PROJECT DESCRIPTION
BACKGROUND
A modular building is usually an off-grid (or embedded in a micro-grid) construction, where not only the access to utilities is complicated, but also it is difficult to transport fuel supplies. These factors must be taken into account when establishing demonstration sites for modular buildings. Alternatives to conventional electricity and gas supplies must be considered.
The systems providing energy to these facilities used to be fossil fuel-based, which implies the installation of a diesel generator to produce electricity for the heating system and hot water. Moreover, the fossil fuel to be supplied to the generator needs to be transported, at high risk and with high costs in some situations, and with the production of GHG emissions and other polluting emissions. Furthermore, Europe depends strongly on imports from non-EU countries, which are 80% of their petroleum reserves. These reserves are usually in politically unstable regions, representing an energy dependence that is a clear weakness for European economy.
OBJECTIVES
The main objective of the LIFE ZEROENERGYMOD project is the development and demonstration of a robust, transportable, easy-to-install, easy-to-transport habitable building. This will be based on the Passivhaus Standard (an international energy performance standard for low-energy buildings) linked to renewable energy sources, which represents the innovative concept of a zero energy habitable mobile module.
The specific objectives are: 1. Creation of a reference assessment for habitable modules; 2. Design of a transportable nearly zero energy building (PASSIVMOD), including the selection and installation of new generation insulation materials with a low carbon cycle that increase the insulation capacity of the building and are cost competitive; 3. Development of a feasible solution to transport portable modules to any location; 4. Design of a containerised renewable energy solution for providing power to the portable building (ENERGYMOD), deploying solar photovoltaic or wind as electricity sources, and a Hybrid Storage System (HSS) for short-term energy storage (batteries) along with a complete off-grid hydrogencycle energy storage capability able to withstand extreme climates; 5. Implementation and demonstration of operation of the PASSIVMOD and the ENERGYMOD in three different military campsites (involving different operational conditions and extreme weather conditions): CENAD San Gregorio in Zaragoza, Spain (cold semi-arid climate with warm dry summers and cold winters); Adazi Base Camp in Latvia (continental climate with hot summers and very cold winters); and Gabriel de Castilla Base on Deception Island in the Antarctic Peninsula (the coldest climate on Earth and generally extremely dry weather); 6. Development of a Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) for the modules to determine environmental impacts of the new technologies comparing to currently used technologies; and 7. Replication of results in other off-grid and isolated areas.
The project contributes to the implementation of the EU Strategy on adaptation to climate change, and other EU policy and legislation through its focus on climate change mitigation, renewable energy, energy efficiency (thermal insulation), and greenhouse gas monitoring and reporting.
RESULTS
Expected results:
