Planning for a Low Carbon Future? Comparing Heat Pumps  and Cogeneration as the Energy System Options for  a New Residential Area

Heinonen, Jukka; Laine, Jani; Pluuman, Karoliina; Säynäjoki, Eeva-Sofia; Soukka, Risto; Junnila, Seppo

doi:10.3390/en8099137

Cited by 12 publications

(8 citation statements)

References 39 publications

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“…An overview of how marginal emissions can be accounted for in the EV context has been performed, using the US as an example [52]. However, this is just one methodology, and to determine at which moment the marginal should be used and what the marginal is has multiple solutions, and is a complex task [53]. As such, its importance is acknowledged, but is considered out of the scope of this study.…”

Section: Limitations and Further Studymentioning

confidence: 99%

Review and Meta-Analysis of EVs: Embodied Emissions and Environmental Breakeven

et al. 2020

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Electric vehicles (EVs) are often considered a potential solution to mitigate greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions originating from personal transport vehicles, but this has also been questioned due to their high production emissions. In this study, we performed an extensive literature review of existing EV life-cycle assessments (LCAs) and a meta-analysis of the studies in the review, extracting life-cycle GHG emission data combined with a standardized methodology for estimating GHG electrical grid intensities across the European Economic Area (EEA), which were used to estimate a set of environmental breakeven points for each EEA country. A Monte Carlo simulation was performed to provide sensitivity analysis. The results of the review suggest a need for greater methodological and data transparency within EV LCA research. The meta-analysis found a subset of countries across the EEA where there is a potential that EVs could lead to greater life-cycle GHG emissions than a comparable diesel counterpart. A policy discussion highlights how EV policies in countries with contrasting GHG electric grid intensities may not reflect the current techno-environmental reality. This paper emphasizes the importance for researchers to accurately depict life-cycle vehicle emissions and the need for EEA countries to enact policies corresponding to their respective contextual conditions to avoid potentially enacting policies that could lead to greater GHG emissions.

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Section: Limitations and Further Studymentioning

confidence: 99%

Review and Meta-Analysis of EVs: Embodied Emissions and Environmental Breakeven

et al. 2020

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“…However, the GHG factors from various studies still vary quite significantly for many energy technologies, and the use of lower or higher end estimates may substantially alter the outcome of an assessment and entirely change the policy-recommendations [18]. In a typical grid, the average and marginal technologies may also be very different.…”

Section: Greenhouse Gas Emission Factorsmentioning

confidence: 99%

High-Temperature Geothermal Utilization in the Context of European Energy Policy—Implications and Limitations

et al. 2020

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The European Union (EU) has made climate change mitigation a high priority though a policy framework called “Clean Energy for all Europeans “. The concept of primary energy for energy resources plays a critical role in how different energy technologies appear in the context of this policy. This study shows how the calculation methodologies of primary energy content and primary energy factors pose a possible negative implication on the future development of geothermal energy when comparing against EU’s key energy policy targets for 2030. Following the current definitions of primary energy, geothermal utilization becomes the most inefficient resource in terms of primary energy use, thus contradicting key targets of increased energy efficiency in buildings and in the overall energy use of member states. We use a case study of Hellisheidi, an existing geothermal power plant in Iceland, to demonstrate how the standard primary energy factor for geothermal in EU energy policy is highly overestimated for efficient geothermal power plants. Moreover, we combine life cycle assessment and the commonly utilized combined heat and power production allocation methods to extract the non-renewable primary energy factor for geothermal and show how it is only a minimal fraction of the total primary energy factor for geothermal. The findings of the study apply to other geothermal plants within the coverage of the European Union’s energy policy, whether from high- or low-temperature geothermal resources. Geothermal has substantial potential to aid in achieving the key energy and climate targets. Still, with the current definition of the primary energy of geothermal resources, it may not reach the potential.

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“…It also stresses that all renovation measures decrease the DH demand, resulting in a loss of electricity production at CHP plants. The possible issues caused by decreasing heat demand and increasing electricity demand, i.e., if DH is replaced by heat pumps, are seen in other Nordic countries [34][35][36][37][38][39]. One concern is a possible suboptimization of the energy system in terms of emissions, where heat normally supplied by renewable DH would be substituted by heat pumps using nonrenewable electricity.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Impact on System Performance When Renovating a Multifamily Building Stock in a District Heated Region

et al. 2019

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In Sweden, 90% of multifamily buildings utilize district heat and a large portion is in need of renovation. The aim is to analyze the impact of renovating a multifamily building stock in a district heating and cooling system, in terms of primary energy savings, peak power demands, electricity demand and production, and greenhouse gas emissions on local and global levels. The study analyzes scenarios regarding measures on the building envelope, ventilation, and substitution from district heat to ground source heat pump. The results indicate improved energy performance for all scenarios, ranging from 11% to 56%. Moreover, the scenarios present a reduction of fossil fuel use and reduced peak power demand in the district heating and cooling system ranging from 1 MW to 13 MW, corresponding to 4–48 W/m2 heated building area. However, the study concludes that scenarios including a ground source heat pump generate significantly higher global greenhouse gas emissions relative to scenarios including district heating. Furthermore, in a future fossil-free district heating and cooling system, a reduction in primary energy use will lead to a local reduction of emissions along with a positive effect on global greenhouse gas emissions, outperforming measures with a ground source heat pump.

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Planning for a Low Carbon Future? Comparing Heat Pumps and Cogeneration as the Energy System Options for a New Residential Area

Cited by 12 publications

References 39 publications

Review and Meta-Analysis of EVs: Embodied Emissions and Environmental Breakeven

Review and Meta-Analysis of EVs: Embodied Emissions and Environmental Breakeven

High-Temperature Geothermal Utilization in the Context of European Energy Policy—Implications and Limitations

The Impact on System Performance When Renovating a Multifamily Building Stock in a District Heated Region

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