Quantification of flexibility in buildings by cost curves – Methodology and application. (15th January 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: De Coninck, Roel; Helsen, Lieve
• Is Part Of: Applied energy. Volume 162(2016)
• Page Start: 653
• Page End: 665
• Publication Date: 2016-01-15
• Subjects: Buildings -- Flexibility -- Demand response -- Optimal control -- Case study; Power (Mechanics) -- Periodicals; Energy conservation -- Periodicals; Energy conversion -- Periodicals; 621.042
• DOI: 10.1016/j.apenergy.2015.10.114
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0306-2619

Abstract

Highlights: This paper presents a methodology for computing the flexibility of buildings. A cost curve shows both the amount and cost of the flexibility at a given time. A case study on an office building reveals the variability of the flexibility. Flexibility of heat pump systems is not free and the correct cost can be computed. Abstract: The smart grid paradigm implies flexible demand and energy storage in order to cope with the variability of renewable energy sources. Buildings are often put forward as a potential supplier of flexibility services through demand side management (DSM) and distributed energy storage, partly as thermal energy. This paper presents a bottom-up approach for the quantification of this flexibility service. Cost curves are computed from the solution of optimal control problems with low-order models. These curves show the amount of flexibility and their associated cost. The method is generic and can be applied to heating, ventilation and air-conditioning (HVAC) services, thermal energy storage (TES) and local electricity production. A case study is performed on a monitored office building in Brussels, Belgium. The results reveal a large variation in both flexibility and cost depending on time, weather, utility rates, building use and comfort requirements. The study shows that for the studied day, flexibility is not for free. The mean flexibility cost has the same order of magnitude as the imbalance price in the Belgian power system.