Enhancing Energy Transition on Campus: Implementing Thermal Accumulation Mechanisms for Flexibility
Abstract
The University of the Balearic Islands has committed to reducing carbon emissions by 50% by 2030 and achieving net-zero emissions by 2050 through the United Nations' Race to Zero campaign. The UIB has developed a comprehensive strategy to enhance energy efficiency, electrify demand, and deploy 7.1 MWp photovoltaic installations covering 113% of the campus's annual electricity consumption. The campus aims to minimize the excess hourly photovoltaic generation fed back into the distribution grid by deploying a new 4th-5th generation hybrid DHC network, powered by an HVAC plant based on heat pumps and chillers, with a thermal capacity of 4 MWt and a dedicated storage system. Preliminary results, after analyzing multiple configurations of thermal energy storage systems for the HVAC system, demonstrate significant potential for reducing electrical surpluses through the deployment of a hybrid storage system. This system would include an 882 kWht thermal storage buffer and a 4,445 kWhe battery storage system. The results show a 486.43% reduction in cooling energy costs under the most conservative EER scenario for the central HVAC plant using the proposed storage solution.