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Special Issue "Advanced Energy Systems in Zero/Positive Energy Buildings, Communities and Districts"

A special issue of Energies (ISSN 1996-1073). This special issue belongs to the section "G: Energy and Buildings".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 June 2023 | Viewed by 6107

Special Issue Editors

VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland, FI-02044 VTT Espoo, Finland
Interests: energy in buildings and communities; renwable energy integration; simulation and optimization of buildings’ performance
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland, FI-02044 VTT Espoo, Finland
Interests: zero energy building; positive energy buildings; positive energy district; energy transition; energy system modelling; renewable energy systems integration; energy storages; energy flexibility; energy resiliency in buildings and districts; sustainability

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The Building sector is important for cities around the world in its Climate Action efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. In general, they are responsible for approximately 40% of the EU’s energy consumption and 36% of the emissions. Therefore, energy in the buildings, communities and districts is one of the main fields for the mitigation of emissions and ensuring a sustainable, self-sufficient and safe future. This can be done by enhancing the energy efficiency and using advanced energy systems components of onsite renewable energy generation, conversion, and storage technologies in buildings, communities and districts, which can offset the imported energy from the grids. Various raising concepts for net-zero/positive energy buildings and districts (NZPEBDs) have emerged in recent years to shape cities in to carbon-neutral communities in the near future. These buildings and districts can also support in reaching self-sufficiency, engage users and provide energy resiliency during outages.

For this Special Issue, authors are kindly invited to submit high-quality papers on one or more of the following topics related to advanced energy systems in net-zero/positive energy buildings and districts:

  • Concepts, definitions and KPIs development of nearly/net/zero and positive energy buildings/communities/districts;
  • Energy efficiency of buildings in communities and districts;
  • Advanced HVAC systems in buildings;
  • Heating/cooling energy and electricity demand;
  • Advanced short/long-term energy storage for heating/cooling/electricity and controls;
  • Renewable-based energy generations and smart controls;
  • Energy resiliency of the buildings during grid outages under various weather conditions;
  • Energy flexibility offered by buildings, communities and districts to the grid;
  • Energy self-sufficiency of the buildings, communities and districts;
  • Advanced simulation and optimization methods;
  • Experience and results from demos and monitoring sites;
  • Economic-, social- and policy-related aspects;
  • User’s acceptance and engagement in communities and districts.

Prof. Dr. Ala Hasan
Dr. Hassam Ur Rehman
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Energies is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2200 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • nearly/net/zero and positive energy buildings/communities/districts
  • advanced energy systems
  • energy resiliency
  • energy flexibility
  • experience from demo sites
  • economic, social and policy aspects
  • user’s acceptance and engagement

Published Papers (5 papers)

