Intra and Inter Building control algorithms and smartgrid communication links to facilitate electricity storage in buildings

Lead PI: Dr. Christoph Johannes Meinrenken , , Klaus Lackner

Unit Affiliation: Lenfest Center for Sustainable Energy (LCSE)

January 2012 - December 2013
Inactive
Global ; New York City, NY ; New York
Project Type: Research

DESCRIPTION: As an enabling technology for demand response (DR), electricity storage in buildings has the potential to lower both the cost and the GHG footprint of grid electricity while simultaneously mitigating strain on the grid [1] and increasing its flexibility to integrate more renewable generation (centrally or distributed). Through systems analysis and stochastic modeling, our project will determine which storage technologies on one hand and available electricity tariffs on the other would make such DR economically feasible. And it will provide the required best practice algorithms and industry standard measurement and communication links (within the building(s) and with the smart grid) that could enable the intelligent building control system. The two year project is structured into five phases. The first three phases will be complete after one year, with deliverables and results that are independently valuable even if the project were not continued for the second year. The proposed work will be carried out with the support of 1 PI, 1 (part time) research scientist, and 1 (full time) graduate student. The work will be carried out in close co-ordination with the ongoing research efforts of Dr. SB's team at NIST, Gaithersburg (building environment division). Regular project update meetings with NIST stakeholders, detailed project reports, and optional on-site research by the graduate student in Gaithersburg will maximize relevant information exchange.

OUTCOMES: The two-year research project will yield specifications on building control systems that can be put into practice with today's technology and without requiring consumers to change their consumption behavior. Looking forward, the framework, and algorithms delivered as part of this project can provide a stepping-stone towards advanced functionality applications.