Optimal control of domestic hot water tanks in a housing cooperative
Challenge and objective
There is a need to reduce the peak demand in the grid, and many housing cooperatives have thermal storage that are not utilised in a "smart" way today.
Aim: Quantify the benefit that electric domestic hot water tanks can give to a housing cooperative and the distribution grid by optimising the operation of the hot water tanks.
Work performed
Created a linear optimisation model for a housing cooperative, with PV generation and electric vehicle charging, including shared thermal energy storage heated by heat pumps and electric heating element.
Quantified reduced costs and grid exchange when operating domestic hot water tanks optimally.
Quantified the differences in electricity costs and grid exchange when optimising each apartment block in the energy community individually or centrally
Significant results
Individual optimisation of hot water tanks led to a 4.4% reduction in peak import. Central optimisation led to a reduction of 10.6%.
Assuming a local collective grid tariff led to a 2.6% cost reduction for the energy community.
Impact for distribution system innovation
Allowing local collective grid tariffs might lead to benefits for the distribution grid and a higher utilisation of existing assets.
