Environmental and economic effects of using renewable energy in residential thermal installations according to 2030 targets: case study in the province of Granada (Spain)

Abstract

According to the recommendations of European Directive 2002/91/EC and its subsequent modifications in European Directives 2010/31/EU and 2012/27/EU, all of which refer to energy efficiency, consideration of the source of energy used to drive a heating system is essential when trying to optimise energy efficiency and also in reducing its cost and the environmental impact caused. In this context the use of biomass is an interesting alternative to fossil fuels. A study was made of 6,234 records of the thermal systems most frequently used in the province of Granada, Spain, classified according to the source of energy used. The energy study is focused on energy efficiency in building systems. The results show the predominance of fossil fuels: gasoil is the option most frequently chosen for heating (39%), while natural gas accounts for the highest percentage overall (49%), if we add together the power used for heating, cooling and domestic hot water. The replacement of fossil fuels by renewables would lead to a reduction in the environmental footprint, cutting CO2 emissions by 17% if 23% of equipment were replaced, this being the target set in the 2030 programme. The economic savings for consumers from using renewables according to 2030 targets could be as high as 6.24%.