrón, Fernando R., 2019. "Profitability of a solar water heating system with evacuated tube collector in the meat industry," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 131(C), pages 966-976.
    13. Lamnatou, Chr. & Mondol, J.D. & Chemisana, D. & Maurer, C., 2015. "Modelling and simulation of Building-Integrated solar thermal systems: Behaviour of the coupled building/system configuration," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 48(C), pages 178-191.
    14. Carlos J. Porras-Prieto & Susana Benedicto-Schönemann & Fernando R. Mazarrón & Rosa M. Benavente, 2016. "Profitability Variations of a Solar System with an Evacuated Tube Collector According to Schedules and Frequency of Hot Water Demand," Energies, MDPI, vol. 9(12), pages 1-15, December.

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