A Methodology for Defining Electricity Demand in Energy Simulations Referred to the Italian Context

Paola Caputo, Costa Gaia and Valentina Zanotto
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Paola Caputo: Department of Architecture, Built Environment and Construction Engineering, Politecnico di Milano, Via Bonardi 9, 20133 Milano, Italy
Costa Gaia: Department of Architecture, Built Environment and Construction Engineering, Politecnico di Milano, Via Bonardi 9, 20133 Milano, Italy
Valentina Zanotto: Department of Architecture, Built Environment and Construction Engineering, Politecnico di Milano, Via Bonardi 9, 20133 Milano, Italy

Energies, 2013, vol. 6, issue 12, 1-19

Abstract: Electricity consumption in Europe is constantly increasing, despite the fact that in recent years, huge efforts in terms of programs and regulations have been made towards energy demand reduction and energy systems improvement. Since the electricity demand affects both the operation of the supply and distribution plants and the thermal loads of buildings, the importance of providing a proper definition of demand profiles is evident. The main aim of the paper is to provide a set of standard electricity profiles that can reasonably be adopted as input in energy simulations related to the built environment, with particular regards to the Italian context. The work presented in this paper originated within a wider long lasting research aimed at developing a platform for buildings’ energy simulations at district level, with particular reference to the Italian conditions. In this context, it was necessary to define hourly profiles regarding both occupancy and electricity use for lighting and appliances related to different building uses and typologies. For this purpose, the main methods and references for defining electricity loads in buildings were evaluated and average hourly profiles were accordingly developed for residential and commercial buildings. Then the related internal gains were determined and compared to the current Italian standards.

Keywords: electricity demand in buildings; internal gains; dynamic simulations; district energy systems (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: 2013
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (9)

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