Energy flexibility through component activation (EnerFlexBuildings)

Abstract:
According to the plans of the Austrian federal government, climate neutrality and a 100% renewable energy supply are to be achieved by 2040. The associated increase in fluctuating renewable generation requires a significant increase in storage capacities.

The building sector can make a substantial contribution to this. Through energy flexibilisation, existing storage masses can be utilised to store renewable energy in the form of heat or cold within buildings, balancing generation and consumption peaks. This can relieve energy grids and reduce the need for storage expansion. In the course of the necessary renovation of existing buildings and new constructions to achieve climate goals, energy flexibility is essential alongside energy efficiency. Raising awareness among developers, building managers, owners, energy service providers, and other stakeholders is crucial.

For this purpose, a measurement and control kit is being developed, which enables the analysis of individual flexibility potentials through monitoring of system and comfort parameters. Using reinforcement learning and taking individual comfort requirements into account, control strategies are developed and implemented in buildings.

Research test rooms at the University of Applied Sciences Salzburg are available for testing and validating the control concepts. These offer a wide range of control options and sensors for energy and comfort, in addition to different component activation and low-temperature systems. In the subsequent real-world building use, users are involved through accompanying social science research and surveyed about their individual comfort perceptions.

The following research questions are addressed in this way:

The goal of the project is to develop practical solutions for flexibilisation in new and existing buildings. The acquired know-how flows into industry-related follow-up and implementation projects, providing added value for the economy and education. As a result, energy-flexible buildings can achieve widespread impact and contribute to a sustainable and future-proof energy supply.

A central challenge is the activation of storage masses under individual building and usage-specific conditions. For this purpose, a measurement and control kit is being developed, which enables the analysis of individual flexibility potentials through monitoring of system and comfort parameters. Using reinforcement learning and
taking individual comfort requirements into account, control strategies are developed and implemented in buildings.

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Manager of the project:

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