Experimental implementation of an emission-aware prosumer with online flexibility quantification and provision

TL;DR

This study demonstrates how a real building can act as an emission-aware flexible prosumer, reducing emissions and providing system flexibility through enhanced energy management and predictive control strategies.

Contribution

It introduces an integrated model predictive control approach in a real building to reduce emissions and quantify flexibility without rebound effects.

Findings

12.5% emission reduction compared to rule-based control

Flexibility provision achieved without rebound effects

Validated in real occupied building with local emulation

Abstract

Active building energy management holds potential to reduce global energy-related emissions and support flexible operations of future low-carbon systems. This requires to integrate diverse objectives and engage multiple stakeholders. However, there remains a gap in comprehensive field insights into emission reduction, flexibility provision, and user impacts. This study examined how a real occupied building, with all its energy assets, could function as an emission-aware flexible prosumer. An existing building energy management system was enhanced by integrating a model predictive control strategy. The enhanced setup minimized the equivalent carbon emission due to electricity imports and provided flexibility to the energy system. The experimental results indicated an emission reduction of 12.5% compared to a rule-based controller that maximized PV self-consumption. In addition, a minimal flexibility provision experiment was demonstrated with a locally emulated distribution system operator. The results suggested that flexibility was provided without the risk of rebound effects. This is due to the flexibility envelope that was self-reported in advance. The study concluded by highlighting technical challenges in realizing emission reduction and flexibility in practice.