Table Of ContentGreen Energy and Technology
Rita Lavikka
Hassam Ur Rehman
Francesco Reda
Abdul Samad Kazi Editors
Positive
Energy
Buildings
Concepts, Challenges and Opportunities
Green Energy and Technology
Climate change, environmental impact and the limited natural resources urge
scientificresearchandnoveltechnicalsolutions.ThemonographseriesGreenEnergy
and Technology serves as a publishing platform for scientific and technological
approaches to “green”—i.e. environmentally friendly and sustainable—technolo-
gies. While a focus lies on energy and power supply, it also covers "green" solu-
tions in industrial engineering and engineering design. Green Energy and Tech-
nology addresses researchers, advanced students, technical consultants as well as
decision makers in industries and politics. Hence, the level of presentation spans
frominstructionaltohighlytechnical.
**IndexedinScopus**.
**IndexedinEiCompendex**.
Moreinformationaboutthisseriesathttps://link.springer.com/bookseries/8059
· ·
Rita Lavikka Hassam Ur Rehman
·
Francesco Reda Abdul Samad Kazi
Editors
Positive Energy Buildings
Concepts, Challenges and Opportunities
Editors
RitaLavikka HassamUrRehman
SmartEnergyandBuiltEnvironment SmartEnergyandBuiltEnvironment
VTTTechnicalResearchCentreofFinland VTTTechnicalResearchCentreofFinland
Espoo,Finland Espoo,Finland
FrancescoReda AbdulSamadKazi
SmartEnergyandBuiltEnvironment SmartEnergyandBuiltEnvironment
VTTTechnicalResearchCentreofFinland VTTTechnicalResearchCentreofFinland
Espoo,Finland Espoo,Finland
ISSN1865-3529 ISSN1865-3537 (electronic)
GreenEnergyandTechnology
ISBN978-3-030-87701-9 ISBN978-3-030-87702-6 (eBook)
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-87702-6
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Preface
Climate change is one of the mostsignificant global challenges that we are facing
today.Thereisaneedtodramaticallyreduceemissionsassociatedwithhumanactiv-
ities,largelycausedbyenergyproduction,tomitigateclimatechange.Thefirststep
is to reduce the energy need by improving the energy efficiency of the activities.
Anotherimportantactionisthetransitiontowardsrenewableenergyproduction.The
energy produced on-site in buildings, using building-integrated solar photovoltaic,
heatpumpsandbioenergy,amongothers,couldformanimportantshareoftheenergy
inanenergyecosystembasedonrenewables.Consequently,buildingscouldhavea
significantroleinenablingenergytransitionandmitigatingclimatechange.
PositiveenergybuildingsorPlusEnergyBuildings(PEBs)willbeneededinthe
future to mitigate climate change. In general terms, it is agreed that PEBs refer to
energy-efficientbuildingsthatproducemoreenergythantheyconsume.However,the
conceptofPEBisquitemultifaceted,includingperspectiveslikethetypeofrenew-
ables used, time span, emissions, and building type, to name a few. Currently, the
challengeisthatthereisnoofficialdefinitionofPEB,whichcomplicatesthedevel-
opmentofsupportingtechnicalsolutionsandbusinessmodelsduetotheunclarity
of the common goals. One of the aims of this book is to offer a definition of PEB
basedonscientificresearch.
ThisbookalsoaddressestheopportunitiesandchallengesofPEBsanddescribes
potentialwaystoimplementPEBsacrossdifferentclimaticzones.Inaddition,the
neededintegrationofenergysystemsandprobablebusinessmodelsarediscussed.
Thisbookisintendedforpolicymakers,scientists,designers,engineersandenergy
enthusiaststounderstandbetterPEBsandtheirroleinmitigatingclimatechangeand
itsimpactonglobalwarming.
