A data collection and supplementary control platform of a modern building for smart energy applications

Abstract

This paper presents the design and applications of a data collection and supplementary control platform developed for energy-related applications of a modern office building. The challenges and possibilities of such a platform are discussed. The developed platform needed to aggregate and utilize available data and controls in buildings. The platform comprises a data collector at the edge for collecting, filtering and buffering data and for rapid control actions, and an IoT platform at the back end for visualizations and slow responses of energy management. Data is collected from internal (e.g., building automation and smart metering) and external (e.g., weather and market services) sources. The unique features of the platform include support for heterogeneous nature of the data sources and high volume and time resolution of data. The applications developed prove the applicability of the platform: energy and power quality analysis using machine learning, power peak management, blockchain for energy trading, and dashboards for energy information visualization for users of the building. The platform allows comprehensive and reliable data collection and more sophisticated integration of buildings in smart grids, e.g., ancillary service markets. The platform has also been deployed in a microgrid environment. Furthermore, the paper offers valuable experiences and lessons learned if planning to realize a smart building.