LAPSE:2023.35851
Published Article
LAPSE:2023.35851
Life Cycle Assessment of District Heating Infrastructures: A Comparison of Pipe Typologies in France
Mahaut Vauchez, Jacopo Famiglietti, Kevin Autelitano, Morgane Colombert, Rossano Scoccia, Mario Motta
May 24, 2023
Identifying decarbonization strategies at the district level is increasingly necessary to align the development of urban projects with European climate neutrality objectives. It is well known that district heating and cooling networks are an attractive energy system solution because they permit the integration of renewable energies and local excess of hot or cold sources. The detailed design and optimization of network infrastructures are essential to achieve the full potential of this energy system. The authors conducted an attributional life cycle assessment to compare the environmental profile of five distribution network infrastructures (i.e., pipes, heat carrier fluid, trenches, heat exchangers, valves, and water pumps) based on a study case in Marseille, France. The work aims to put into perspective the environmental profile of subsystems comprising a district heating infrastructure, and compare pipe typologies that can be used to guide decision-making in eco-design processing. Rigid and flexible piping systems were compared separately. The results show that the main impact source is the pipe subsystem, followed by the trench works for most impact categories. The authors underlined the importance of pipe typology choice, which can reduce emissions by up to 80% and 77% for rigid and flexible systems, respectively.
Keywords
district heating network, environmental impact, greenhouse gas emissions, life cycle assessment, pre-insulated pipes
Suggested Citation
Vauchez M, Famiglietti J, Autelitano K, Colombert M, Scoccia R, Motta M. Life Cycle Assessment of District Heating Infrastructures: A Comparison of Pipe Typologies in France. (2023). LAPSE:2023.35851
Author Affiliations
Vauchez M: Efficacity, 14 Boulevard Newton, F-77420 Champs-sur-Marne, France
Famiglietti J: Department of Energy, Politecnico di Milano, 20156 Milan, Italy [ORCID]
Autelitano K: Department of Energy, Politecnico di Milano, 20156 Milan, Italy [ORCID]
Colombert M: Efficacity, 14 Boulevard Newton, F-77420 Champs-sur-Marne, France; LAB’URBA, Université Gustave Eiffel, Université Paris Est Creteil, EIVP, F-77454 Marne-la-Vallée, France
Scoccia R: Department of Energy, Politecnico di Milano, 20156 Milan, Italy [ORCID]
Motta M: Department of Energy, Politecnico di Milano, 20156 Milan, Italy
Journal Name
Energies
Volume
16
Issue
9
First Page
3912
Year
2023
Publication Date
2023-05-05
Published Version
ISSN
1996-1073
Version Comments
Original Submission
Other Meta
PII: en16093912, Publication Type: Journal Article
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LAPSE:2023.35851
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doi:10.3390/en16093912
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May 24, 2023
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CC BY 4.0
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[v1] (Original Submission)
May 24, 2023
 
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May 24, 2023
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Calvin Tsay
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