Life cycle assessment of central solar heating plants with seasonal storage

Renewable energies can play a very important role in the development of a new energy model contributing effectively towards a more sustainable development in the mid and long term. In this context Central Solar Heating Plants with Seasonal Storage (CSHPSS) are able to provide space heating and Domestic Hot Water (DHW) to residential buildings with high solar fractions (>50%). These systems are already being used in Central and Northern Europe, as well as in Canada, where there is an important experience in district heating systems. Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) is an objective methodology that evaluates the environmental loads associated with a product, process, or activity, identifying and quantifying the use of mass and energy as well as environmental emissions over its life cycle. It provides a comprehensive view of the environmental aspects of a product or process and a more accurate picture of the true environmental trade-offs in product and process selection. In this paper is presented a LCA of a CSHPSS, which should cover the space heating and DHW demand of 500 dwellings of 100 m(2), located in Zaragoza, Spain. Environmental burdens through the life cycle of the system are estimated based on relevant emissions to the atmosphere, e. g. greenhouse gases, NOx, SOx, and comprehensive environmental indicators as, for instance, the IMPACT 2002+ and CED (Cumulative Energy Demand). These indicators allow to evaluate the reduction of the environmental load achieved by the CSHPSS analyzed with respect to conventional space heating and DHW systems, as well as to identify the most critical aspects since an environmental perspective. (C) 2014 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd.