Are district heating systems and renewable energy sources always an environmental win-win solution? A life cycle assessment case study in Tuscany, Italy

2017 ◽  
Vol 80 ◽  
pp. 408-420 ◽  
Author(s):  
Irene Bartolozzi ◽  
Francesco Rizzi ◽  
Marco Frey
Keyword(s):  
Life Cycle Assessment ◽  
Renewable Energy ◽  
Life Cycle ◽  
Renewable Energy Sources ◽  
District Heating ◽  
Energy Sources ◽  
Heating Systems ◽  
District Heating Systems

scholarly journals Hybrid solar-biomass system for district heating

2019 ◽  
Vol 85 ◽  
pp. 04006
Author(s):  
Adrian Ilie ◽  
Ion Vişa
Keyword(s):  
Renewable Energy ◽  
Thermal Energy ◽  
Renewable Energy Sources ◽  
District Heating ◽  
Point Of View ◽  
Hot Water ◽  
Energy Sources ◽  
District Heating System ◽  
Heating Systems ◽  
District Heating Systems

The energy used in the built-up environment represents at least 40% of the total energy consumed, out of which, at least 60% is required for heating, cooling and domestic hot water (DHW). Within the European Union, more than 6,000 communities (i.e. over 9%) use district heating systems, the majority of which use the conversion of fossil fuels as a source of energy. This aspect, which is corroborated by the directives of the EU legislation on the use of renewable energy sources and energy performance, imposes the development of new solutions through which the existing district heating systems may be adapted to use renewable energy sources. The solar-thermal systems that are used on a large (district) scale are becoming more and more efficient from the point of view of their feasibility; however, it is almost impossible to create systems that should satisfy the thermal energy demand throughout the four seasons of the year. The hybrid solar-biomass system is becoming the applicable solution for the majority of the communities that have from this potential, since it can secure independence from the point of view of the use of thermal energy. This paper presents the design stages for the implementation of the hybrid solar-biomass systems with a view to identifying the optimal solutions for systems to be integrated into an existing district heating system. A case study (Taberei District in Odorheiu Secuiesc City), which provides a detailed description of the feasible technical solutions, is presented.

Life Cycle Assessment of District Heating Systems in Europe: Case Study and Recommendations

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (20) ◽  
pp. 11256
Author(s):  
Camille Jeandaux ◽  
Jean-Baptiste Videau ◽  
Anne Prieur-Vernat
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Life Cycle Assessment ◽  
Life Cycle ◽  
Renewable Energy Sources ◽  
Impact Category ◽  
District Heating ◽  
Biomass Energy ◽  
Environmental Benefits ◽  
Heating Systems ◽  
District Heating Systems

District heating systems are a way to integrate renewable energies into the heating sector, with the primary aim of decarbonizing this final use. In such systems, renewable energy sources are centrally managed with cutting-edge technological equipment, efficient maintenance rates and service guarantees. Both the decarbonization effect and the centralization lead to environmental benefits, which can go beyond the climate change indicator. In this study, life cycle assessment was used to assess the environmental sustainability of district heating solutions compared to standalones. The study aimed to examine a diverse set of options for large-scale district heating systems across Europe and to compare them to different standalone solutions. Eight technologies (five district-level and three standalone solutions) were analyzed in two densities of habitats and four areas of Europe. This study aimed to understand the drivers of district heating environmental performance and to provide guidelines for accounting said performance. The analysis showed better performance for district heating scenarios compared to isotechnology standalones for every environmental impact category: the climate change impact category were reduced from 5 to 90%, while respiratory inorganics were reduced from 45 to 64%, depending on the considered climatic area. This statement was true under key parameters, both technical and methodological—efficiencies and complement rates, but also the neutral carbon principle for biomass energy accounting and allocation rules.

scholarly journals Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) of Environmental and Energy Systems

Energies ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 13 (22) ◽  
pp. 5892
Author(s):  
Luca Ciacci ◽  
Fabrizio Passarini
Keyword(s):  
Life Cycle Assessment ◽  
Renewable Energy ◽  
Life Cycle ◽  
Renewable Energy Sources ◽  
Energy Systems ◽  
Energy Generation ◽  
Energy Sources ◽  
Green Technologies ◽  
And Storage

The transition towards renewable energy sources and “green” technologies for energy generation and storage is expected to mitigate the climate emergency in the coming years [...]

scholarly journals Does the Balance Exist between Cost Efficiency of Different Energy Efficiency Measures? DH Systems Case

Energies ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 13 (19) ◽  
pp. 5151 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ieva Pakere ◽  
Dace Lauka ◽  
Dagnija Blumberga
Keyword(s):  
Energy Efficiency ◽  
Renewable Energy ◽  
Energy Savings ◽  
District Heating ◽  
Energy Sources ◽  
Heating Systems ◽  
Energy Efficiency Measures ◽  
Industrial Enterprises ◽  
Efficiency Measures ◽  
District Heating Systems

The main aim of this study is to evaluate the results achieved by implementation of different support policies in form of subsidies for energy efficiency improvements and transition to renewable energy sources. The article compares the energy efficiency measures in district heating systems with other support program. In order to assess the effectiveness of implementation of different renewable energy technologies and energy efficiency projects, the levelized costs of saved energy for different support programs were determined. Authors compared different co-financed projects related to replacement of fossil fuel energy sources in district heating (mainly to biomass) and the installation of new biomass boilers, heat pumps, solar collectors and other local technologies in municipal buildings. Results show that financial support for energy efficiency measures in industrial enterprises and district heating systems has been most cost-effective, mainly due to the low co-financing rate (30%) and the high potential for energy savings in different production processes. Authors have identified the blind-spots within the funding allocation for different municipalities, which is not always dedicated to achieved energy savings.

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