REHO-FM

Building-scale

Image from James Padolsey

District-scale

Image from Mark de Jong

Fetching data from QBuildings

Toggle ON for a parameter specific REHO optimization (slower approach ~30s)

Toggle OFF for a linear estimation on pre-made REHO optimization (fast approach)

Guidelines

Linear scaling of pre-generated results

This mode offers a linear scaling on already optimized typical buildings. No optimization process is run, allowing the user to get instant results.

Linear scaling parameters

The data used for the building characterization comes from the QBuildings database. The following two parameters can also freely be updated : the energy reference area and the building age.
We plan on adding more fitting parameters such as the energy bill or the number of people living in the building.

Linear scaling parameters

	Parameter	Value	Unit	New value
? Energy Reference Area	Energy Reference Area		m²
? Period	Period		-

Guidelines

Live optimization

This mode offers to conduct a live optimization on the selected building(s). Each parameter shown in the tables can be changed from a given list of options, or as a specified number. The parameters then need to be saved to be taken into account. A reset can be done, this will retrieve the original data again.

Optimization initiation

The parameters related to the optimization run need to be specified : optimization type (single-objective or multi-objective) and objective function(s).

Building parameters

The data used for the buildings characterization comes from the QBuildings database. They can be adapted and fine-tuned, as they are crucial for the correct estimation of the building end-use demand.

Prices

Finally, the default values of the retail and feed-in prices for the different energy carriers can be freely updated. Their carbon content is also customizable.

Optimization initiation

	Parameter	Value	New value
? Optimisation type Defines the number of objectives that the optimisation seeks to achieve. "Single" is an optimisation that has one objective while "Multi" is an optimisation with two objectives (which will be solved with a Pareto front).	Optimisation type
? Objective function The objective function describes what the optimisation algorithm will seek to minimise. "TOTEX" means that total cost is minimised, "OPEX" means that operating cost is minimised and "GWP" means that the eq-CO2 emissions are minimised.	Objective function
? Pre-defined cases Reference scenarios are proposed, which set out units to be installed to allow the visualisation of typical cases.	Pre-defined cases
? Pareto steps Number of steps to determine Pareto's front	Pareto steps
? Objective function 1 The first objective function is either total costs or total investments.	Objective function 1
? Objective function 2 The second objective function is either the total operating costs or the global warming potential, expressed in CO2-eq.	Objective function 2
? Enforced units Although the model selects units based on optimisation, this option allows you to force the use of certain units.	Enforced units
? Excluded units Although the model selects units based on optimisation, this option allows you to force the exclusion of certain units.	Excluded units
? Maximum capacity of transformer Defines the maximum exchange capacity (import and export of electricity) for all optimized buildings.	Maximum capacity of transformer

Building parameters

	Parameter	Unit
? Energy Reference Area The energy reference area (ERA) is the total floor area that requires heating (or cooling) within the thermal envelope.	Energy Reference Area	m²
? Roof Area Roof area of the whole building	Roof Area	m²
? Period Period of construction of the building. If the building has been renovated, this period is updated to the date of renovation.	Period	-
? Building's class Building classification according to SIA380/1. In order, "Single housing", "Collective housing", "Administrative", "School", "Commercial", "Restaurant", "Gathering place", "Hospital", "Industry", "Warehouse", "Sports facilities", "Swimming pool", "Other".	Building's class	-
? Thermal transmittance signature The thermal transmittance is the rate of heat transfer through matter. For a building, it is often called the U-value and describes its insulation (the transmittance is the reciprocal of the insulance).	Thermal transmittance signature	kW/m²/K
? Thermal specific capacity Specifies the thermal inertia of the building.	Thermal specific capacity	Wh/m²/K
? Interior temperature Required temperature in the building.	Interior temperature	°C

