IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/eee/renene/v259y2026ics0960148125026965.html

Research on economy and energy flexibility optimization for existing buildings based on thermal and electrical energy storage

Author

Listed:
  • Li, Benjia
  • Liu, Zhongbing
  • Liu, Haixia
  • Wu, Yaling
  • Liu, Ruimiao

Abstract

Building energy system retrofits is an effective solution to address the rapid urban development and clean energy system reform in the future. The economic benefits and energy flexibility potential from existing building energy system retrofits are substantial due to large amounts of existing buildings. To improve economy and energy flexibility of existing buildings, a study on building energy system retrofits was carried out. Two retrofit solutions were primarily proposed, respectively the photovoltaic with thermal energy storage (PV-TES) system and photovoltaic with hybrid energy storage (PV-HES) system. Then, a mixed-integer linear programming (MILP) model was developed to simultaneously optimize the capacity and operation of energy storage systems to minimize the annual total cost (ATC). A comparative evaluation of retrofit solutions was presented based on economy, environment, and energy flexibility. Furthermore, an analysis of key factors was conducted for the PV-HES system. The results showed that the PV-HES system performed better in economic efficiency and energy flexibility compared to the PV-TES system. While the PV-HES system exhibited poor environmental efficiency. The optimal capacity of the battery was affected by time-of-use (TOU) tariffs, PV generation, and battery cost. The findings of this study have offered a guidance to existing building energy system retrofits.

Suggested Citation

  • Li, Benjia & Liu, Zhongbing & Liu, Haixia & Wu, Yaling & Liu, Ruimiao, 2026. "Research on economy and energy flexibility optimization for existing buildings based on thermal and electrical energy storage," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 259(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:renene:v:259:y:2026:i:c:s0960148125026965
    DOI: 10.1016/j.renene.2025.125032
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0960148125026965
    Download Restriction: Full text for ScienceDirect subscribers only
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1016/j.renene.2025.125032?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    As the access to this document is restricted, you may want to

    for a different version of it.

