The impact of control strategies upon the energy flexibility of nearly zero energy buildings: Energy consumption minimization versus indoor thermal comfort maximization
The rapid increase in stochastic renewable generation sources at low voltage levels and the tough regulations regarding the energy efficiency of buildings in Europe are a challenge which generates new opportunities both for the energy and the buildings industry. Buildings are becoming smarter and more efficient and they can play new roles in the energy industry by supplying demand side flexibility services for balancing the electrical grid. This study analysis how two different control strategies for the thermal loads are influencing the energy flexibility of nearly zero energy buildings and which are the trade offs in cases when energy consumption minimization is the desired objective or when the indoor thermal comfort is the aimed outcome. The two buildings are in Bucharest and according to their function and type, they are representative for 50% of the European building stock. The thermal loads are controlled using model predictive controllers and the analysis is made using real energy market prices in a demand response energy market context.
2018 IEEE International Conference on Automation, Quality and Testing, Robotics (AQTR)