Lahof/Lanserhofsiedlung - Path to Zero CO2 - climate-neutral demonstration building in relation to the neighbourhood

Starting point / motivation

The transformation of today's centralised energy systems into decentralised energy systems based on renewable energies is one of the most important contributions to achieving climate neutrality. The European Commission has set itself the goal of becoming climate-neutral by 2050. 

At a national level, Austria has set itself an even more ambitious goal of achieving climate neutrality by 2040. Heating accounts for the largest share of total household energy consumption, which according to Statistik Austria (Statistik Austria, 2023) accounts for around 70 %, meaning that the building sector offers considerable potential for decarbonisation by improving energy efficiency and renewable technology solutions.

Contents and goals

In recent years, numerous studies (Kersken et al, 2023; Wolf et al, 2020) have investigated thermally activated building component systems (TABS) as short-term storage and combination with fluctuating renewable energies and what contribution TABS systems can make to this. 

The use of TABS in concrete has already been well researched and is becoming standard practice in multi-storey residential buildings, especially in eastern Austria, while TABS in wood-based structures has only a few implementation projects (Auenwerkstatt Salzburg, multifunctional façade FH Salzburg) and has not yet been implemented in multi-storey residential buildings. Initial studies have shown that TABS can be implemented in timber structures and can achieve a high energy storage potential (Heidenthaler, Leeb, Schnabel, & Huber, 2021). 

A real demonstration of TABS in wooden structures was only carried out on a small scale as a test system to check its suitability, which was successful. As a result, the next step is the demonstration on a real scale and on a residential building. On the one hand, the approach deals with the further development of the TRL level of wood activation and the system combination of short-term storage component activation (hours to days) and long-term storage from hydrogen systems coupled with volatile renewable generation.

The first-time combination of component activation (in particular component activation in wood) as short-term storage, hydrogen storage as long-term storage, a heat pump that uses wastewater heat recovery as a source and photovoltaic systems as an energy supplier represents an innovative and promising climate-neutral energy supply concept with great potential for wider application in the future. The aim is to develop and implement an innovative, climate-neutral neighbourhood concept with various sustainable energy and building technology components. 

Specifically, the development of a sustainable energy concept at neighbourhood level is planned, which includes a waste water heat pump and photovoltaic system. A central element here is the climate-neutral demonstration building in timber construction. This building is equipped with thermal component activation in solid wood and combines innovative energy concepts such as wastewater heat recovery, large photovoltaic systems and a hydrogen system for seasonal energy storage.

Methods

To begin with, the requirements for a climate-neutral building will be translated into a system specification. In a simulation study, suitable and feasible technical solutions for the realisation of a climate-neutral residential district will be analysed. 

Special modelling tools will be used to investigate the operation of various sustainable technology solutions and their impact on the built environment. IDA ICE for the simulation of the energy behaviour of buildings, Homer Pro for the optimal dimensioning of renewable energy systems with hydrogen storage systems, taking into account technical and economic feasibility.

Models of buildings in residential neighbourhoods are formulated on the basis of building data, measurement data and previous research. Based on the findings, the detailed planning will then be realised, followed by the implementation phase with the construction of the climate-neutral building.

Expected results

The most important results of the simulation models include 

• energy balances, 
• energy supplied by energy carriers and sources, 
• thermal comfort, 
• system costs, 
• energy costs,
• product life cycle costs

With regard to the implementation phase of wood activation, results on 

• simplified prefabrication and installation,
• monitoring data during operation

Project management

Fachhochschule Salzburg GmbH

Project or cooperation partners

• Gemeinnützige Salzburger Wohnbaugesellschaft m.b.H.
• Salzburger Institut für Raumordnung und Wohnen GmbH
• Schwarzenbacher Struber Architekten ZT GmbH
• Novapecc GmbH
• Energy consulting business GmbH ECB
• Bauphysik-Team Zwittlinger & Staffl Engineering OG
• ConLignum ZT GmbH - Koppelhuber/Burgschwaiger
• TB Stampfer GmbH

FH-Prof. Dipl.-Ing. Dr. Markus Leeb
Markt 136a
A-5431 Kuchl

Tel.: +43 50-2211-2703
E-mail: markus.leeb@fh-salzburg.ac.at
Web: www.fh-salzburg.ac.at