Periodic Reporting for period 3 - EnergyMatching (Adaptable and adaptive RES envelope solutions to maximise energy harvesting and optimize EU building and district load matching)
Reporting period: 2020-10-01 to 2022-07-31
EnergyMatching aimed to maximize the use of RES (Renewable Energy Sources) in the built environment, by developing and demonstrating robust solutions to effectively use locally produced energy within the building and district concept. In addition to efficiently capture the on-site available renewable sources through adaptive active building skin technologies.
The EnergyMatching concept was based on three pillars: (i) Overall methodological framework and business vision, (ii) robust active skin technologies to efficiently capture the local RES, (iii) building and district energy hub to effectively use on site the produced energy through load matching strategies.
The EU policy goals for NZEBs (virtually zero energy buildings) and buildings integrated RES were the focus of EnergyMatching, which concentrated on the rehabilitation of residential buildings in the EU.
The main objectives of EnergyMatching were:
-Definition of adaptive and adaptable envelope solutions for energy harvesting at building level
-Integration of the energy harvesting solutions into the building and district energy concept
-Geoclusterisation of solutions and replication potential
Seven discovered exploitable results that produced quantifiable impacts in line with EU targets allowed for the accomplishment of these aims.
The outputs that were anticipated included: versatile click&go substructure for different cladding systems (KER3), Solar Window Block (KER4), BIPV click&go system (KER5) and Renewable Harvesting Package to Heat&Ventilate (KER6).
Such solutions were included into buildings plans for self-consumers connected to a local energy network that were energy efficient (energyLAN). Through the energy harvesting business, enhancer platform (KER1), which manages many stakeholders' advantages, risks, and overall cash flows, the energyLAN was created to fully satisfy complete economic justifications, including balancing cost and performance targets. Operational strategies of the energyLAN were driven by the building and district energy harvesting management system (KER7). The EnergyMatching optimisation tool (KER2) enabled the best matching between local RES-based energy production and building load profiles and simplifies the energy demand management for the energy distributors.
Four demo cases that had high replication potential in terms of climatic circumstances, legal and regulatory framework, form of ownership, architectural aspects of buildings, and social and cultural milieu served as examples of the EnergyMatching solutions.
The EnergyMatching concept was based on three pillars: (i) Overall methodological framework and business vision, (ii) robust active skin technologies to efficiently capture the local RES, (iii) building and district energy hub to effectively use on site the produced energy through load matching strategies.
The EU policy goals for NZEBs (virtually zero energy buildings) and buildings integrated RES were the focus of EnergyMatching, which concentrated on the rehabilitation of residential buildings in the EU.
The main objectives of EnergyMatching were:
-Definition of adaptive and adaptable envelope solutions for energy harvesting at building level
-Integration of the energy harvesting solutions into the building and district energy concept
-Geoclusterisation of solutions and replication potential
Seven discovered exploitable results that produced quantifiable impacts in line with EU targets allowed for the accomplishment of these aims.
The outputs that were anticipated included: versatile click&go substructure for different cladding systems (KER3), Solar Window Block (KER4), BIPV click&go system (KER5) and Renewable Harvesting Package to Heat&Ventilate (KER6).
Such solutions were included into buildings plans for self-consumers connected to a local energy network that were energy efficient (energyLAN). Through the energy harvesting business, enhancer platform (KER1), which manages many stakeholders' advantages, risks, and overall cash flows, the energyLAN was created to fully satisfy complete economic justifications, including balancing cost and performance targets. Operational strategies of the energyLAN were driven by the building and district energy harvesting management system (KER7). The EnergyMatching optimisation tool (KER2) enabled the best matching between local RES-based energy production and building load profiles and simplifies the energy demand management for the energy distributors.
Four demo cases that had high replication potential in terms of climatic circumstances, legal and regulatory framework, form of ownership, architectural aspects of buildings, and social and cultural milieu served as examples of the EnergyMatching solutions.
Several improvements have been made in order to advance towards the definition of adaptive and adaptable envelope solutions for energy harvesting at the building level. These include the solar window block, the BIPV Click-and-Go system, and the transpired solar thermal collector.
Due to the design support provided by the developed EnergyMatching tool, which also ensures matching loads profiles by local renewable energy production and the interaction with the external environment favorably influencing the building's energy performance and indoor comfort, these envelope solutions maximize the exploitation of locally available solar energy.
The four demos' designs serve as examples of these features of the EnergyMatching tool.
Several main energy concepts, including heating, ventilation, and electricity generation energy concepts based on load match aggregation strategies and energy harvesting management systems, have been developed for the local use of harvested renewable energy in order to move toward the integration of the energy harvesting solutions into the building and district energy concept. In fact, the optimization tool method was enhanced by incorporating a more intricate battery model and a gamma distribution function. This technique was then utilized to determine the ideal PV system configurations to put in the four demo-cases.
Finally, tools and strategies are being developed in order to advance toward geoclusterization of solutions and replication potential, ensuring applicability and optimal use of solutions in various contexts, customizing, and adjusting the EnergyMatching solutions, and evaluating both technical and financial viability.
Due to the design support provided by the developed EnergyMatching tool, which also ensures matching loads profiles by local renewable energy production and the interaction with the external environment favorably influencing the building's energy performance and indoor comfort, these envelope solutions maximize the exploitation of locally available solar energy.
