Researchers from the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) in Germany have developed a new energy management system for residential buildings that aims to optimize comfort and energy costs while integrating renewable energy sources and storage systems. The team, led by Jovana Kovačević and including Felix Langner, Erfan Tajalli-Ardekani, Marvin Dorn, Simon Waczowicz, Ralf Mikut, Jörg Matthes, Hüseyin K. Çakmak, and Veit Hagenmeyer, presented their findings in a study titled “ComEMS4Build: Comfort-Oriented Energy Management System for Residential Buildings using Hydrogen for Seasonal Storage,” published in the journal Applied Energy.
The study focuses on the integration of flexible energy loads and storage systems in residential buildings to better align with the variable nature of renewable energy generation. While batteries are commonly used for short-term storage, the researchers propose that hydrogen (H2) storage systems can enable seasonal shifting of renewable energy, helping to balance supply and demand throughout the year. However, the high initial costs of H2 systems can be a barrier to their widespread adoption.
To address this challenge, the researchers developed a Comfort-Oriented Energy Management System for Residential Buildings (ComEMS4Build) that combines photovoltaics (PV), battery energy storage, and H2 storage. The system also incorporates fuel cells (FC) and heat pumps (HP) as complementary technologies to improve overall efficiency and reduce costs. The ComEMS4Build uses a fuzzy-logic-based approach to manage energy flows and was evaluated over a 12-week period during winter for a family household in Germany.
The researchers compared the performance of ComEMS4Build with two other control strategies: a Rule-Based Control (RBC) system designed for minimal input requirements and a Model Predictive Control (MPC) system intended for cost-optimal performance with ideal forecasting. The results showed that ComEMS4Build and MPC both maintained thermal comfort for occupants in 10 out of 12 weeks, while RBC had a slightly higher median discomfort level. In terms of cost, ComEMS4Build increased weekly electricity costs by 12.06 EUR compared to MPC, while RBC increased costs by 30.14 EUR.
The study also found that ComEMS4Build improved the utilization of the hybrid energy storage system (HESS) and energy exchange with the main grid compared to RBC. However, RBC was more efficient in reducing the toggling counts and working hours of the fuel cell compared to MPC. Overall, the researchers conclude that ComEMS4Build offers a promising approach to optimizing energy management in residential buildings while maintaining occupant comfort and reducing costs.
The practical applications of this research for the energy sector include the integration of renewable energy sources and storage systems in residential buildings, as well as the use of fuzzy-logic-based control strategies to optimize energy management. The findings could help inform the development of more efficient and cost-effective energy management systems for residential and commercial buildings, contributing to the broader transition towards a more sustainable and decentralized energy system.
This article is based on research available at arXiv.