An Off-Grid Case Study PV Battery systems

Simon Lannon 29th January 2015

Outline

• Introduction to Solcer and the LCBE projects;

• Off Grid Case study

• Retrofitting existing dwellings

Solcer/LCBE

Implementing existing and emerging low carbon technologies through a systems

based approach at different scales:

• building,

• community,

• local authority/regional.

Why? • Demonstrate new technologies; • Learn lessons about the drivers and barriers preventing the large scale roll out; • Secure wider implementation of systems – drive innovation; • Reducing carbon emissions; • Provide a more secure energy supply system for Wales; • Providing opportunities for developing a stronger low carbon industry in Wales.

Solcer

Project team Wide range of expertise from:

• Welsh School of Architecture, Cardiff University;

• Computer Science/School of Engineering , Cardiff University;

• College of Engineering, Swansea University;

• Centre for Solar Energy Research Centre, Glyndwr University;

• Sustainable Energy Research Centre, University of South Wales.

Includes experts in building modelling, power electronics, computer science, marine

modelling, urban scale modelling, building engineers, architects, supply technology

development, energy storage technology development.

Outline Off Grid Case Study

Fully off-grid three bed farm house.

Main contractor: Self build

Lead Designer: Building Research Establishment (BRE)

Other project participants:

Caerphilly County Borough Council (RDP Energy team),

Scottish and Southern Energy (SSE),

Constructing Excellence in Wales

Monitoring has been carried out by the Welsh School of Architecture, Cardiff University.

Outline Systems installed

A 2.88kwp capacity solar photovoltaic array across the south facing roof

Lead acid battery bank (16 x Victron 12V-220 AH)

A diesel generator for back up electricity and to maintain battery charge levels when required

kw io ass oiler fed fro the fa ily s ow woodla d,

1,200 litre combined capacity thermal store, serving an innovative skirting radiator system.

Rainwater is harvested from the main house as well as adjacent barns.

5,500 litre tank water is passed through a UV purifier lamp and filters.

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y k

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Maes Yr Onn Electrical systems monthly totals

Diesel Generator

Appliances

PV Generation

Outline Energy Supply – Daily average

Energy Demand – Daily Average

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Maes Yr Onn Energy use

Heating

Hot Water

Appliances

Average Energy Profile

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Summer Weekday average energy profile

Diesel Generator

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PV Generation

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Winter Weekday average energy profile

Diesel Generator

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PV Generation

Average Energy Profile

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Voltage and Electrical energy

Diesel Generator Appliances PV Generation Battery Voltage

Energy Supply – Sample days

Electric Sub metering daily energy

Summer

kWh/day

Ground floor sockets 1.36

Kitchen ring 0.41

1st floor lights 0.03

Ground floor lights 0.06

Utility sockets 0.26

1st floor sockets 0.03

House 2.15

Boiler electric 1.13

Basement sockets 2.47

Basement lights 0.15

Water purifier 2.16

Immersion heater 3.91

Services total 9.82

Total 11.97

Sockets

38%

Boiler

electric

9% Lights

2%

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purifier

18%

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heater

33%

Electrical energy for Summer 2014

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Daily electrical energy use kWh

gnd floor sockets kitchen ring 1st floor sockets utility sockets gnd floor lights

basement lights boiler electric basement sockets immersion heater water purifier

Electric Sub metering

Average over a week

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gnd floor sockets kitchen ring 1st floor lights 1st floor sockets utility sockets

gnd floor lights basement lights boiler electric

basement sockets Gas immersion heater water purifier

Water usage

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Maes Yr Onn water use litres per day per person

The standard consumption quoted by BRE is 101 litres per person per day,

for Maes Yr Onn it is on average 63 litres per day per person

Predicted consumption

UV lamp and control systems have a base load of 78W

pump has a load of 1.1Wh/l.

