■ Chapter 3: Energy in the build environment

3.

Energy in the build environment

ABE EEMCS 3ME IDE

Brains 4 Buildings

prof. dr. Laure Itard, prof. dr. ir. Tamas Keviczky, prof. dr. David Keyson, dr. Neil Yorke-Smith & Mirjam Harmelink MSc

TRL

Summary

Currently, the existing building management systems of office spaces follow fixed schedules that are ill-adapted to the actual, dynamic use of these buildings. The objective of Brains4Buildings project is to develop smart methods and algorithms to reduce energy consumption while allowing for maximised and customisable comfort. Even in the most modern utility buildings energy is wasted due to malfunctioning installations and unexpected user behaviour. This means that, without requiring physical changes to the building, a significant cost reduction can be obtained by making the building management systems smarter. By adding ‘Brains’ to a building, that is fed by data from smart meters, building management systems and the Internet of Things will be capable to make weighted decisions how to maximize energy efficiency and CO2-reduction, increase comfort, respond flexibly to user behaviour and local renewable energy supply and demand, and save on maintenance costs.

What’s next?

The research is organised around open living labs, that will develop and test the first prototypes of new smart algorithms, methods and interfaces in a protected environment. One of the main challenges, is to develop scalable affordable solutions. Moreover, B4B needs to convince managers of the benefits and start investing and using smart system. Lastly, the end users need to be involved to understand how they want to use their offices, to determine the extent to which building management systems should be adapted while balancing sustainability requirements.

Contribution to the Energy Transition

By enabling a smarter use of existing offices and building management systems, energy consumption can be reduced by 20-30% without sacrificing comfort and usability.

TRL

EEMCS TPM

Go-e

dr. ir. Arjen van der Meer

prof. dr. Peter Palenksy, prof. dr. ir. Pavol Bauer, prof. dr. Zofia Lukszo, Caroline Fernandes Farias MSc, Jules Zweekhorst MSc

Summary

The increased electrification of the built environment creates challenges of congestion. This fluctuation in available electricity creates problems for the operation and eventually the stability of the grid. The researchers aim to investigate scalable electrical flexibility services for consumers, business, and distribution system operators in order to postpone or even prevent such low-impact works. This flexibility can be created by shifting the charging time for electric cars or the utilisation of heat pumps to moments when people use less energy or by storing the surplus of energy in batteries when the sun shines bright. Through the development of special algorithms the researchers develop a mechanism which can decide when energy flows which way. For the development of such mechanisms they also include the willingness of companies and consumers to be flexible in their energy flow.

What’s next?

When it is possible to make the grid more flexible the next step is to develop applications that will automate the use and trade of electrical energy in a transparent and fair manner.

Contribution to the Energy Transition

The fast electrification of our environment and the connected energy demand in the built environment necessitates electrical grid expansions. Grid congestion management is a key operational tool to smoothen the planning of such expansions and optimise the allocation of scarcely available technicians. This requires intelligent, scalable, and socially acceptable flexibility solutions borne by the complete energy supply chain.

EEMCS

Reconfigurable PV modules

dr. Patrizio Manganiello, dr. Olindo Isabella TRL

Summary

Current PV modules are composed of many in series connected solar cells. When part of the PV module is shaded, the shaded cells cannot generate the same current limiting the ability of the PV module to produce power. Parallel connection of the strings of solar cells could solve this issue. However, the drawback of connecting in parallel is that you will have higher losses. So, what if you could make the connections between the solar cells reconfigurable? Depending on the casted shade cast on the PV module, it will implement the most optimal connections between the cells. The researchers aim to do so by making the solar cells and modules smart by means of integrated electronics and novel algorithms. Through special electronics cells and modules can sense shade and take other measures which will help the module to make the optimal connections.

What’s next?

The new module has the electronics in place to reconfigure the electrical connections between the strings and to decide on the best configuration using internal electrical measurements. The next step is to design ad hoc power converters for reconfigurable PV modules and develop new algorithms that can not only increase the maximum energy output but also make decisions that are more oriented to the diagnosis or prognosis of the state of health of the panel to improve the PV module and system safety and facilitate operation and maintenance.