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Research

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Article
Towards the Decarbonization of Industrial Districts through Renewable Energy Communities: Techno-Economic Feasibility of an Italian Case Study
Energies 2023, 16(6), 2722; https://doi.org/10.3390/en16062722 - 14 Mar 2023
Viewed by 430
Abstract
In Europe, the recast of Directive 2018/2001 defined Renewable Energy Communities as innovative configurations for renewable energy sharing between different end user types. In this regard, this work aims to assess the benefits following the constitution of a Renewable Energy Community in the [...] Read more.
In Europe, the recast of Directive 2018/2001 defined Renewable Energy Communities as innovative configurations for renewable energy sharing between different end user types. In this regard, this work aims to assess the benefits following the constitution of a Renewable Energy Community in the industrial area of Benevento (South of Italy), involving a mixed-use building and an industrial wastewater treatment plant. The alternative single end users’ configuration has been also examined, and both solutions have been compared with the current state where the users’ electric energy requests are fully met by the power grid. The users have been equipped with a 466 kWp photovoltaic plant, modelled in HOMER Pro®, providing in input experimental meteorological data (global solar radiation and air temperature) collected by one of the weather control units in Benevento. Real data about users’ electric energy demand have been gathered from their electricity bills, and when unavailable their electric load profiles on an hourly basis have been reconstructed based on the aggregated monthly data. Energy sharing has been proven to increase energy self-consumption and the users’ self-sufficiency. Annually, the primary energy demand is reduced by 577 MWh (1.2 MWh/kWp), carbon dioxide emissions by 84 tCO2 and operative costs by 101 kEUR. Full article
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Article
Design of an Algorithm for Modeling Multiple Thermal Zones Using a Lumped-Parameter Model
Energies 2023, 16(5), 2247; https://doi.org/10.3390/en16052247 - 26 Feb 2023
Viewed by 365
Abstract
The generation of mathematical models for the analysis of buildings with multiple thermal zones is a large and complex task. Furthermore, the order and complexity of the dynamical model are increased by the number of included thermal zones. To overcome this problem, this [...] Read more.
The generation of mathematical models for the analysis of buildings with multiple thermal zones is a large and complex task. Furthermore, the order and complexity of the dynamical model are increased by the number of included thermal zones. To overcome this problem, this paper presents an algorithm to define the mathematical model automatically, using the geometric and physics parameters as inputs. Additionally, the spatial position of each thermal zone must be recorded in an arrangement called a contact matrix. The algorithm for modeling systems with multiple thermal zones is the main contribution of this work. This algorithm is presented in pseudocode format and as an annex, an implementation in MATLAB software. One of the advantages of this methodology is that it allows us to work with parallelepipeds and not necessarily cubic thermal zones. The algorithm allows us to generate mathematical models with symbolic variables, starting from the knowledge of how many thermal zones compose the system and its geometric organization. This information must be organized in a matrix arrangement called a contact matrix. Different arrays of thermal zones were constructed with wooden boxes to verify the functionality of the models generated with the algorithm. Each case provided information that allowed us to adjust the mathematical models and their simulations, obtaining a range of errors between experimental and simulated temperatures from 2.08 to 5.6, depending on the number of thermal zones studied. Full article
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Article
The Sense and Non-Sense of PEDs—Feeding Back Practical Experiences of Positive Energy District Demonstrators into the European PED Framework Definition Development Process
Energies 2022, 15(12), 4491; https://doi.org/10.3390/en15124491 - 20 Jun 2022
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Abstract
This article discusses early developments of the Positive Energy District (PED) concept, both in terms of its definition and of its implementation in real world demonstrators. Based on the specific challenges for creating an operational definition for the European +CityxChange project, the feasibility [...] Read more.
This article discusses early developments of the Positive Energy District (PED) concept, both in terms of its definition and of its implementation in real world demonstrators. Based on the specific challenges for creating an operational definition for the European +CityxChange project, the feasibility of creating a PED was practically explored by identifying 4 possible subtypes that respond to varying constraints regarding the energy balance of the PED. This article provides the context and describes these 4 ambitions levels: PEDautonomous, PEDdynamic, PEDvirtual, and PrePED; and the 3 boundary modes: geographical, functional, and virtual. The work thus expands on the first general PED definitions as they were put forward in the SET-plan and by the European Commission, while allowing a better response to the specific boundary conditions of PEDs’ physical context. As such, it provides an operational, city-focused, bottom-up PED definition. The present study analyses how these efforts connect to current work being performed on the development of a European PED Framework Definition. In the latter, new elements such as context factors are introduced in order to account for the varying boundary conditions that PEDs must address, and in particular the difficulties of realising PEDs in existing and densely built-up urban areas. Hereby it can be argued that the approach with 4 subtypes is a bottom-up method of addressing the same challenges as a context factor based approach operating in a top-down manner, this time starting from the regional or national renewable energy potentials. Both approaches indeed strive towards an optimum setup of PEDs both within their geographical boundaries and in their interactions with the surrounding energy infrastructures and cities. These efforts are instrumental in helping to prevent that a PED is being regarded as a goal in se, functionally disconnected from its surroundings. There are strong arguments in favour of handling PEDs as building blocks for the broader realisation of carbon neutral cities and regions, thus contributing to the systemic change that is needed to futureproof the built environment as a whole. Without applying this integrating perspective, PEDs risk creating a sub-optimal lock-in within their sites and thus remain one-off experiments, lacking connection to the wider urban sustainability strategies that are needed to properly address today’s energy and climate emergencies. This holds even more when considering the quality-related requirements that come with sustainable urban design and governance. Therefore, this study further explores how PEDs can fully support such a deep urban sustainability transition, and what could consequently be the next steps towards successful and upscaled PED deployment. Full article
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Review

