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Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) of an Innovative Compact Hybrid Electrical-Thermal Storage System for Residential Buildings in Mediterranean Climate

Author

Listed:
  • Gabriel Zsembinszki

    (GREiA Research Group, Universitat de Lleida, Pere de Cabrera s/n, 25001 Lleida, Spain)

  • Noelia Llantoy

    (GREiA Research Group, Universitat de Lleida, Pere de Cabrera s/n, 25001 Lleida, Spain)

  • Valeria Palomba

    (Institute for Advanced Energy Technologies (CNR ITAE), National Council or Research Italy, Salita S. Lucia Sopra Contesse 5, 98126 Messina, Italy)

  • Andrea Frazzica

    (Institute for Advanced Energy Technologies (CNR ITAE), National Council or Research Italy, Salita S. Lucia Sopra Contesse 5, 98126 Messina, Italy)

  • Mattia Dallapiccola

    (Institute for Renewable Energy, Eurac Research, Viale Druso 1, 39100 Bolzano, Italy)

  • Federico Trentin

    (Institute for Renewable Energy, Eurac Research, Viale Druso 1, 39100 Bolzano, Italy)

  • Luisa F. Cabeza

    (GREiA Research Group, Universitat de Lleida, Pere de Cabrera s/n, 25001 Lleida, Spain)

Abstract

The buildings sector is one of the least sustainable activities in the world, accounting for around 40% of the total global energy demand. With the aim to reduce the environmental impact of this sector, the use of renewable energy sources coupled with energy storage systems in buildings has been investigated in recent years. Innovative solutions for cooling, heating, and domestic hot water in buildings can contribute to the buildings’ decarbonization by achieving a reduction of building electrical consumption needed to keep comfortable conditions. However, the environmental impact of a new system is not only related to its electrical consumption from the grid, but also to the environmental load produced in the manufacturing and disposal stages of system components. This study investigates the environmental impact of an innovative system proposed for residential buildings in Mediterranean climate through a life cycle assessment. The results show that, due to the complexity of the system, the manufacturing and disposal stages have a high environmental impact, which is not compensated by the reduction of the impact during the operational stage. A parametric study was also performed to investigate the effect of the design of the storage system on the overall system impact.

Suggested Citation

  • Gabriel Zsembinszki & Noelia Llantoy & Valeria Palomba & Andrea Frazzica & Mattia Dallapiccola & Federico Trentin & Luisa F. Cabeza, 2021. "Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) of an Innovative Compact Hybrid Electrical-Thermal Storage System for Residential Buildings in Mediterranean Climate," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(9), pages 1-22, May.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:13:y:2021:i:9:p:5322-:d:551651
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    References listed on IDEAS

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