CONCEPTUAL DESIGN OF RENEWABLE-BASED ENERGY MIXES FOR SUSTAINABLE COMMUNITIES

Abstract

The transition towards a new, sustainable and affordable energy pattern is defined in the European Union document known as SET Plan (The European Strategic Energy Technology Plan). As the built environment accounts for over 40% of the total energy consumption, special attention should be devoted to the development and implementation of renewable energy systems (RES), able to cover in a large extent the thermal and electrical energy needs. Thus, the concept of Nearly Zero Energy Building was not only formulated but is also part of EU Directive 2010/31, entering in force by 2018. A Nearly Zero Energy Building is actually a Low Energy Building (thus highly efficient) that covers the energy demand in a large extent (more than 50%) by using renewables. Plenty of work is devoted to identifying solutions both for increasing the building’s efficiency and for implementing the renewables in the built environment; related to the latest, a common consensus was reached, outlining the need to design renewable-based energy mixes, making use of the available potential in the implemented location. In a step forward, the community should be analysed, as besides the buildings, a community has common utilities consumptions that should need also follow the sustainability concept. The paper proposes a design concept that allows community to become sustainable, by a careful selection of systems implemented at building’s level and systems providing utilities at centralized level. This concept well matches the European Union trend, stating that large photovoltaics and wind facilities should be implemented at community level, while the thermal energy need should be (partially) covered by heat pumps, solar-thermal and/or biomass systems installed on or near the buildings or group of buildings.

Keywords: Sustainable CommunityNearly Zero Energy BuildingRenewable-Based Energy Mix