Energy Analysis of a NZEB Office Building with Rooftop PV Installation: Exploitation of the Employees’ Electric Vehicles Battery Storage

Abstract

Near zero energy buildings are increasing worldwide, exploiting low-carbon technologies in heating and electricity self-production. Commercial buildings are increasingly considered as candidates for the installation of smart micro-grids, which may profit from the added storage capacity of the batteries of employees electric vehicles, stationed during daytime in their charging lots. Smart exploitation of the interaction of these electricity sources and sinks may prove essential to address the complex electricity network demand patterns in today’s fast changing energy mixture. The interaction of an efficient office building’s energy system with a big rooftop photovoltaic installation and the aggregate storage capacity of 40 electric cars that are connected in the building’s charging lots is studied by means of transient simulation in TRNSYS environment. The 18-zone building’s heating, ventilation, and air conditioning system, the cars’ batteries, and photovoltaic systems’ interactions are analyzed on a monthly, seasonal, and hourly basis, against the respective demand curves of the Greek network. The results suggest that the specific system’s size may profitably support the operation of a smart micro-grid. The total annual electricity consumption of the building is computed to reach 112,000 kWh, or 20 kWh/m2y. The annual electricity needs of the 40 electric cars, amounting to 101,000 kWh, can be fully met with 30% of the photovoltaic electricity production. Thus, the building becomes a net exporter of electricity to the network, with maximum exported electricity occurring daily between 12:00 and 14:00, which is favorable to meeting the demand curve. Thus, the establishment of smart micro-grids in commercial buildings with large rooftop photovoltaic panels’ capacity and a significant number of electric cars in the employees’ car fleet is quite effective in this direction.

Study on the Reliability and Stability of Fatty Acid‐Paraffin Ternary Phase Change Materials as Energy‐saving Materials

“…[1] Large amounts of energy production need to be supported by efficient energy storage technology. [2] Reducing energy consumption in buildings has become a hot research topic, and developing energy-efficient materials for buildings has good social benefits. [3][4][5] Phase change materials (PCMs) have low thermal conductivity and latent heat properties.…”

“…About one‐third of all societal energy consumption is compensated for by building energy use [1] . Large amounts of energy production need to be supported by efficient energy storage technology [2] . Reducing energy consumption in buildings has become a hot research topic, and developing energy‐efficient materials for buildings has good social benefits [3–5] .…”

The Interaction between Short- and Long-Term Energy Storage in an nZEB Office Building

“…As a result, research on smart micro-grids established in nearly Zero Energy Buildings (nZEBs) has intensified [2]. A nearly zero-emission building is very efficient, with its minimal energy needs usually covered by renewable sources [3]. Microgrids in nZEBs are increasingly designed to be self-sufficient, optimally controlling their grid transactions to safeguard their stability.…”

“…A shift to zero-emission buildings (ZEBs) is projected to be achieved by 2030 [7]. Energy performance optimization is attained by high shell insulation, efficient lighting and advanced heat pump technology [8]. This concept results in a significant surplus of PV electricity around afternoon hours.…”

Method and Simulation of a Power Supply System Operation Based on Methane Generator Supported by Energy Storage System, to Cover High Fluctuation Electrical Loads: Greenhouse Case Study

“…Indicatively, we can mention the [15][16][17][18]. Far fewer articles concern the study of only a (mainly diesel) generator with an energy storage system [19][20][21][22][23]. However, to the best of my knowledge, no article deals with the study of the parallel operation of power systems that combine a methane generator with an energy storage system to cover electricity loads that fluctuate strongly in specific months of the year.…”