Demand Management of Buildings in Thermal Networks

Overview

The overarching project aim is to provide comprehensive knowledge and tools for successful activation of the demand management of buildings in thermal networks. The project is investigating both the social and technical challenges and how these can be overcome for various building typologies, climate zones and local conditions, as well as how digitalisation of heating demand (real-time data from smart meters) can speed up the activation process and contribute to unfolding the dynamic building characteristics. To achieve the overarching aim, the project has specific objectives to:

• provide knowledge on partners / actors involved in the energy chain and on collaboration models / instruments for successful demand management;
• evaluate and provide design solutions for new and existing building heating and cooling substations and installations for successful demand management;
• develop methods and tools to utilize the smart heat meter data for real-time data modelling and identification of dynamic building characteristics;
• provide knowledge from and drive adaptation and visualization of project results through case studies.

The planned official deliverables are as follows:

• a technical report on recommendations on how to engage users, including business model, methods to motivate, aimed at district heating and cooling utilities, building owners and operators, designers, manufacturers, installers, and policy makers;
• a technical report on building technology for activation of the demand response in thermal networks - status, development guidelines, aimed at building owners and operators, designers, manufacturers, installers;
• a technical report on the Tool-Kit for assessing building demand response capability and a methodology for utilization of 'big-data' from smart heat meters, aimed at building designers and engineers, district heating and cooling utilities, and building owners.