Modeling for Energy Management and Simulation of Healthcare Buildings in Coastal Environments

Modellazione per la gestione dell'enerHospitals are highly energy-intensive facilities that require a continuous and reliable supply of electrical and thermal energy. In island contexts, this energy demand is often met by expensive and polluting fossil fuels, creating a strong case for the integration of on-site renewable energy systems. This thesis investigates the techno- economic feasibility of an integrated Energy Hub designed to maximize the energy autonomy of a hospital. The study employs a comparative methodology, analyzing the performance of a standardized hospital prototype simulated in three distinct island locations: the Aran Islands (Ireland), Pantelleria (Italy), and Gran Canaria (Spain). This approach allows for the evaluation of the system’s effectiveness under different climatic conditions and renewable resource availability (solar and wind). A dynamic simulation model, developed in MATLAB, was used to assess five different scenarios for each location, combining Photovoltaic Panel (PV) panels, wind turbines, a Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS), and a Combined Heat and Power ( CHP ) unit. The performance of each configuration was evaluated based on key energy and economic indicators, including the share of demand covered, the Levelized Cost of Energy ( LCOE), and the Net Present Value (NPV ). The results demonstrate that a well-designed hybrid Energy Hub can achieve a high degree of energy independence, covering over 82% of the hospital’s annual electricity demand in all scenarios. The study highlights that there is no universal optimal solution, the most profitable configuration is strictly site-specific, depending on a trade-off between the local renewable potential and the investment costs of the technologies. Furthermore, the analysis confirms the critical role of dispatchable technologies, such as the CHP unit, in ensuring system reliability and economic viability. Ultimately, this thesis provides valuable insights into the design of resilient and sustainable energy systems for critical infrastructure in island environments, quantifying the benefits and identifying the key strategic factors for a successful energy transition in the healthcare sector. gia e simulazione di edifici sanitari in ambienti costieri