The book’s contents were produced by the partners of an EU funded project,
EXCESS(FleXibleuser-CEntricEnergypoSitivehouseS),focusingonnewdevel-
opments in plus energy houses. The four-year research and development project
brings together 21 partners from 9 countries (Finland, Austria, Spain, Belgium,
Cyprus, Germany, Greece, Sweden and France) to study how Nearly-Zero Energy
Buildings(NZEBs)canbetransformedintoPositiveEnergyBuildings(PEBs).The
v
vi Preface
project includes renowned experts in their fields related to integrating renewables,
lowenergybuildingsystems,buildingdesign,andHVACsystems.
TheEXCESSprojectinterviewedauthoritiesandexpertsfromfifteencitiesand
regionsacrossEuropeinthespringandsummerof2020.Theinterviewsconcerned
the experiences on Nearly and Net Zero Energy Buildings and plans for the PEBs
and how policy and planning instruments encourage their development. To better
understand the most important opportunities and challenges for the wider roll-out
ofPEBs,anothersetofinterviewswasconductedintheframeworkoftheEXCESS
project,supportedbyworkshopsintheEXCESSdemonstrationcountriesinFinland,
Spain,Belgium,Austria.
This book presents some of the main findings from the early stages of the
EXCESS project and key learnings from understanding the role of PEBs in miti-
gating climate change. The book is composed of five chapters which cover the
followingtopics:theimportanceandfutureofPEBsfromachallengeandopportunity
perspective;providingadefinitionofPEBsfrombothtechnicalandsocialperspec-
tives;discussiononkeyregulatory,social,financialandtechnology-relatedaspects
impacting the implementation of PEBs; suggestions for local municipal authori-
ties on support implementing PEBs; demonstration of PEB implementation plans
in different climatic zones to support energy transition and help mitigate climate
change.
Chapter“Introduction”providesabroadercontextforPEBsandthereasoningfor
howPEBssupportmitigationofclimatechange.Thechapterfirstshowstheimportant
role of the building sector in climate change mitigation on the global and the EU
levelandpresentsPEBsasenablersforaconsumer-centredcleanenergytransition
and contributor to climate neutrality. Next, the chapter touches upon the current
European climate and energy policy framework for 2030 as well as the European
GreenDealwithitsgoalforEurope’seconomyandsocietytobecomeclimate-neutral
by2050,andreflectstherolethatPEBswouldplayintheseplansandregulations.
ThechapterendsbyintroducingexamplesofexistingPEBsallaroundEurope,based
onastocktakingexerciseconductedintheEXCESSproject.
Chapter“Research-BasedDefinitionofaPEB”definesaPEBbasedonthorough
research conducted in the EU-funded EXCESS project. The chapter begins with
a discussion on PEB backgrounds, such as PEB concepts’ origin and comparison
of concepts similar to PEB, especially the Nearly Zero Energy Building (NZEB)
concept. After that, a technical framework is introduced by presenting different
technical criteria that need to be considered when implementing PEBs. Based on
theEXCESSproject’sresearch,aPositiveEnergyBuilding(PEB)isdefined.After
thetechnicalframeworkintroduction,asocialframeworkofPEBsisdiscussed,also
touching aspects related to resilience and economy. The chapter concludes with a
discussiononwhatcouldbeatechnicallyandsociallyfeasiblePEBdefinition.This
discussionincludesPEBasanenergycommunityandPEBsinrelationtotheEU’s
smartreadinessindicator(SRI).
Chapter“OpportunitiesandChallengesforWiderRoll-OutofPEBs”beginswith
apresentationofregulatory,social,financialandtechnology-relatedconsiderations
affecting the wider roll-out of PEBs, discussing both barriers and opportunities.
Preface vii
Recommendationsareprovidedonhowtoovercomethebarriersandtakeadvantage
oftheopportunities.Thechapterconcludeswithadiscussionontheenergysystems
ofPEBsandtheroleofaPEBasapartofthelocalenergysystem.
