Development of an Energy Information tool to support technical and economical assessment in the design stage of integrated energy systems in districts of buildings

In recent years, a notable shift has been observed in the energy sector, moving away from traditional centralized power plants towards a decentralized energy system, driven by the growing need for better integration of renewable energy sources. As part of this transformative process, energy communities have emerged as a prominent and innovative model for energy management, involving active citizen participation in energy production, consumption, and governance. By investigating the complexities of this evolving field, the thesis aims to comprehensively evaluate and compare various scenarios for the configuration of renewable energy communities. Through an existing Python-based co-simulation environment, an energy simulation is performed to evaluate the interaction and interoperability among distinct components of the energy community. The simulation considers key design parameters such as the configuration of the community, the inclusion of communal or individual batteries, the associated control mechanisms, the ownership model, and the incentive scheme mechanisms. The proposed methodology encompasses three primary phases. Initially, the demand for all non-thermal sensitive electrical loads within a residential building is estimated using a bottom-up model. This estimation is based on the reconstruction of occupancy patterns using Markov chains derived from Time-of-Use (TOU) surveys. Subsequently, a building thermal dynamic model and a simplified heat pump model are incorporated to complete the estimation of the electrical demand. Models for photovoltaic generation and battery management, controlled by rule-based logic, are also included. Finally, a techno-environmental-economic analysis is conducted using key performance indicators (KPIs) to assess the obtained results, with a pivotal focus on incentive distribution mechanisms. The simulation is performed within a highly electrified scenario for heating and cooling, involving a community of 100 residential units. These units are equipped with distributed photovoltaic panels of varying capacities and offer the option of individual Household Energy Storage (HES) or Communal Energy Storage (CES) setups. The one-year simulation yields comprehensive insights into the various aspects and interactions of energy communities, enabling the development of strategies to maximize their economic, social, and environmental benefits. In conclusion, this research explores critical aspects of energy communities, evaluates different renewable energy community configurations, and develops strategies to optimize their benefits. The proposed methodology, which incorporates the use of an existing co-simulation environment, offers valuable insights into the design and operation of energy communities during the early design stage, providing flexibility in scenario creation, and guidance for transitioning towards a sustainable energy system, facilitating informed decision-making and maximizing the advantages of energy communities.