BIPVT-E: Development of control strategy for a flexible energy production system including PV, solar thermal, heat pump, energy absorber and battery storage

The development task in the project 349-054 has been followed by another ELFORSK project, 350-022, "Measuring programme and optimisation of a new type of energy plant for single-family houses with heat pump and battery store", where the operation of the BIPVT-E pilot plant is to be documented just as the operational interaction between the components of the plant and the associated prognosis-based control is optimised. As part of the operational analyses, the operation of the pilot plant will be simulated in terms of consumer economy as if net settlement had been achieved in order to generate information for the decision-making process among the residents of the housing section. The results will be applied for an actual demonstration project which is also supported by "Boligselskabernes Landsbyggefond" if, in the spring of 2019, the residents of Stengården, dept. 8, decide to establish the plant in all 43 dwellings of the housing department.

The project group's calculations of the financial consequences for residents associated with establishing a BIPVT-E plant instead of a conventional replacement of the roof and the gas boiler indicate that it will be more advantageous for the residents to choose the BIPVT-E alternative. The total rent paid by the residents, heat and electricity will be lower with BIPVT-E than if they prefer the conventional alternative. However, with the current cost level, the allowance from "Landsbyggefonden" is a presumption in order to make BIPVT-E the attractive choice.

The project group estimates that the BIPVT-E plant has a great energy and climate potential. It has been developed as a consumer-financial attractive alternative for about 100,000 users with oil-fired burners and about 400,000 natural gas consumers who, in accordance with the climate objective, are to stop using the current heat supply no later than in 2035. During the first years, the potential market for BIPVT-E is primarily found among homeowners and residents of high-density/low-rise buildings requiring roof renovation because, in these cases, the consumer economy is to be based alone on the additional price of the BIPVT-E alternative compared with a traditional roof renovation.   

However, as the BIPVT-E plant becomes more mature technologically and it becomes possible to manufacture it on a larger scale, it will be possible to reduce the start-up costs so much that the BIPVT-E can become financially attractive to far more consumers, in Denmark as well as in Europe. In order to further speed up this efficiency process, the PVT-E manufacturer, RACELL, works on developing BIPVT-E into a flexible standard solution in cooperation with suppliers of key components. 

A price drop is expected on the main components of the PVT-E plant in the next few years. This, in combination with a technological maturation, could result in such plants becoming very attractive. This is further supported by the new trend of rewarding flexible electricity customers, which will further improve the economy in such plants.