Demand Side Flexibility Potential and Comfort Performance of Non-Residential Buildings

Abstract

The need to create and maintain a sustainable indoor environment is now more than ever compelling. Both the legislation framework concerning the energy performance of buildings, as determined in its evolution through the EU Directives 2010/31/EU, 2012/27/EU and 2018/844/EU, and the European strategic plans towards green buildings, denote the need of sustainability and comfort of indoor environment for the occupant. Moreover, the EU Directive 2018/2001 sets the renewable energy target of at least 32% for 2030, denoting that the high renewable energy sources penetration level leads to challenges in the design and control of power generation, transmission and distribution. Demand side management may be able to provide buildings with the energy flexibility needed, in order to utilize the intermittent production of Renewable Energy Sources in a much more efficient and cost-effective way. The flexibility potential of installed building systems is investigated, while considering the effects on the indoor environment conditions and the perceived comfort. The implemented Demand Response (DR) control strategy shifts loads by changing heating system set point temperatures, based on market clearing prices of the day ahead market. The results indicated a reduction in energy consumption and energy costs, while maintaining indoor environment quality at satisfactory levels.