C. Wootton

Bio: C. Wootton is an academic researcher. The author has contributed to research in topics: Smart grid & Thermal mass. The author has an hindex of 1, co-authored 1 publications receiving 2 citations.

What are smart grid optimised buildings

Abstract: Smart Grid Optimised Building (SGOB) can be thought of as meeting its service obligations to its occupants and minimising its operational cost and footprint to its owner while actively engaging with the electricity provider, enabling in this way the best use of the available resources. SGOBs differ from Smart Buildings, regarding their aim and objectives, as their design and energy systems are optimised for the needs of the Smart Grid. Conceptually, they must have an active interaction with the energy network through responses to dynamic electricity prices and carbon emissions, similarly to Active Buildings. Instead of being considered as a passive element of the energy equation like conventional buildings, SGOBs follow an original and innovative approach and have the capacity to transform to prosumers, with the deployment of on-site renewable energy sources and by participating in a 2-direction power exchange with the Network Operator. The current literature and research have followed an ad-hoc approach by focusing on conventional strategies on existing buildings, such as increasing the building energy efficiency or reducing the current energy loads. On the other hand, SGOBs are expected to consist of several optimised design elements, including thermal mass, shape, orientation, insulation and glazing. Furthermore, SGOBs can meet their energy loads with electricity, either directly from the grid or using their incorporated energy storage systems e.g. batteries. Electricity can be stored at times of low demand when the electricity tariffs are cheaper, and used on the following day to cover part of the peak load. Another possibility includes the load-levelling service, where the building is notified by the Network Operator to maintain its consumption below a power limit for a specific time period. This paper is the first to present the concept and the philosophy on which SGOBs are based, along with initial results, demonstrating how a building can adjust its loads to reduce stress on the grid.

Battery storage systems in smart grid optimised buildings

Abstract: The building sector is responsible for a significant proportion of the consumed energy and the consequent carbon emissions. Currently, electricity and natural gas are the most popular fuels used in the UK Services sector and the industry. Furthermore, buildings constitute a key component of the power network, in both its current conventional form and its evolution, the smart grid. The smart grid is expected to integrate energy storage, distributed generation and buildings into the network. This paper introduces the concept of Smart Grid Optimised Buildings (SGOBs), recognising the importance of energy storage to establish a dynamic interaction between the building and the smart grid. SGOBs are expected to be fully electric, make the best use of the available resources and utilise their embedded battery storage systems to respond to notifications issued by the smart grid and to dynamic electricity prices. Assuming that buildings have access to the day-ahead electricity market, initial results show that battery storage can be successfully used to change a building’s electricity profile and perform load-shifting (arbitrage) and peak-shaving while the excess electricity is exported back to grid to take advantage of the price difference and relieve pressure on the infrastructure.

Towards active buildings: Rating grid-servicing buildings:

Abstract: In most industrialized countries, the buildings sector is the largest contributor to energy consumption and associated carbon emissions. These emissions can be reduced by a combination of energy ef...