The four demos' designs serve as examples of these features of the EnergyMatching tool.
Several main energy concepts, including heating, ventilation, and electricity generation energy concepts based on load match aggregation strategies and energy harvesting management systems, have been developed for the local use of harvested renewable energy in order to move toward the integration of the energy harvesting solutions into the building and district energy concept. In fact, the optimization tool method was enhanced by incorporating a more intricate battery model and a gamma distribution function. This technique was then utilized to determine the ideal PV system configurations to put in the four demo-cases.
Finally, tools and strategies are being developed in order to advance toward geoclusterization of solutions and replication potential, ensuring applicability and optimal use of solutions in various contexts, customizing, and adjusting the EnergyMatching solutions, and evaluating both technical and financial viability.
Buildings are more than just isolated units that draw energy from the grid, as was already mentioned. By actively consuming, producing, storing, and supplying energy, they are evolving into active components of the energy network and converting the EU energy market into a decentralized, renewable, linked, and flexible system.
The connection between buildings, their energy system, and the grid is currently still fragmented, therefore there is a lot of room for improvement in order to improve how they interact.
By achieving a higher level of integration between these various systems/resources, as well as lower LCOE, higher operational benefits, improved active envelope aesthetics, and maximizing the local RES exploitation through the entire envelope, taking into account both opaque and transparent parts, EnergyMatching helped to resolve these issues.
Additionally, modern systems are made to satisfy specific needs, such as enhancing PV electricity self-consumption, lowering energy consumption, increasing energy production, or lowering installation costs.
Due to the lack of a systemic approach, few solutions have attempted to address all of the benefits; this concept's innovative method addresses this problem.
Each of the seven outcomes created for the project has a strong potential for innovation and is being developed to advance beyond the state of the art.
Main impacts of EnergyMatching include:
- Reduced cost of manufacturing, installation and operation of energy harvesting technologies at building and district scale. In particular, the additional cost of EnergyMatching installed solution compared with standard building renovation was estimated to be in the range of 13% ÷ 17%, meeting the project goal (below 20%),
- Demonstrated replicability resulting in the acceleration of the integration of RES into EU diversified residential buildings and districts. In particular, the EnergyMatching platform was populated with several BIPV Case studies external to the project, showing different building typologies and contexts
- Maximisation of RES generation, demand coverage and optimal integration of RES with the energy grids. In particular, data evaluated and monitored in the four demos show great achievements leading to (i)reduction of primary energy consumption of heating energy generation system of 70%, (ii)annual demand coverage of common electricity consumption of 86%, (iii)electricity self-consumption of 59%.
- Revitalization of the EU construction sectors and generation of employment opportunities. In particular, it is estimated that 125 new jobs will be created in medium-long term connected to EnergyMatching project and around 600.000 stakeholders could benefit from the project to increase their skills/capability/competencies
- Improved IEQ with optimal control and natural sources exploitation. In particular, data evaluated and monitored show great achievements leading to high satisfaction of tenants who could appreciate a significant improvement to the living conditions in their flats, confirming the monitored data on measured CO2 concentration with very high percentage of comfort hours over the year (more than 90%)
The connection between buildings, their energy system, and the grid is currently still fragmented, therefore there is a lot of room for improvement in order to improve how they interact.
By achieving a higher level of integration between these various systems/resources, as well as lower LCOE, higher operational benefits, improved active envelope aesthetics, and maximizing the local RES exploitation through the entire envelope, taking into account both opaque and transparent parts, EnergyMatching helped to resolve these issues.
Additionally, modern systems are made to satisfy specific needs, such as enhancing PV electricity self-consumption, lowering energy consumption, increasing energy production, or lowering installation costs.
Due to the lack of a systemic approach, few solutions have attempted to address all of the benefits; this concept's innovative method addresses this problem.
Each of the seven outcomes created for the project has a strong potential for innovation and is being developed to advance beyond the state of the art.
Main impacts of EnergyMatching include:
- Reduced cost of manufacturing, installation and operation of energy harvesting technologies at building and district scale. In particular, the additional cost of EnergyMatching installed solution compared with standard building renovation was estimated to be in the range of 13% ÷ 17%, meeting the project goal (below 20%),
- Demonstrated replicability resulting in the acceleration of the integration of RES into EU diversified residential buildings and districts. In particular, the EnergyMatching platform was populated with several BIPV Case studies external to the project, showing different building typologies and contexts
- Maximisation of RES generation, demand coverage and optimal integration of RES with the energy grids. In particular, data evaluated and monitored in the four demos show great achievements leading to (i)reduction of primary energy consumption of heating energy generation system of 70%, (ii)annual demand coverage of common electricity consumption of 86%, (iii)electricity self-consumption of 59%.
- Revitalization of the EU construction sectors and generation of employment opportunities. In particular, it is estimated that 125 new jobs will be created in medium-long term connected to EnergyMatching project and around 600.000 stakeholders could benefit from the project to increase their skills/capability/competencies
- Improved IEQ with optimal control and natural sources exploitation. In particular, data evaluated and monitored show great achievements leading to high satisfaction of tenants who could appreciate a significant improvement to the living conditions in their flats, confirming the monitored data on measured CO2 concentration with very high percentage of comfort hours over the year (more than 90%)