Production of required thermal energy to heat residential buildings is a considerable issue in energy studies. Kabul city is a city in which the coal-fired central heating systems for providing the mentioned energy is in expansion process. And, coal as feeding source of these systems with generation of carbon dioxide (CO2) is the main cause of greenhouse gases (GHGs) emissions in winter. Fortunately, Kabul city has maximum solar radiation in summer warm season which can be used for fulfilling of this demand in winter cold season. The method which can perform this task is the central heating by seasonal sensible heat storage of solar thermal energy. But, the economic and environmental feasibility and viability of this method is a discussable issue. In this study, the central heating by seasonal sensible heat storage of solar thermal energy and its economic and environmental feasibility and viability is studied. It is tried that this system is compared in a logical method with current coal-fired systems. The economic feasibility study is accomplished by comparison of initial or capital cost and annual operation and maintenance cost with the usage of existing data and thermodynamic analytic methods. The environmental viability study is accomplished by comparison of annual emissions of CO2 with the usage of online emissions calculator. Unfortunately, it is found that seasonal sensible heat storage of solar thermal energy is not an economically feasible method for central heating due to its high initial cost and cannot be used in an economically beneficial manner for central heating. But fortunately, it is an environmentally viable method and environmentally friendly way due to its no and/or zero CO2 emissions. To sum up, it is suggested that, this method should be used for district heating which can make this system economically feasible.
Daily forecast of solar thermal energy production for heat storage management