Social Life-cycle impact assessment of innovative cascade PCM based thermal energy storage solutions
Thermal energy storage (TES) is a key component of concentrated solar plant (CSP) plants, ensuring flexibility and power dispatchability. TES, however, represents an important cost source in traditional CSP plants, accounting for about 12-17 % of the CAPEX, figures comparable with the cost of the whole steam power cycle. The TES unit (also including the full amount of molten salts for commercial CSP) accounts for more than 40% of the associated greenhouse gas emissions in a life-cycle perspective. Therefore, to ensure more cost-competitive and environmentally friendly CSP designs a cost reduction and efficiency enhancement of the TES unit are deemed.
Project Description
One pathway for the next generation of concentrated solar plants (CSP) include advanced innovative high-density and high-temperature TES systems capable of providing a high degree of dispatchability at low cost and with much lower environmental burden than the state-of-the the art. This thermal storage is based on the Phase Change Material (PCM) technology, with a cascade configuration that can reproduce the effect of a thermocline and integrates recycled metal wool in its nucleus providing hybridization possibilities by acting as an electric heater, transforming non-dispatchable renewable electricity such as photovoltaic (PV) into thermal stored energy ready to be dispatched when needed. As the global energy sector seeks to transition to greener solutions, it is essential to develop TES technologies that are cost-effective, efficient, and socially and environmentally sustainable.
While techno-economic analysis and Environmental Life Cycle Assessments (LCA) are frequently conducted to evaluate such systems, the social dimension of sustainability is often underexplored. This thesis aims to develop and implement a Social LCA methodology to assess the social impacts of such energy storage systems, utilizing the PCM-based technology described above as a case study. In doing so, the student will contribute to the Horizon Europe project HYBRIDplus. A cradle-to-gate approach will be considered to account for social impact in well-being and job creation from raw material extraction and treatment, all along until end-of-life and disposal. Besides health and issues of social capital, community impacts and gender aspects will also be prioritized. A qualitative methodology will be developed to engage with all relevant stakeholders in the value chain of the plant.
Research Questions
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What are the key social indicators relevant to the life cycle of the system under study?
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How does the project impact different stakeholders, including workers, local communities, and consumers?
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What are the potential trade-offs between environmental, economic, and social impacts for the project?
Main Deliverables
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Final Project Report and Presentation: A detailed report containing the project description, literature review, stakeholder mapping, data collection, Social LCA methodology (including key assumptions and social indicators), and comprehensive impact assessment. The presentation will summarize key findings and provide recommendations.
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S-LCA Models: Developed S-LCA models and user guidelines for assessing social impacts in TES technologies, including potential applications for future research
Duration
The project should start in January 2025 the latest, and should not extend for more than 6 months. Specific earlier starting date to be discussed.
Location
KTH - Energy Department
Contact persons
Main Supervisors
Contact person
Examiner
