IEA EBC Annex83 Positive Energy Districts

Åsa Hedman,Hans-Martin Neumann,Hassam Ur Rehman,Adriano Bisello,Francesco Reda,Xingxing Zhang,Vicky Albert-Seifried,Andrea Gabaldón,Pekka Tuominen,Francesco Guarino,Steinar Grynning,Ursula Eicker

doi:10.3390/buildings11030130

Abstract

At a global level, the need for energy efficiency and an increased share of renewable energy sources is evident, as is the crucial role of cities due to the rapid urbanization rate. As a consequence of this, the research work related to Positive Energy Districts (PED) has accelerated in recent years. A common shared definition, as well as technological approaches or methodological issues related to PEDs are still unclear in this development and a global scientific discussion is needed. The International Energy Agency’s Energy in Buildings and Communities Programme (IEA EBC) Annex 83 is the main platform for this international scientific debate and research. This paper describes the challenges of PEDs and the issues that are open for discussions and how the Annex 83 is planned and organized to facilitate this and to actively steer the development of PEDs major leaps forward. The main topics of discussion in the PED context are the role and importance of definitions of PEDs, virtual and geographical boundaries in PEDs, the role of different stakeholders, evaluation approaches, and the learnings of realized PED projects.

Highlights

The increase in the energy consumption, the intensification of global warming and policies to reduce the need of fossil fuels have created interest in renewable energy sources (RES)
Tasks are undertaken through a series of “Annexes”, so called because they are legally established as annexes to the Energy in Buildings and Communities (EBC) Implementing Agreement
83 integrates work done in other projects and initiatives

Summary

Introduction

The increase in the energy consumption, the intensification of global warming and policies to reduce the need of fossil fuels have created interest in renewable energy sources (RES). According to the International energy agency (IEA), the use of RES has increased significantly in recent decades. Photovoltaic (PV) energy generation increased from 91 GWh in 1990 to 554,382 GWh in 2018 and wind energy has increased from 3880 GWh in 1990 to 1,273,409 GWh in 2018 [2]. According to IEA, around 26% of the global energy was provided through RES in 2018 [2]. With plans to increase the share of the RES by 32% in the European Union (EU) by 2030 [3] and to further reduce CO2 emissions by 80% by 2050 [4], it is expected that the share of RES will increase on a yearly basis. Power grids and energy systems have to be designed in a way that can regard such issues and challenges

Objectives

Results

Conclusion