A Qualitative Control Approach to Reduce Energy Costs of Hybrid Energy Systems: Utilizing Energy Price and Weather Data

Mehdi Taebnia, Marko Heikkilä, Janne Mäkinen, Jenni Kiukkonen-Kivioja, Jouko Pakanen and Jarek Kurnitski
Additional contact information
Mehdi Taebnia: Department of Civil Engineering, School of Engineering, Aalto University, PO Box 12100, FI-00076 Aalto, Finland
Marko Heikkilä: Sweco AB, Ilmalanportti 2, 00240 Helsinki, Finland
Janne Mäkinen: FCG Finnish Consulting Group Oy, PO Box 950, 00601 Helsinki, Finland
Jenni Kiukkonen-Kivioja: Sweco AB, Ilmalanportti 2, 00240 Helsinki, Finland
Jouko Pakanen: Department of Civil Engineering, School of Engineering, Aalto University, PO Box 12100, FI-00076 Aalto, Finland
Jarek Kurnitski: Department of Civil Engineering, School of Engineering, Aalto University, PO Box 12100, FI-00076 Aalto, Finland

Energies, 2020, vol. 13, issue 6, 1-17

Abstract: Nowadays, many buildings are equipped with various energy sources. The challenge is how to efficiently utilize their energy production. This includes decreasing the share and costs of external energy—usually electrical energy delivered from the grid. The following study presents a qualitative approach with a combined control to solve the problem. The approach is demonstrated using a simulated residential building equipped with a hybrid energy system: a thermal energy storage combined with an electrical heater, a geothermal heat pump and a solar thermal collector. Consequently, the share of renewable energy was increased and, conversely, costs of the external energy from grid decreased by 12.2%. The results were based on a qualitative approach and the algorithm which predicts the need of energy of the building over the next 6 h with the aid of weather forecasting. This approach included a storage tank of 300 L. The energy costs can be further decreased 7.7% by increasing thermal storage capacity and modifying the control algorithm. In all cases, the indoor conditions were kept at a comfortable level. However, if the room temperature is temporarily allowed to slightly drop a few degrees during the heating season, the energy costs were further reduced.

Keywords: renewable energy; qualitative modelling; building energy simulation; geothermal heat pump; solar collector; electrical heater; load shifting; price responsive; energy storage (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q Q0 Q4 Q40 Q41 Q42 Q43 Q47 Q48 Q49 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

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