ComBioTES analysis of specifications and requirements

Since the beginning of ComBioTES, CEA, IEO, Voltalis and DTU have been working on the analysis of technical specifications and requirements for components of thermal energy storage (TES), to extract the full potential of the future system. They have also focused on system integration within buildings and consumer behaviour in the heating and electricity markets of several countries. As a result, now the project has a clear understanding of the technical challenges to overcome and a complete characterization of the market. Nevertheless, the team responsible of the task decided to limit long term predictions, as the unstable time we live in would have surely proved them wrong.

As a first step, IEO and Voltalis took into consideration 10 use cases, which refer mostly to power market rules and electricity tariffs for consumers in different countries in Europe and China. They categorized them into three general schemes: Use cases for power-to-heat with load shifting within the framework of time-of-use tariffs, use cases for PV prosumers, and capacity market use case.

At the same time, CEA identified technical constraints, specific constraints linked to the four demonstration sites and legal risks due to different National regulations. The constraints identified will be useful for the design of the TES, mostly to avoid considering designs that are not feasible, or whose installation on the different demonstration sites would be hazardous.

Finally, DTU made an overview of possible communication interfaces related to the energy management system (EMS) that could be applied in ComBioTES. Taking the Use cases defined previously as an input, they delivered technical specifications and a guideline for integrating the design and development of EMS and the TES component, from a function perspective.

More news about the TES design, the EMS setup and market analysis will follow!