using the Matlab simulation platform to assess districts

The simulation platform is a prototype of a user friendly tool to assess new types of energy systems for existing and new build districts. The tool helps to analyze municipalities' ambitions for energy efficient or energy neutral districts. The simulation platform is being applied to a number of case studies in the districts shown below, in which smart energy systems are simulated.

Main elements of energy supply and demand in each district

For each district a business model for the integrated energy concept of the district was analysed including the interests of all stakeholders. The interests of each party affected was modelled together with the interactions between them. Based on the simulation results of the tool, a quantitative analysis was prepared for each case study, including not only the economic feasibility, but also an energy and emission impact analysis.

Following scenarios were considered:

• Reference scenario: using conventional energy sources for the district (business as usual).
• Renewable energy scenario: heat and electricity are produced with local renewable energy sources.
• Smart energy control scenario: demand-side flexibility (e.g. smart appliances) and supply-side flexibility (e.g. thermal energy storage of the CHP) were used to optimize the business case (e.g. optimizing of purchases and sales of electricity, peak shaving).

 

See further details of the Bergamo district simulation using the Multi Commodity Matcher.