Heat Pumps, Photovoltaics and Energy Storage in Buildings –Load Characteristics and Flexibility Options on District Level
Abstract
A comprehensive simulation study of (future) energy-efficient districts including building, HVAC system and energy storage is performed in order to investigate the potential and limits of storage and flexibility in buildings on the district level. Based on three existing examples of energy-efficient districts, building and district models are developed. In future decarbonized districts, the heat demand will be significantly decreased and will be provided by electric energy to a large extent: new buildings built in nZE standard, deep renovated existing buildings as well integration of heat pumps in buildings will lead to a strongly seasonal varying electricity demand. This assessment includes a detailed investigation of the PV own-consumption as well as the external (price) signal-driven energy storage in buildings. The use of the thermal mass of buildings as storage as well as the additional integration of onsite (thermal/electric) storage allows to increase the PV own consumption and further reduce the electric energy of the district, while the influence on the peak power is limited.