intelligent Building Energy Assets Control for Comfort, Energy and Flexibility Optimisation

Project Information

iBECOME

Grant agreement ID: 894617

DOI

10.3030/894617

Project closed

EC signature date 12 May 2020

Start date 1 June 2020

End date 31 May 2024

Funded under

• SOCIETAL CHALLENGES - Secure, clean and efficient energy

Total cost

€ 4 920 941,24

EU contribution

€ 3 724 497,00

Coordinated by

IES R&D
Ireland

Periodic Reporting for period 3 - iBECOME (intelligent Building Energy Assets Control for Comfort, Energy and Flexibility Optimisation)

Reporting period: 2023-06-01 to 2024-05-31

Summary of the context and overall objectives of the project

Most of the existing EU building stock has low energy performance. Many small to medium sized buildings do not have a Building Automation System (BAS) to enable more efficient management and control of energy use. Larger buildings with BAS, such as Building Management Systems (BMS), underperform due to a lack of knowledge on controlling the BMS daily and limited of access to the data. These issues slow the adoption of emerging services in the areas of energy management, optimisation, and demand response. In recent years the fast evolution of the Internet of Things (IoT) and wider availability of smart meters and thermostats enabled low-cost installation of BMS hardware components in every type of building.
iBECOME aimed to show the functionality and viability (technical and economical) of a virtual BMS platform (vBMS) deployed as a software solution to a building to optimise its energy performance, comfort conditions, and electricity flexibility potential, allowing 3rd parties to connect and provide other services. The demonstration took place in 4 buildings of different types and climates: a food processing facility in Ireland, an office building in Glasgow, Scotland, a care home in Italy, and a business centre in Grenoble, France. The backbone of the vBMS is a 3D digital twin, an accurate replica of the real operation of a building, built upon static and monitoring data, which uses physics-based energy simulations, combined with Artificial Intelligence.
The first aim of iBECOME was to define virtual sensors for thermal, visual comfort and air quality, calculated by simulations and AI, to replace the need of expensive equipment installations on a building. Then, all technical, engineering and cybersecurity specifications related to the vBMS deployment were finalised, to allow its operation in any building. vBMS services developed include intelligent solutions for Fault Detection and Diagnosis (FDD), Predictive Control, and Demand Response (DR). Alongside with the technological advancements, new business models were created, including data privacy and collaboration of different actors (e.g. ESCOs, Facility managers, building owners). These business models were created so that all upfront investments can be paid back through the revenue generated from energy savings and demand response services. The functionality of the operational business models has been proven, together with the effectiveness of key retrofits to maximise the benefits of the vBMS. Its deployment in iBECOME showed it can deliver substantial comfort improvements for the occupants while reducing energy consumption and carbon emissions, with short payback times.

Work performed from the beginning of the project to the end of the period covered by the report and main results achieved so far

Initially, the virtual sensors calculation and prediction techniques were defined for IEQ, using both virtual datasets from calibrated models, and real data from building sensors and monitoring campaigns.
Algorithms to determine the flexibility potential for Demand Response were trained and trialled. This was enabled by new features developed to execute lightweight physics-based simulations on the cloud. The software architecture of the vBMS was specified. The connections between the various pieces of software were defined, including API connections, data flows, and hardware requirements.
Innovative services such as Energy/Comfort Optimisation, Fault Detection and Diagnosis, Predictive Maintenance, DR have been developed. Integration of these services with the vBMS was achieved with dashboards that have been delivered to the building managers, including 3rd party services: Healthcare management, EV charging & Commuting optimisation.
In demo sites, after the pandemic, auditors could access the buildings, proceed with ICT equipment installations, and perform audits and engagement with occupants. At the end of RP2, surveys in demo sites uncovered building problems related to comfort; building models were created and calibrated, and use cases agreed with technical partners and building representatives. All equipment was installed and commissioned, and integration with key components of the vBMS was achieved. During RP3, demonstrations were conducted in all sites to deploy and test services enabled by the vBMS, e.g. automating optimised heating control.
The Collaborative contract template was developed, and the methodology proposed for bankability evaluation was improved, to implement it in a dedicated ICT tool. The development of the Agile and Enhanced EPC contract template started in RP2 was concluded in RP3. The business models developed in the project were tested in the four iBECOME demo sites to prove their relevance in different building types and contexts.
As the results of the project were achieved, they were communicated via an enhanced medial toolkit. iBECOME developed a wide set of digital results, as downloads available on the website, and videos available on the project’s YouTube channel. This was supported by a strong social media engagement, fuelled by newsletters, factsheets, and website articles covering relevant topics. The project also engaged local and international stakeholders through 33 in person and hybrid events (18 during RP3) and created extensive training materials (videos and user manual) for current and future vBMS users. A long-term strategy ensures the sustainability of the project approach and result uptake after its conclusion.

Progress beyond the state of the art and expected potential impact (including the socio-economic impact and the wider societal implications of the project so far)

The ambition of iBECOME was to develop intelligent software solutions to bring substantial benefits to our buildings and society. In the 4th industrial revolution enabled by IoT, iBECOME aimed to introduce two-way communication with smart equipment of a building to reduce energy use and carbon emissions and improve comfort and wellbeing of its occupants.
The new business models developed allow the monetisation of energy savings and re-investment into more equipment and deploying more iBECOME services.
iBECOME solutions can be used in any type of building, with any existing equipment related to energy management. Even if the building has no equipment, basic services can be offered with just a smart meter and a smart thermostat.
At the end of the project, iBECOME can offer:
1. Modelling interventions on the building, enabling continuous optimisation of operation and performance, informing decision-making in energy upgrade design.
2. Calculate and produce big data output both in resolution and number of variables to optimise comfort and flexibility and enable spin-off 3rd party services.
3. Calculate variables and metrics required by certification schemes like BREEAM, LEED, BER, SRI, WELL.
4. Offer user-friendly interfaces for its users, primarily facility managers with experience in using the benefits provided by the iBECOME solution.
The iBECOME vBMS, proven in pilot applications and supported by novel business models, can help reduce primary energy use of European buildings, trigger sustainable energy investments and improve the viability of innovative energy services. By showing the benefits, reliability and reduced payback times compared to similar solutions, iBECOME contributes to increased trust of building owners in investing to run more comfortable and energy-effective buildings. This is supported by proven improvement of comfort and wellness of occupants, which is key in the post pandemic era. Finally, 3rd parties can make use of generated data and offer additional services, opening a potential for broader market uptake of vBMS and DT-enabled services.

iBECOME virtual Building Management Systems (vBMS)

iBECOME Logo