Overview
The "Energy Production/Supply in Buildings" course provides a comprehensive exploration of energy systems within building infrastructure, covering renewable and non-renewable sources, advanced technologies, and innovative approaches like Smart Buildings and Nearly Zero Energy Buildings (nZEB). Emphasising practical applications and energy efficiency, it addresses sustainable solutions for modern building design and operation, including energy storage and demand response programs. Additionally, the course offers an in-depth study of Building-integrated Photovoltaics (BiPV), covering principles, design considerations, and practical applications. It also includes Demand-Side Management (DSM) for optimising energy consumption patterns, energy flexibility and reducing demand.
Learning objectives
- Understand the principles, technologies, and applications of energy sources in building infrastructure, including their environmental impact and sustainability considerations.
- Gain knowledge of innovative approaches to creating Smart Buildings and Nearly Zero Energy Buildings (nZEB) through the use of renewable energy sources and energy-efficient design principles, including passive design strategies and active energy management techniques.
- Learn the principles, design considerations, and practical applications of Building-integrated Photovoltaics (BiPV) and Building-Applied Photovoltaics (BAPV) technology for seamless integration into building structures, considering architectural aesthetics, system efficiency, and economic feasibility.
- Develop skills in optimising the performance of BiPV/BAPV systems, considering architectural integration, system components, and regulatory requirements, and assessing their economic viability and return on investment.
- Learn about the importance of calibration and validation of energy building models, including data collection, model calibration procedures, sensitivity analysis, and uncertainty quantification, to ensure model accuracy and reliability for decision-making purposes.
- Gain knowledge of the design considerations and integration requirements for energy storage systems in building energy systems, including sizing, placement, and control strategies to optimise energy storage performance and maximise system efficiency.
- Acquire insights into emerging trends and advancements in energy storage technologies for buildings, such as grid-interactive buildings, vehicle-to-building (V2B) integration, and demand response programs, and their potential to enhance building energy resilience and contribute to grid stability and energy flexibility.
- Understand the concept and importance of demand-side management in the context of energy sustainability, grid reliability, energy flexibility and environmental conservation.
- Acquire insights into Smart Building concepts and technologies, empowering users to dynamically adjust building energy and storage systems for enhanced energy efficiency and sustainability, and evaluate the potential benefits and challenges of Smart Building implementation in various contexts.
- Apply theoretical and modelling knowledge and practical skills to analyse case studies and real-world examples, identifying best practices and lessons learned in energy production/supply systems for buildings, and develop innovative solutions to address emerging challenges in building energy management and sustainability.
