IEA EBC Annex 96: Grid Integrated Control of Buildings

The energy transition requires buildings to become active, flexible components of future energy systems. With the growing share of variable renewable energy, demand-side flexibility is increasingly vital for grid stability and decarbonisation. IEA EBC Annex 96 develops digital, interoperable control concepts to unlock and scale building flexibility across electricity, heating, and cooling networks.

Short Description

Objectives

IEA EBC Annex 96 aims to systematically integrate building-side flexibility into local and national energy systems. It establishes methodological, technological, and organisational foundations for grid-supportive, automated, and trustworthy control of distributed resources.

Specifically, the Annex will:

develop interoperable digital frameworks for controlling flexible energy use,
harmonise requirements for data interfaces and exchange,
assess the environmental impacts of flexible operation strategies,
validate solutions through international case studies, and
design market-ready product and service packages with new business models.

The Austrian contribution focuses on developing interoperable digital concepts for the control and coordination of flexibility and load management in multi-energy systems. Suitable technologies, building types, and business models are analysed, validated in real applications, and translated into practical recommendations. In doing so, Austria supports national strategies such as the NECP, klimaaktiv, e5, and the Pionierstädte Initiative.

Content

Subtask A: Future Scenarios & Interoperability
Development of future scenarios and interoperability requirements for multi-energy systems.
Subtask B: Flexible Demand Aggregation
Development of methods to aggregate decentralised flexibility into market-relevant services.
Subtask C: Product Packages & Business Models
Definition of market-ready product and service models for the utilisation of flexibility.
Subtask D: Case Studies & Implementation Models
Validation through real-world demonstrations and implementation models.

Expected Results

Interoperability & Reference Models: Open, replicable data and interface models for building, district, and market integration; automated control concepts for power and thermal networks.
Aggregation Toolchain: Methods and prototypes for forecasting, optimisation, and coordination of heterogeneous energy assets.
Product & Tariff Concepts: Solutions for load shifting, peak reduction, and CO₂-optimised operation; business models and tariffs to activate flexibility in power and heat markets.
Practical Validation: Demonstrations in Austria and internationally, with measurable impacts on CO₂ reduction, grid stability, and user comfort.
Guidelines & Policy Recommendations: Practical guidance for building owners, utilities, and regulators; contributions to standardisation and market integration.
Knowledge Transfer: Open-access guides, training materials, webinars, and case study platforms strengthening Austria's international visibility in grid-integrated building control.

Through the combination of interoperable digital control, market-oriented business models, and real-world demonstrations, Annex 96 – supported by Austria's focus on multi-energy systems and district-level solutions – accelerates cost-effective decarbonisation and enhances the resilience of future energy systems.

Participants

Australia (Operating Agent), Austria, Belgium, Canada, Czeck Republic, Denmark (Operating Agent), Hong Kong, Ireland, Italy, Netherlands, Norway, United Kingdom, USA

Contact Address

DI Dr. Ingo Leusbrock
AEE - Institute for Sustainable Technologies
Feldgasse 19, 8200 Gleisdorf
E-Mail: i.leusbrock@aee.at

Simon Hinterseer, MSc.
Technical University of Vienna
Karlsplatz 13
1040 Vienna
E-Mail: simon.hinterseer@tuwien.ac.at