Project Portugal 2030

Summary

The Invatherm aims to contribute to developing knowledge through experimental research on bio-based thermal insulation products. The main objectives of this project are: i) to create value from invasive plants’ biomass, which has no economic value but is responsible for environmental and infrastructure management costs; ii) to characterise the biological material and assess the physical properties of the fibres as well other composites found in these plants; iii) to study and explore the full potential of fibres and composites to be used in the development of the insulation boards, including the use of the stalks and natural binders; iv) to develop new bio-based thermal insulation products that can be used both in new buildings and in the energy retrofitting of old buildings ones, particularly the ones using natural materials as earth, stone and timber; v) to study the processes for a scale manufacturing of the insulation panels; v) to develop the necessary data to analyse the economic and environmental life cycle performances of the new insulation products and to compare them with standard products used in the market; vi) to develop and disseminate knowledge about the potential advantages of using these natural materials in the construction sector. These objectives aim to overcome the following problems found in the literature review: i) buildings have a high use of materials and energy, resulting in significant carbon emissions, especially during the operation phase, being crucial to address these issues; ii) low thermal performance of the Portuguese building stock prior to 1990, due to the low thermal resistance of most building elements [10]; iii) low compatibility between conventional thermal insulation products and natural materials that hinders their use in the thermal retrofitting of traditional buildings [2]; iv) despite some changes in the market, there are still difficulties in transferring information on natural materials into building construction, limiting their use to niches and to an experimental and laboratory phase; and v) the invasive plants considered in this proposal are widespread in Portugal and with known negative impacts, thus assessing the potential of using it in useful added-value products can incentivise their control. To sum up, this research project is aimed at answering the following research questions: 1. What are the thermal insulation properties of natural fibres derived from invasive species, and how do they compare to conventional insulation materials regarding technical viability for new constructions and renovations? 2. What are the environmental impacts throughout the life cycle of natural fibre insulation derived from invasive species, including production, use, and disposal, and how do these compare to conventional insulation materials? 3. How does the carbon storage potential of natural fibre insulation from invasive species compare to conventional insulation materials, and what implications does this have for mitigating climate change? 4. What socio-economic benefits arise from utilizing natural fibre insulation from invasive species, particularly in terms of promoting a regenerative economy and fostering ecological restoration within communities? 5. What challenges and opportunities are associated with scaling up the production and use of natural fibre insulation from invasive species in the construction industry?