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Review
A Review on Optimal Energy Management in Commercial Buildings
Energies 2023, 16(4), 1609; https://doi.org/10.3390/en16041609 - 06 Feb 2023
Viewed by 1012
Abstract
The rising cost and demand for energy have prompted the need to devise innovative methods for energy monitoring, control, and conservation. In addition, statistics show that 20% of energy losses are due to the mismanagement of energy. Therefore, the utilization of energy management [...] Read more.
The rising cost and demand for energy have prompted the need to devise innovative methods for energy monitoring, control, and conservation. In addition, statistics show that 20% of energy losses are due to the mismanagement of energy. Therefore, the utilization of energy management can make a substantial contribution to reducing the unnecessary usage of energy consumption. In line with that, the intelligent control and optimization of energy management systems integrated with renewable energy resources and energy storage systems are required to increase building energy efficiency while considering the reduction in the cost of energy bills, dependability of the grid, and mitigating carbon emissions. Even though a variety of optimization and control tactics are being utilized to reduce energy consumption in buildings nowadays, several issues remain unsolved. Therefore, this paper presents a critical review of energy management in commercial buildings and a comparative discussion to improve building energy efficiency using both active and passive solutions, which could lead to net-zero energy buildings. This work also explores different optimum energy management controller objectives and constraints concerning user comfort, energy policy, data privacy, and security. In addition, the review depicts prospective future trends and issues for developing an effective building energy management system, which may play an unavoidable part in fulfilling the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. Full article
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Review
Lessons Learned from Positive Energy District (PED) Projects: Cataloguing and Analysing Technology Solutions in Different Geographical Areas in Europe
Energies 2023, 16(1), 356; https://doi.org/10.3390/en16010356 - 28 Dec 2022
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Abstract
A Positive Energy District (PED) is a portion of urban area with defined boundaries that can produce energy in excess of its own consumption. The aim of this study is to analyse design variations among the six projects (12 case studies) of PED [...] Read more.
A Positive Energy District (PED) is a portion of urban area with defined boundaries that can produce energy in excess of its own consumption. The aim of this study is to analyse design variations among the six projects (12 case studies) of PED belonging to the European Smart Cities and Communities programme. Thus, it will be possible to identify the reasons behind the energy choices related to generation, storage and distribution that appear in the different geographical areas. To achieve this, different data were collected by consulting official documents and creating questionnaires that were communicated with the project representatives. Thus, the result of this study is a catalogue of the energy system solutions adopted in the studied PEDs with a critical analysis of the different motivations behind them in order to outline general trends in the geographical areas with similar characteristics. In conclusion, this study defined which technological choices are the most common in territories with similar profiles and how divergent those with different profiles are. Furthermore, applied to a large catalogue of PED, the methodology identified would make it possible to create different operating models for different territorial types and urban settlements. Full article
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Planned Papers

The below list represents only planned manuscripts. Some of these manuscripts have not been received by the Editorial Office yet. Papers submitted to MDPI journals are subject to peer-review.

Title: Study of Collective Self-Consumption and Energy Communities for the Reduction of Energy Poverty in Two Neighbourhoods in Spain
Authors: Adelaida Parreño 1, Alfonso P. Ramallo-González 1,* and Mónica Chinchilla Sánchez 2
Affiliation: 1. Universidad de Murcia 2. Universidad Carlos III de Madrid
Abstract: This paper summarizes the energy communities’ state of art and the study that has been done with the aim of reducing energy poverty in Getafe thanks to the implementation of an energy community with collective self-consumption by selecting one of four municipal buildings in two neighbourhoods of Getafe as a producer of solar photovoltaic energy. The energy community has a 95kWp installation located on the roof of the Margaritas Civic Center. 77% of the installed power is for 100 homes near the municipal building and 23% of that power is to cover 60% of the municipal building’s needs. 30 of the 100 homes are considered energy poverty so the rest are the one that will have a monthly fee of € 5.3 / month, then the 77% of the initial investment assigned to the 100 homes, will be paid back in 15 years and once that term is over the monthly fee will be suppressed. Having two different consumption profiles for 2 and 4 cohabitants, the electricity bill (on June/1/2021) is reduced compared to without self-consumption by € 15.69/month and € 16.4/month, respectively. To inform and involve the local residents in the energy community project, several mechanisms are used, such as workshops, information dissemination, and others.

Title: Economic Model-Predictive Control of Buildings’ Heating and Cooling Using the Backbone Energy System Modelling Framework
Authors: Topi Rasku *, Toni Lastusilta, Ala Hasan *, Rakesh Ramesh, and Juha Kiviluoma
Affiliation: VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland, FI-02044 VTT Espoo, Finland *Corresponding authors: [email protected], [email protected]
Abstract: Accessing the demand-side management potential of the residential heating sector requires sophisticated control capable of predicting the response of the building to changes in heating and cooling power, e.g. model predictive control. However, while studies exploring its impacts both for individual buildings as well as energy markets exist, the building-level control in large-scale energy system models hasn’t been properly verified. In this work, we demonstrate the feasibility of the open-source energy system modelling framework Backbone for simplified model-predictive control of buildings. Hourly moving horizon optimisations were performed to minimise the costs of flexible HVAC electricity consumption for a modern Finnish detached house and an apartment block with ground-to-water heat pump systems for the years 2015–2022. Compared to a baseline using a constant electricity price signal, the optimisation with hourly spot electricity market prices resulted in 3.1–17.5% yearly cost savings depending on the simulated year, agreeing with comparable literature. Overall, the simplified model predictive control was observed to behave logically, lending credence to the integration of simplified building models within large-scale energy system modelling frameworks.

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