SolCalc: Development of a standardized calculation algorithm for the energy consumption assessment and the energy certification of residential buildings with a solar fraction of up to 100% in combination with biomass boilers and heat pumps

Starting point/Motivation

Currently, one uses various partly comprehensible methods for the planning of innovative buildings and a representation of the user behavior for the energy consumption forecast is missing. In addition, there is no simplified algorithm for handling solar thermal energy with coverage levels of more than 20% in combination with biomass boilers and heat pumps.

Contents and Objectives

The main objective of SolCalc is to develop a standardized calculation algorithm for the energy consumption assessment and the energy certification of residential buildings with a solar frac-tion of more than 20% in combination with biomass boilers and heat pumps. In addition, the development covers a method to integrate user behavior.

Methods

With the aid of Energieberatung Salzburg we developed the user behavior model and validated it in a field test. The arithmetic algorithm was implemented in Matlab and Python. The final report describes the Matlab algorithm. The Python implementation is available as a web ser-vice. For the validation, we created test examples to demonstrate the effects of different nu-merical algorithms. In addition, we tested the implemented algorithm on a real building, the e4-Sonnenhaus in Zwettl in Austria.

Results

The model for user behavior is accurate in its use in energy consulting. The deviation of the two different numerical algorithms is less than 10% regarding mapping complex single-family houses with a high solar fraction. In the simulation of the e4 Sonnenhaus, the simulated solar fraction was near the same like the measured solar fraction. The algorithm is available as a training tool, whereby we also integrate quality assurance labeling for solar thermal systems.

Prospects / Suggestions for future research

Based on the findings of SolCalc, there are two FFG subsequent projects. The project "Simul-tan" concentrates on the development of a specific planning environment for all stakeholders in a construction project. It uses the methods of SolCalc for calculations in the background. The project "SolBau" uses and enhances the calculation algorithms of SolCalc to carry out the design of the construction. The holistic view of the overall system avoids unnecessary costs for overdesigned system components.

TU Wien E206 - Institut für Hochbau und Technologie

• Univ.Prof. Dipl.-Ing. Dr.techn. Thomas Bednar
• Dipl.-Ing. Dipl.-Ing. Dr.techn. Matthias Gladt
• Dipl.-Ing. Maximilian Neusser
• Dipl.-Ing. Sabine Wolny
• Dipl.-Ing. Sebastian Zilles

TU Wien E302 - Institut für Energietechnik und Thermodynamik

• Dipl.-Ing. Dominik Bothe
• Ao.Univ.Prof. Dipl.-Ing. Dr.techn. Karl Ponweiser

hbo-Service GmbH

• Dipl.-Ing. Dipl.-Ing. Dr.techn. Simon Handler

AEE Erneuerbare Energie NOW

• Ing. Andreas Reiter