Modelling and optimization of multi-energy source building systems in the design concept phase

A growing interest has been addressed to multi-energy systems in buildings that involve theintegration of different energy sources to cover the thermal and electrical loads of thebuilding. A modelling approach to multi-energy systems in buildings based on the concept ofhybrid energy hub is presented. The model has been customised to be used in the conceptphase of the building design, either as a system simulation tool or as a system designoptimization tool. Given the prices of technologies and of energy-wares, under a certain set ofconstraints it is possible to determine the configuration that minimises the capital cost, theprimary energy consumption or the life-cycle cost. This approach allows avoiding aburdensome simulation and ranking of a set of different systems. In the end, an application ona case study is provided.