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Energy autonomy in residential buildings: a techno-economic model-based analysis of the scale effects

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  • McKenna, Russell
  • Merkel. Erik
  • Fichtner, Wolf

Abstract

An increasingly decentralized energy supply structure alongside economic incentives for increasing the level of self-generation and –consumption are encouraging (higher levels of) energy autonomy. Previous work in this area has focused on the technical and economic aspects of energy autonomy at distinct scales, from individual buildings, through neighbourhoods to districts. This paper employs a mixed integer linear program (MILP) to assess the effects of aggregation across these scales on the economics of energy autonomy in residential buildings. The model minimizes total energy system costs over the lifetime of the energy system, including micro-CHP, PV, thermal and electrical storage, and boilers, at five distinct scales and for nine demand cases. It is subject to several constraints, amongst other things the degree of electrical self-sufficiency. The results indicate a shift in the economically optimal level of electrical self-sufficiency with scale, which in Single Family Households (SFHs) means from around 30% at the individual building level to almost 100% in districts of 1000 SFH households. Above around 560 households it could be economically advantageous to make a district of residential buildings electrically self-sufficient. In addition, a marginal increase in electrical selfsufficiency is significantly more expensive at lower aggregation scales (i.e. single buildings) compared to the scale of neighbourhoods and districts. The level of interaction with the electrical distribution network increases with increasing electrical self-sufficiency before then decreasing at very high (above 70%) levels. Future work should focus on a richer socioeconomic differentiation, considering other sectors and technologies, incorporating demand side options and analysing the effects on the overarching energy system.

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  • McKenna, Russell & Merkel. Erik & Fichtner, Wolf, 2016. "Energy autonomy in residential buildings: a techno-economic model-based analysis of the scale effects," Working Paper Series in Production and Energy 12, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), Institute for Industrial Production (IIP).
    • Handle: RePEc:zbw:kitiip:12
    DOI: 10.5445/IR/1000053153
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    1. Schumacher, K. & Krones, F. & McKenna, R. & Schultmann, F., 2019. "Public acceptance of renewable energies and energy autonomy: A comparative study in the French, German and Swiss Upper Rhine region," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 126(C), pages 315-332.
    2. Yang, Tianren & Zhang, Xiaoling, 2016. "Benchmarking the building energy consumption and solar energy trade-offs of residential neighborhoods on Chongming Eco-Island, China," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 180(C), pages 792-799.
    3. McKenna, R. & Hofmann, L. & Merkel, E. & Fichtner, W. & Strachan, N., 2016. "Analysing socioeconomic diversity and scaling effects on residential electricity load profiles in the context of low carbon technology uptake," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 97(C), pages 13-26.
    4. McKenna, Russell, 2018. "The double-edged sword of decentralized energy autonomy," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 113(C), pages 747-750.
    5. McKenna, R. & Djapic, P. & Weinand, J. & Fichtner, W. & Strbac, G., 2018. "Assessing the implications of socioeconomic diversity for low carbon technology uptake in electrical distribution networks," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 210(C), pages 856-869.
    6. Thu, Kyaw & Saha, Bidyut Baran & Chua, Kian Jon & Bui, Thuan Duc, 2016. "Thermodynamic analysis on the part-load performance of a microturbine system for micro/mini-CHP applications," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 178(C), pages 600-608.

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