Energy and environmental performances of small and innovative solar cooling systems

Abstract

The development of renewable energy technologies is a critical tool for reducing climate change and the reliance on fossil fuels. However, renewable energy technologies cannot be considered totally clean because they require energy consumption and have environmental impacts that cannot be neglected during their life cycle. This paper presents the results of two researches related to the application of solar thermal system for building heating and cooling. It is focused on small and compact systems of two different typologies. An innovative compact Solar DEC system is analysed in terms of potential competitor of stand alone electrically driven HVAC systems. The performances of small absorption chillers coupled with low temperature solar collectors is investigated by the means of Life Cycle Assessment approach in order to highlight their environmental impacts also during manufacturing and end-of-life phases.