Techno-economic evaluation of integrated energy systems for heat recovery applications in food retail buildings
File(s)
Author(s)
Sarabia Escriva, Emilio Jose
Hart, Matthew
Acha Izquierdo, Salvador
Soto Frances, Victor
Shah, Nilay
Type
Journal Article
Abstract
Eliminating the use of natural gas for non-domestic heat supply is an imperative component of net-zero targets. Techno-economic analyses of competing options for low-carbon heat supply are essential for decision makers developing decarbonisation strategies. This paper investigates the impact various heat supply configurations can have in UK supermarkets by using heat recovery principles from refrigeration systems under different climatic conditions. The methodology builds upon a steady-state model that has been validated in previous studies. All refrigeration integrated heating and cooling (RIHC) systems employ CO2 booster refrigeration to recover heat and provide space heating alongside various technologies such as thermal storage, air-source heat pumps (ASHPs) and direct electric heaters. Seven cases evaluating various technology combinations are analysed and compared against a conventional scenario in which the building is heated with a natural gas boiler. The specific combinations of technologies analysed here contrasts trade-offs and is a first in the literature. The capital costs of these projects are considered, giving insights into their business case. Results indicate that electric heaters are not cost-competitive in supermarkets. Meanwhile, RIHC and ASHP configurations are the most attractive option, and if a thermal storage tank system with advanced controls is included, the benefits increase even further. Best solutions have a 6.3% ROI, a payback time of 16 years while reducing energy demand by 62% and CO2 emissions by 54%. Such investments will be difficult to justify unless policy steers decision makers through incentives or the business case changes by implementing internal carbon pricing.
Date Issued
2022-01-01
Date Acceptance
2021-09-02
Citation
Applied Energy, 2022, 305
ISSN
0306-2619
Publisher
Elsevier
Journal / Book Title
Applied Energy
Volume
305
Copyright Statement
© 2021 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. This manuscript is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International Licence http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/
Sponsor
Sainsbury's Supermarkets Ltd
Sainsbury's Supermarkets Ltd
Engineering & Physical Science Research Council (EPSRC)
Engineering & Physical Science Research Council (EPSRC)
Sainsbury's Supermarkets Ltd
Grant Number
CEPSE_P85487
CEPSE_P57236
EP/P004709/1
EP/R045518/1
CEPSE_P85487
Subjects
09 Engineering
14 Economics
Energy
Publication Status
Published
Article Number
ARTN 117799
Date Publish Online
2021-09-21