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Tang, Hong & Li, Bingxu & Zhang, Yingbo & Pan, Jingjing & Wang, Shengwei, 2025. "A coordinated predictive scheduling and real-time adaptive control for integrated building energy systems with hybrid storage and rooftop PV," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 239(C).
    2. Yu, Min Gyung & Pavlak, Gregory S., 2021. "Assessing the performance of uncertainty-aware transactive controls for building thermal energy storage systems," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 282(PB).
    3. Shayan, E. & Zare, V. & Mirzaee, I., 2019. "On the use of different gasification agents in a biomass fueled SOFC by integrated gasifier: A comparative exergo-economic evaluation and optimization," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 171(C), pages 1126-1138.
    4. Liu, Jia & Chen, Xi & Yang, Hongxing & Shan, Kui, 2021. "Hybrid renewable energy applications in zero-energy buildings and communities integrating battery and hydrogen vehicle storage," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 290(C).
    5. Mulleriyawage, U.G.K. & Shen, W.X., 2020. "Optimally sizing of battery energy storage capacity by operational optimization of residential PV-Battery systems: An Australian household case study," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 160(C), pages 852-864.
    6. Gao, Mingfei & Han, Zhonghe & Zhang, Ce & Li, Peng & Wu, Di & Li, Peng, 2023. "Optimal configuration for regional integrated energy systems with multi-element hybrid energy storage," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 277(C).
    7. Hu, Maomao & Xiao, Fu & Wang, Shengwei, 2021. "Neighborhood-level coordination and negotiation techniques for managing demand-side flexibility in residential microgrids," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 135(C).
    8. Senatla Jaane, Mamahloko & Bansal, Ramesh C. & Naidoo, Raj M. & Mbungu, Nsilulu T. & Mudau, Unarine Bridget & Yusuf, Teslim & Kgaswane, Keorapetse & Moodley, Prathaban, 2024. "Two decades of progressive cost reduction: A paradigm shift for distributed solar photovoltaics and energy efficiency," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 312(C).
    9. Mousavi, Navid & Kothapalli, Ganesh & Habibi, Daryoush & Khiadani, Mehdi & Das, Choton K., 2019. "An improved mathematical model for a pumped hydro storage system considering electrical, mechanical, and hydraulic losses," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 247(C), pages 228-236.
    10. Yu, Min Gyung & Huang, Bowen & Ma, Xu & Devaprasad, Karthik, 2024. "Multi-objective sizing and dispatch for building thermal and battery storage towards economic and environmental synergy," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 372(C).
    11. Liu, Zhijian & Fan, Guangyao & Sun, Dekang & Wu, Di & Guo, Jiacheng & Zhang, Shicong & Yang, Xinyan & Lin, Xianping & Ai, Lei, 2022. "A novel distributed energy system combining hybrid energy storage and a multi-objective optimization method for nearly zero-energy communities and buildings," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 239(PE).
    12. Lange, Christopher & Rueß, Alexandra & Nuß, Andreas & Öchsner, Richard & März, Martin, 2020. "Dimensioning battery energy storage systems for peak shaving based on a real-time control algorithm," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 280(C).
    13. Zhou, Jin & Wu, Wentao & Bellamy, Larry & Bishop, Daniel, 2026. "Thermal energy storage–coupled heat pump systems: Review of configurations and modelling approaches," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 226(PA).
    14. Savolainen, Rebecka & Lahdelma, Risto, 2022. "Optimization of renewable energy for buildings with energy storages and 15-minute power balance," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 243(C).
    15. Tostado-Véliz, Marcos & Icaza-Alvarez, Daniel & Jurado, Francisco, 2021. "A novel methodology for optimal sizing photovoltaic-battery systems in smart homes considering grid outages and demand response," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 170(C), pages 884-896.
    16. Mohamad, Farihan & Teh, Jiashen & Lai, Ching-Ming, 2021. "Optimum allocation of battery energy storage systems for power grid enhanced with solar energy," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 223(C).
    17. Bilardo, Matteo & Ferrara, Maria & Fabrizio, Enrico, 2020. "Performance assessment and optimization of a solar cooling system to satisfy renewable energy ratio (RER) requirements in multi-family buildings," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 155(C), pages 990-1008.
    18. Guo, Jiacheng & Chen, Jun & Wu, Hao & Zeng, Jimin & Peng, Jinqing, 2025. "Optimized scheduling and performance evaluation of hybrid energy storage systems with power-based and energy-based storage," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 395(C).
    19. Liu, Ruimiao & Liu, Zhongbing & Xiong, Wei & Zhang, Ling & Zhao, Chengliang & Yin, Yingde, 2024. "Performance simulation and optimization of building façade photovoltaic systems under different urban building layouts," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 288(C).
    20. Chen, Qi & Kuang, Zhonghong & Liu, Xiaohua & Zhang, Tao, 2022. "Energy storage to solve the diurnal, weekly, and seasonal mismatch and achieve zero-carbon electricity consumption in buildings," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 312(C).
    21. Chen, Qi & Kuang, Zhonghong & Liu, Xiaohua & Zhang, Tao, 2024. "Optimal sizing and techno-economic analysis of the hybrid PV-battery-cooling storage system for commercial buildings in China," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 355(C).
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Wu, Yaling & Liu, Zhongbing & Liu, Jiangyang & Xiao, Hui & Liu, Ruimiao & Zhang, Ling, 2022. "Optimal battery capacity of grid-connected PV-battery systems considering battery degradation," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 181(C), pages 10-23.
