Becoming a building suitable for participation in peer-to-peer energy trading

Abstract

• The building energy performance level suitable for a prosumer was analyzed. • The potential trading amount was evaluated according to the energy-saving strategies. • We determined the appropriate tilt angle of a PV system for peer-to-peer energy trading. With the recent reinforcement of global environmental regulations and the spread of smart grids, the energy industry is changing from centralized energy systems to distributed energy systems. In peer-to-peer (P2P) energy trading, consumers actively produce energy by using distributed energy resources (DERs) and trade surplus energy to neighbors. The amount of energy produced through DERs is the main consideration in the formulation of strategies for increasing the potential of P2P energy trading, with the energy consumed by buildings also being an important factor. Here, we propose installation guidelines for photovoltaic (PV) systems and the energy performance level required for buildings to be suitable for P2P energy trading. Lighting density, cooling equipment efficiency, plug load density, and natural ventilation were identified as the main factors to be considered for saving electric energy in residential buildings, and the electric energy saving performance was evaluated. We determined the appropriate tilt angle of a PV system on the basis of the monthly electricity demand along with the capacity of the system required for continuous transactions. A strategy that facilitated significant energy saving was reducing lighting density and plug load density, and it is applicable to both new and existing buildings. Thus, existing buildings can also acquire the capability to participate in P2P energy trading. The energy performance level proposed here can be used to identify buildings capable of participating in P2P energy trading.