1) PVT collectors with an improved design have been developed, produced and tested. The electrical and thermal optical efficiency have been improved by 19 % and 3 %, respectively and the annual yield has improved by about 14 % for a wide range of solar fluid temperatures (25-65 ºC).
2) A prototype magnetocaloric heat pump has been improved and tested showing Carnot efficiency of up to 26%, significantly above the previous record for magnetocaloric devices of 18%. Later in the project we achieved an even higher Carnot efficiency of 39.2%. This is a significant improvement and a milestone for the sector. However, this has been achieved using a more expensive material and a balance between performance and cost has to be found.
3) A simulation tool has been developed that can be used for multi-parameter optimisation of the design and sizing of an integrated energy system for buildings, tailored to the specific conditions of each case.
4) An advanced algorithm has been developed that is integrated in a Building Energy Management System (BEMS) for optimising the operation achieving user defined objectives (such as minimising cost or emissions) within the parameters that are also defined by the user.
5) Two pilot systems (in Greece and Denmark) have been developed and used for testing integrated energy systems using the innovative components and controls developed in the project, also benchmarking the developed optimised control.
6) Another two sites in Belgium were used for testing the advanced algorithm/BEMS to control a combination of solar energy and geothermal heat pump (in a single-family home) and the Borehole Thermal energy Storage control system (in an office building)
7) The testing of the Integrated Energy Systems and controls in four different sites under different climates covering weather conditions of all four seasons proves the concept of the technical feasibility/benefits of the developed solutions.
8) The data from the pilot plants have been used to calibrate/validate the developed simulation tools, models and LCA. The validated models have been used to assess the impact scaled up systems of the RES4BUILD solutions could have when adopted widely.
9) A report on good practice approaches for Integrated Energy System development has been completed, dealing with the whole spectrum of technical, financial and social issues.
10) There has been deep engagement with local stakeholders in six case studies in Poland and the Netherlands. The case studies represent different types of buildings and end-users and a wide range of possibilities is explored regarding improvements of their energy systems. The learning from this process were documented, including practical guidelines for co-design of IES.
11) An extensive market analysis has been carried out in 8 countries, resulting in preliminary selection of priority segments as a suggested target for the next steps of the project results exploitation.
12) All the work of the project was reviewed internally with the support of the Innovation Committee and the Advisory Board, resulting in a collection and documentation of 15 Knowledge Outputs, which have been included in an updated PEDR. Out of these, three were deemed high-priority Key Exploitable Results. One patent was submitted by MG Sustainable Engineering, but it is still under evaluation. Of the remaining finalised KOs, many have been shared at events and in publications, and since the first round of this research has been completed, they were added to the Horizon Results Platform.
13) All achievements were included in a final booklet which was made available online and shared at the final event, a workshop that was organised in Brussels bringing together representatives from academia, industry, policymakers and society to discuss the decarbonisation of buildings in Europe.
