Abstract
The use of air source heat pump systems for space heating and cooling is a convenient retrofitting strategy for reducing building energy costs. This can be combined with the rooftop installation of photovoltaic panels, which can cover, to a significant degree—or even significantly exceed the building’s electricity needs, moving towards the zero energy building concept. Alternatively, increased capacity for rooftop photovoltaic (PV) installation may support the ongoing process of transforming the Greek power system away from the reliance on fossil fuels to potentially become one of the leaders of the energy transition in Europe by 2030. Standard building energy simulation tools allow good assessment of the Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning (HVAC) and PV systems’ interactions in transient operation. Further, their use enables the rational sizing and selection of the type of panels type for the rooftop PV installation to maximize the return on investment. The annual performance of a three-zone residential building in Volos, Greece, with an air-to-water heat pump HVAC system and a rooftop PV installation, are simulated in a TRNSYS environment. The simulation results are employed to assess the expected building energy performance with a high performance, inverter driven heat pump with scroll compressor and high efficiency rooftop PV panels. Further, the objective functions are developed for the optimization of the installed PV panels’ area and tilt angle, based on alternative electricity pricing and subsidies. The methodology presented can be adapted to optimize system design parameters for variable electricity tariffs and improve net metering policies.
Highlights
The minimization of energy consumption is crucial nowadays on the path towards the zero-energy building concept
What is needed here is to minimize the level of the subsidies by a more accurate assessment of their effects on the daily grid operation. Since our purpose this time is to further increase installed PV capacity at a fast rate by private investment, the optimization process can be modified to examine the effect of smart electricity pricing, with a somewhat higher price to be paid to the house owner for net electricity supplied to the network by the PV installation during the previously mentioned hours of day between 08:00–14:00
Size and tilt angle optimization of the PV installation was carried out in the framework of emerging angle optimization of the PV installation was carried out in the framework of emerging policies aiming at a significant increase in renewable electricity in Greece
Summary
The minimization of energy consumption is crucial nowadays on the path towards the zero-energy building concept. Zero-energy buildings (NZEB) require a small amount of energy because of their high energy performance. This low energy demand is covered mostly by renewable sources. The European Commission closely monitors the number of nearly zero-energy buildings (NZEBs) in Europe [1]. In 2016, the Commission developed guidelines to promote NZEBs so that by 2020, all new buildings would be nearly zero-energy [2]. This requirement is legislated in the consolidated version of the Energy
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
