D7.3 Environmental and life-cycle assessment

This task evaluated the environmental impact of the integrated system both as a whole, and in its individual components. Additionally, it evaluated the benefits of the system compared to equivalent conventional technologies. A life cycle assessment was conducted, in accordance with current legislations and standards that direct material application, handling, disposal and recycling. Additionally, the economic benefits of the present system are evaluated. For the assessment tool, which calculates the environmental footprint of each proposed integrated storage system being defined the demo site of Thessaloniki (using input data from T3.5) followed by a corresponding life cycle costing evaluation, to feed in T7.3 Business Models development data from WP3 and 6 are used. Twenty-two environmental impact categories were estimated with mainly focus on the evaluation of a) accumulated primary energy demand, b) water consumption (scarcity), c) global warming potential (climate change), d) direct economic costs and d) the assessment of social acceptance of the renovated buildings. The inventory includes information related to a) the infrastructure materials and their transportation to the execution location, b) on-site building processes, c) operational consumption associated to the demo sites and d) the end of life of building materials. Furthermore, the environmental and economic impact evaluated regarding eight replication sites. The task will also evaluate and refine calculations made concerning durability of components, which will have as input work done in WP6, where the system is being tested in an operational environment. This work will also provide info for the cost benefit analysis of T7.3.