A multi-scenario life cycle impact comparison of operational energy supply techniques for an office building in Thailand

Abstract

Abstract This study provides a life cycle assessment (LCA) of a sustainably designed office building to be built in Thailand. The building has a gross floor area of 6300\xa0m2 and a lifetime of 50 years. An analysis of four different energy supply scenarios was performed to evaluate methods for reducing grid electricity demand with the goal of optimizing renewable energy usage and minimizing environmental impacts. The scenarios included: (1) the conventional, grid-dependent building, followed by (2) the addition of a rooftop photovoltaic (PV) system, (3) a PV system with lithium-ion battery storage, and (4) a PV system with an ice storage system. Scenarios 3 and 4 were included in this study as 16% of the electricity from PV was overproduced during the weekends when the building was unoccupied. The results show that scenarios 2, 3, and 4 reduced operational grid consumption by 33%, 37.8%, and 37.9% but increased metal depletion potential by 23.9%, 34.4%, and 29.0%, respectively. Ice storage led to the greatest reduction in lifetime environmental impacts. Efficient production and utilization of renewable energy in buildings is vital to reducing nonrenewable fuel dependence; however, it is necessary to minimize metal depletion in the implementation of such technologies.