Contribution to the Energy Transition

With reconfigurable PV modules more surfaces become suitable for installing PV panels, thus increasing the capacity for capturing solar energy. With this innovation we no longer have to omit partially shaded surfaces. Subsequently, this innovative idea will facilitate integration of PV in infrastructure and create new design opportunities for architects and building/city planners.

TRL

EEMCS

FLEXInet - Intelligent flexibility through integrated hybrid storage technologies

prof. dr. ir. Pavol Bauer, dr. Laura Ramirez Elizondo, dr. Gautham Ram Chandra Mouli

Dr Ten, TU/e. HET, LeydenJar Technologies, VITO, Summerheat, Recoy, DC Opportunities, The Green Village, Emmet Green

Summary

Most of the energy we consume at our homes, comes from elsewhere and is mostly used as electrical energy and for heating or cooling. Innovative in this project is cross energy coupling -electrical energy and heat - with innovative way of electrical energy and heat storage. The energy neutral house can generate its own solar energy which can be stored in a battery, connected electrical vehicle and heat. The researchers aim to develop an integral system for the intelligent and integrated control and implementation of hybrid energy storage technologies in the built environment. They are working on making the collective heat supply and the general energy consumption more sustainable. This system of generating and storing energy will be managed through an intelligent management system that can switch between the various energy resources available at the house.

What’s next?

To further the innovation hydrogen storage will be added, more ancillary services for the grid have to be developed with corresponding regulations and business case.

Contribution to the Energy Transition

Flexinet contributes to the transition as it demonstrates how existing houses can become energy neutral by having the cross coupling of energy usage, storing the needed power electronics underground and having different energy storing option including heat.

EEMCS

Large scale use of solar panels in cities

ir. Maarten Verkou, dr. Hesan Ziar, dr. Olindo Isabella

Mr. Paul Voskuilen (AMS)

TRL

Summary

Solar panels are a well-developed technology for capturing renewable energy. One of the biggest challenges for installing these panels is finding enough and the right space to do so, especially in highly urbanized environments. Besides the space or location challenge, there are also a lot of unanswered questions about the stability of the grid when so many panels are installed and the development of green roofs. The researchers aim at developing a model that takes all these challenges into account but that can still create insight in the potential for placing solar panels on roofs. Through 3D modelling, simulations, and calculations on the possible yield in a given geographical area, the researchers have developed a prototype that combines different layers of information through which it can create such insights needed to further accelerate the deployment of more solar panels in cities.

What’s next?

The next step for this innovative idea is to offer a similar service to other cities and grid companies. For this purpose, the start-up company PV Works B.V. has been founded.

Contribution to the Energy Transition

The system that is being developed allows municipalities, grid companies or house owners to get insight in the potential for capturing solar energy in an urban environment.

TRL

EEMCS

The Photovoltatronics Age

dr. Olindo Isabella, dr. Patrizio Manganiello

Summary

The usage of available renewable energy sources will be critical in the electricity-driven energy system of the future. Photovoltaic (PV) systems can pave every surface in the urban providing useful green electricity for the sustainable electrification of society. For this the researchers are combining expertise in material science; engineering hybrid tandem devices; PV powered multi-functional building elements and xiPV systems. Shade-resilient, high-performance modules integrated with storage of energy and communication capabilities will constitute PV-based intelligent energy agents. This new PV-based intelligent energy agents will also integrate sensing capabilities to identify the operation and environmental conditions. These PV-based intelligent energy agents will cover the whole conversion chain from photons to electrons to bits, marking the advent of photovoltatronics age.

What’s next?

The next step is to start incorporating as much PV systems in building and shaping our environment as possible.

Contribution to the Energy Transition

The development of SMART photovoltatronics will enable society to turn as many surfaces as possible in energy capturing sites – generating high energy yields.