Chapter“IntegrationofthePEBConceptinLocalandRegionalPlanningInstru-
ments” discusses how local and regional planning instruments can promote the
development ofPEBs.The chapter provides insights onlocalandregional author-
ities’ present strategies and planning approaches in relation to developing PEBs.
It identifies needs for—and barriers to—scaling up PEBs and explores local and
regionalambitionstoadaptplanningsystemsaccordingly.Thechapteralsoprovides
a guidebook to empowering sub-national governments to promote PEBs by inte-
gratingpoliciesandmeasuresinurbanplanningframeworksatbothcityandregional
level.
Chapter “Technical Implementation” discusses the implementation of PEBs in
differentclimaticregionsacrossEurope.First,thechapterpresentshowtheEXCESS
projectpartiesplantoimplementthePEBconceptinfourdifferentgeographicalareas
inEurope,ascoolingandheatingdemandsvarybetweenregions.Thedemonstra-
tion locations are Helsinki in Finland, Granada in Spain, Hasselt in Belgium and
Graz in Austria. After presenting the demonstration cases, the chapter highlights
the importance of digitalisation in PEBs and relevant business models for energy
transformation.
Helsinki,Finland Dr.RitaLavikka
May2021 Dr.HassamUrRehman
Dr.FrancescoReda
Prof.Dr.AbdulSamadKazi
Acknowledgements TheworkpresentedinthisbookwasfundedbyEXCESS(FleXibleuser-
CEntricEnergy poSitive houseS) project. This project has received funding from the European
Union’sHorizon2020researchandinnovationprogrammeundergrantagreementNo870157.The
funderhadnoroleinthedesignofthebook;inthecollection,analyses,orinterpretationofdata;
inthewritingofthebook,orinthedecisiontopublishthebook.Weexpressourgratitudetothe
consortiummembersoftheEXCESSprojectfortheirsupportinalltheactivitiesrelatedtothe
writingofthisbook.
Contents
Introduction ....................................................... 1
HassamUrRehman,HanneSiikavirta,MiaAla-Juusela,andAndreasJäger
Research-BasedDefinitionofaPEB .................................. 19
HassamUrRehmanandMiaAla-Juusela
OpportunitiesandChallengesforWiderRoll-OutofPEBs ............. 45
MiaAla-Juusela,HassamUrRehman,HanneSiikavirta,AndreasJaeger,
JoaquínVillarRodríguez,andRitaLavikka
IntegrationofthePEBConceptinLocalandRegionalPlanning
Instruments ........................................................ 71
MariHukkalainenandMiaAla-Juusela
TechnicalImplementation ........................................... 97
HassamUrRehman, VictoriaLaraGarcí, JavierLLorenteYoldi,
MariaCantalapiedra,KoenAllaerts,JanDiriken,MichaelGumhalter,
ThomasRamschak,MiaAla-Juusela,RitaLavikka,andIsmoHeimonen
ix
Abbreviations
AMR Automaticmeterreading
AT Austria
BE Belgium
BEI Baselineemissionsinventory
BM Businessmodel
BTES Boreholesthermalenergystorage
CDD Coolingdegreedays
CHP Combinedheatandpower
CO Carbondioxide
2
COM CovenantofMayor
COP Coefficientofperformance
CSP Concentratedsolarpower
DHW Domestichotwater
DSO Distributionsystemoperator
EED Energyefficiencydirective
EMD Electricitymarketdesign
EPBD Theenergyperformanceofbuildingsdirective
EPC Energyperformancecontracting
ES Spain
ESCO Energyservicecompany
ESD Effortsharingdecisions
ESR Effortsharingregulation
EUETS EUemissionstradingsystem
EU TheEuropeanUnion
EV Electricvehicle
FEM Finiteelementmodel
FI Finland
GDP GrossDomesticProduct
GHG Greenhousegases
GSHP Groundsourceheatpump
HDD Heatingdegreedays
xi
