District-level energy matching tool for carbon-free concepts

The aim of this paper is to describe the development of an energy-matching assessment tool that can be used to study different innovate energy concepts in new districts based on existing distribution infrastructure (district heating and cooling). The objective is to demonstrate carbon free energy concepts based on renewable energy sources. District energy concept includes heating, cooling and electricity. Studied renewable energy sources are wind and solar electricity combined with ground or air source heat pumps, solar heat and heat recovery options from waste water and cooling energy of the buildings. The studies include also batteries and heat storages. Storage capacities are convertible from daily to seasonal. The tool makes assessment of the energy self-sufficiency and the level of autonomy of a district. Different types and capacities of renewable technologies for heat and electricity energy generation and storage can be investigated to reach the set target of self-sufficiency. The utilization of the tool is demonstrated with a case study. The study includes a large district with total building floor area of 1620000 m2 and energy system that is base only on PV and wind power generation. The study introduces design requirements for the generation and energy storages like batteries and heat storages when aiming at self-sufficient district.