    2. Guo, Jiacheng & Chen, Jun & Wu, Hao & Zeng, Jimin & Peng, Jinqing, 2025. "Optimized scheduling and performance evaluation of hybrid energy storage systems with power-based and energy-based storage," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 395(C).
    3. Mottaghizadeh, Pegah & Jabbari, Faryar & Brouwer, Jack, 2022. "Integrated solid oxide fuel cell, solar PV, and battery storage system to achieve zero net energy residential nanogrid in California," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 323(C).
    4. Tang, Hong & Li, Bingxu & Zhang, Yingbo & Pan, Jingjing & Wang, Shengwei, 2025. "A coordinated predictive scheduling and real-time adaptive control for integrated building energy systems with hybrid storage and rooftop PV," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 239(C).
    5. Motamedisedeh, Omid & Omrani, Sara & Drogemuller, Robin & Walker, Geoffrey & Zagia, Faranak & Sedeh, Zahra Motamedi, 2026. "Techno-economic optimization of PV-battery systems in five Australian states," Utilities Policy, Elsevier, vol. 98(C).
    6. Chen, Xi & Liu, Zhongbing & Wang, Pengcheng & Li, Benjia & Liu, Ruimiao & Zhang, Ling & Zhao, Chengliang & Luo, Songqin, 2023. "Multi-objective optimization of battery capacity of grid-connected PV-BESS system in hybrid building energy sharing community considering time-of-use tariff," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 350(C).
    7. Zhang, Yijie & Ma, Tao & Yang, Hongxing, 2025. "Prediction-based optimal system design of an improved building-to-vehicle-to-building energy community under different operation strategies concerning three PV installation types," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 341(C).
    8. Kim, Insu, 2025. "Optimal allocation of distributed generation and storage systems using multi-dimensional weighted least distance optimization and water droplet algorithms," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 320(C).
    9. Liu, Zhijian & Li, Ying & Fan, Guangyao & Wu, Di & Guo, Jiacheng & Jin, Guangya & Zhang, Shicong & Yang, Xinyan, 2022. "Co-optimization of a novel distributed energy system integrated with hybrid energy storage in different nearly zero energy community scenarios," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 247(C).
    10. Chen, Qi & Kuang, Zhonghong & Liu, Xiaohua & Zhang, Tao, 2024. "Application-oriented assessment of grid-connected PV-battery system with deep reinforcement learning in buildings considering electricity price dynamics," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 364(C).
    11. Chen, Qi & Kuang, Zhonghong & Liu, Xiaohua & Zhang, Tao, 2024. "Optimal sizing and techno-economic analysis of the hybrid PV-battery-cooling storage system for commercial buildings in China," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 355(C).
    12. Ruan, Dawei & Fan, Cheng & Hu, Mingwei & Li, Yumin & Guan, Jun, 2025. "Building-integrated photovoltaics through multi-physics synergies: A critical review of optical, thermal, and electrical models in facade applications," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 251(C).
    13. Zou, Bin & Peng, Jinqing & Li, Sihui & Li, Yi & Yan, Jinyue & Yang, Hongxing, 2022. "Comparative study of the dynamic programming-based and rule-based operation strategies for grid-connected PV-battery systems of office buildings," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 305(C).
    14. Khezri, Rahmat & Mahmoudi, Amin & Aki, Hirohisa, 2022. "Optimal planning of solar photovoltaic and battery storage systems for grid-connected residential sector: Review, challenges and new perspectives," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 153(C).
    15. Tostado-Véliz, Marcos & Rezaee Jordehi, Ahmad & Amir Mansouri, Seyed & Jurado, Francisco, 2022. "Day-ahead scheduling of 100% isolated communities under uncertainties through a novel stochastic-robust model," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 328(C).
    16. Wu, Yaling & Liu, Zhongbing & Li, Benjia & Liu, Jiangyang & Zhang, Ling, 2022. "Energy management strategy and optimal battery capacity for flexible PV-battery system under time-of-use tariff," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 200(C), pages 558-570.
    17. Maciej Neugebauer & Jakub d’Obyrn & Piotr Sołowiej, 2024. "Economic Analysis of Profitability of Using Energy Storage with Photovoltaic Installation in Conditions of Northeast Poland," Energies, MDPI, vol. 17(13), pages 1-13, June.
    18. Lu, Menglong & Wang, Zhihua & Ma, Zhenjun, 2024. "Hybrid solar-wind renewable energy systems with energy storage for net/nearly zero energy buildings: An uncertainty-based robust design method," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 313(C).
    19. Zhang, Sheng & Ocłoń, Paweł & Klemeš, Jiří Jaromír & Michorczyk, Piotr & Pielichowska, Kinga & Pielichowski, Krzysztof, 2022. "Renewable energy systems for building heating, cooling and electricity production with thermal energy storage," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 165(C).
    20. Barforoushi, Taghi & Zahani, Ali & Ghayour, Sepideh Saravani, 2025. "Optimizing the capacity of photovoltaic resources and battery storage in smart homes considering impact of scheduling of appliances and grid availability," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 333(C).

    More about this item

    Keywords

    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;

    Statistics

    Access and download statistics

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:eee:renene:v:259:y:2026:i:c:s0960148125026965. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Catherine Liu (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.journals.elsevier.com/renewable-energy .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.