The Environmental Potential of Phase Change Materials in Building Applications. A Multiple Case Investigation Based on Life Cycle Assessment and Building Simulation

Roberta Di Bari, Rafael Horn, Björn Nienborg, Felix Klinker, Esther Kieseritzky and Felix Pawelz
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Roberta Di Bari: Institute for Acoustics and Building Physics, University of Stuttgart, 70569 Stuttgart, Germany
Rafael Horn: Institute for Acoustics and Building Physics, University of Stuttgart, 70569 Stuttgart, Germany
Björn Nienborg: Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems (ISE), 79119 Freiburg, Germany
Felix Klinker: ZAE Bayern, 97074 Würzburg, Germany
Esther Kieseritzky: Rubitherm GmbH, 12307 Berlin, Germany
Felix Pawelz: Rubitherm GmbH, 12307 Berlin, Germany

Energies, 2020, vol. 13, issue 12, 1-30

Abstract: New materials and technologies have become the main drivers for reducing energy demand in the building sector in recent years. Energy efficiency can be reached by utilization of materials with thermal storage potential; among them, phase change materials (PCMs) seem to be promising. If they are used in combination with solar collectors in heating applications or with water chillers or in chilled ceilings in cooling applications, PCMs can provide ecological benefits through energy savings during the building’s operational phase. However, their environmental value should be analyzed by taking into account their whole lifecycle. The purpose of this paper is the assessment of PCMs at the material level as well as at higher levels, namely the component and building levels. Life cycle assessment analyses are based on information from PCM manufacturers and building energy simulations. With the newly developed software “Storage LCA Tool” (Version 1.0, University of Stuttgart, IABP, Stuttgart, Germany), PCM storage systems can be compared with traditional systems that do not entail energy storage. Their benefits can be evaluated in order to support decision-making on energy concepts for buildings. The collection of several case studies shows that PCM energy concepts are not always advantageous. However, with conclusive concepts, suitable storage dimensioning and ecologically favorable PCMs, systems can be realized that have a lower environmental impact over the entire life cycle compared to traditional systems.

Keywords: phase change materials; PCM; thermal energy storage; life cycle assessment (LCA); Storage LCA Tool; Speicher LCA (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q Q0 Q4 Q40 Q41 Q42 Q43 Q47 Q48 Q49 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (7)

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