D5.2 – LCC and LCA Impact Assessment Tool

This deliverable presents the InterPED Life-Cycle Costing (LCC) and Life-Cycle Assessment (LCA) impact assessment tool, developed to evaluate alternative energy system configurations for Positive Energy Districts (PEDs). The work extends the Renewable Energy Hub Optimizer (REHO), an open-source whole-energy system optimisation model capable of simultaneously optimising long-term investment decisions and hourly operation of district energy systems.

The tool integrates techno-economic and environmental assessment by combining life-cycle costing with life-cycle assessment based on the Environmental Footprint (EF 3.0) methodology. It evaluates renewable energy technologies, storage systems and energy infrastructures while considering capital and operational expenditures, greenhouse gas emissions, renewable energy self-consumption, self-sufficiency and additional environmental indicators.

The methodology is demonstrated across the four InterPED pilot sites: Lugaritz-Matia Community (Spain), Ecovillage Park Findhorn (Scotland), Arena Innovation Community (Switzerland) and the Alba Iulia Community (Romania). Results show how optimised renewable energy investments can reduce total system costs, decrease greenhouse gas emissions, improve renewable energy self-sufficiency and support evidence-based planning for Positive Energy Districts. The deliverable provides a decision-support framework for comparing energy system scenarios and guiding sustainable investment strategies for district-scale energy communities.