Prices

Parameter	Value	Unit	New value
Electricity (Cost demand)		CHF/kWh
Electricity (Cost supply)		CHF/kWh
Electricity (GWP demand)		kgCO2eq/kWh
Electricity (GWP supply)		kgCO2eq/kWh
Natural Gas (Cost demand)		CHF/kWh
Natural Gas (Cost supply)		CHF/kWh
Natural Gas (GWP demand)		kgCO2eq/kWh
Natural Gas (GWP supply)		kgCO2eq/kWh
Oil (Cost demand)		CHF/kWh
Oil (Cost supply)		CHF/kWh
Oil (GWP demand)		kgCO2eq/kWh
Oil (GWP supply)		kgCO2eq/kWh
Heat (Cost demand)		CHF/kWh
Heat (Cost supply)		CHF/kWh
Heat (GWP demand)		kgCO2eq/kWh
Heat (GWP supply)		kgCO2eq/kWh
Wood (Cost demand)		CHF/kWh
Wood (Cost supply)		CHF/kWh
Wood (GWP demand)		kgCO2eq/kWh
Wood (GWP supply)		kgCO2eq/kWh
Hydrogen (Cost demand)		CHF/kWh
Hydrogen (Cost supply)		CHF/kWh
Hydrogen (GWP demand)		kgCO2eq/kWh
Hydrogen (GWP supply)		kgCO2eq/kWh
Biogas (Cost demand)		CHF/kWh
Biogas (Cost supply)		CHF/kWh
Biogas (GWP demand)		kgCO2eq/kWh
Biogas (GWP supply)		kgCO2eq/kWh
CO2 (Cost demand)		CHF/kWh
CO2 (Cost supply)		CHF/kWh
CO2 (GWP demand)		kgCO2eq/kWh
CO2 (GWP supply)		kgCO2eq/kWh
Data (Cost demand)		CHF/kWh
Data (Cost supply)		CHF/kWh
Data (GWP demand)		kgCO2eq/kWh
Data (GWP supply)		kgCO2eq/kWh
Gasoline (Cost demand)		CHF/kWh
Gasoline (Cost supply)		CHF/kWh
Gasoline (GWP demand)		kgCO2eq/kWh
Gasoline (GWP supply)		kgCO2eq/kWh

Fossil

5000

MWh

10000

CHF

6000

tCO₂

Heat Pump

5000

MWh

10000

CHF

6000

tCO₂

+ Solar Panels

5000

MWh

10000

CHF

6000

tCO₂

In this scenario,

With this configuration, 5000 MWh/year is needed for heating and electricity. This would result in the installation of a 50 kW air source heat pump to fulfill the energy needs. A photovoltaic system of kW would be installed to cover the electricity needs.

The total cost for this system would be 10000 CHF/year which takes into account an annualized investmenet cost of 10000 CHF/year and a yearly operation cost of 10000 CHF/year (this includes mainly fuel, energy and maintenance).

The total CO₂ emission is tCO₂/year. This consists of the CO₂ emissions from construction: tCO₂/year (mainly from the construction of materials with a higher carbon footprint such as photovoltaic panels, batteries, etc); and the CO₂ emissions during operation: tCO₂/year (mainly from electricity from the electric grid). In comparison to the average CO₂ emission of an average Swiss building, this is 50 % more.

+ Renovation

5000

MWh

10000

CHF

6000

tCO₂

In this scenario,

With this configuration, 5000 MWh/year is needed for heating and electricity. This would result in the installation of a 50 kW air source heat pump to fulfill the energy needs. A photovoltaic system of kW would be installed to cover the electricity needs.

The total cost for this system would be 10000 CHF/year which takes into account an annualized investmenet cost of 10000 CHF/year and a yearly operation cost of 10000 CHF/year (this includes mainly fuel, energy and maintenance).

The total CO₂ emission is tCO₂/year. This consists of the CO₂ emissions from construction: tCO₂/year (mainly from the construction of materials with a higher carbon footprint such as photovoltaic panels, batteries, etc); and the CO₂ emissions during operation: tCO₂/year (mainly from electricity from the electric grid). In comparison to the average CO₂ emission of an average Swiss building, this is 50 % more.

Costs

Figure: Yearly capital cost (CAPEX) and operational cost (OPEX) of the system.

Carbon impact

Figure: Global Warming Potential (GWP) of the system.

Global impact

Figure: Global social and societal cost of the system. Emissions are translated into a costs by using the Social Cost of Carbon (SCC) concept. By default 1t CO2 costs 177CHF.

Sankey

End use demand

Figure: Energy demand by class of building and by use.

Renewable Energy Hub Optimizer

Building-scale

Choose

Edit

Visualize

District-scale

Choose

Edit

Visualize

Fetching data from QBuildings

Guidelines