For May 2014 the water supply consumption including pump and UV light 8.54Wh/l

compares to the mains water supply average energy used to supply water of 0.6 Wh/l

y = 1,0918x + 13,065

R² = 0,7447

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Water drawn off and water system energy consumed

Water usage

Summary

• PV is dominant energy source for over half the year

• Heating demand for the year is 6,908 kWh, 65 kWh/m2

• The appliance use in the house on average is 2.0 kWh per day, the BRE report

quotes a figure of 6.7 kWh per day.

• The house monitoring has not included the services parasitic load including the

water purification energy demand

• Summer 2014 is 5.8 kWh per day

• Occupant is adapting the system to protect the batteries

• Using two thirds of the water predicted 63 litres/day/person

17

Typical Welsh end terrace

Retrofit of existing dwellings

Original property condition

• Pre 9 s

• Solid Stone Construction

• UPVC Single Glazed Windows

• Inefficient Gas Combi Boiler

• No Flat Roof/Loft Insulation

• No Fabric Insulation

• Location

• Construction type

• Likely occupancy patterns

• Historical Weather Data

Considerations for Simulation Condition

Simulation of retrofit options

Type Wall

Insulation

Window Type

Air Tightness

Heating

kWh Per annum

Heating kWh/m2

Energy Savings

Before

Solid wall 1.98 W/m2.K

Single

Glazing 4.80 W/m2.K

0.73 ACH 12,981 196.7 0%

After Solid wall

with EWI 0.32 W/m2.K

Low E

Double Glazing

2.0 W/m2.K

0.38 ACH 3,224 48.8 75%

Heating energy saving

Electrical energy savings

Type Lighting PV Electricity kWh Electricity

kWh/m2 Energy

Savings

Before Incandescent None 3,790 57.4 0%

After LED 2.5 kWp 1,125 17.0 70%

Measures installed

Fabric

• EWi PRO Gutter System

• Flat Roof/Loft Insulation

• A Rated UPVC Double Glazed Windows

Systems

• GB-SOL 2.5 kWp Roof Integrated Photovoltaic Array with Battery Storage;

• EWI Pro External Wall Insulation with AeroGel Insulation on Reveals;

• EnviroVent Whole House Mechanical Ventilation with Heat Recovery.

• New A Rated Gas System Boiler

• New Water Tank – usi g surplus PV a t sell a k to grid

• Climote - Wireless Smart Heating Controls

• DC Power

• LED Lighting Circuit

Building Integrated PV

Roof tiles not required

MVHR system

Improved comfort for householders.

Redesign of detail

Implementation of improved technologies

• Fabric performance

• Occupant perceptions

• Appliance use diaries

• Monitoring of construction costs

• Measurement of thermal comfort

• Indoor air quality

• Local weather conditions

• Energy demand, supply and storage

Pre and post test surveys

User interfaces

Climote – wireless smart

heating controls – phone,

online or text

Electricity / Water /

Gas

Consumption Battery Status

Cost of works

System Component Cost Proportion

MVHR £3,000 11.0%

Insulation £9,740 35.6%

PV Assisted System Boiler £3,800 13. 9%

LED Lighting £150 0.5%

Photovoltaic Roof £7,180 26.3%

Battery Storage £3,460 12.7%

Total £27,330 100%

Recovering voids back into the housing stock

Initial results

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Initia

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Solar Radiation W/m2

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Project staff Solcer

Ester Coma Bassas

Enrico Crobu

Heledd Iorwerth

Huw Jenkins

Xioajun Li

Kenan Zhang

Tracey Booth

Rachel Jones

LCBE

Elizabeth Doe

Richard Hall

Rhian Williams

Thank you

Websites

Solcer – www.solcer.org

LCBE – www.lcbe.cardiff.ac.uk

GB-sol - www.gb-sol.co.uk

Constructing Excellence in Wales - http://www.cewales.org.uk/buildings/

Contact details

Simon Lannon – Solcer research fellow – lannon@cardiff.ac.uk

Jo Patterson – Solcer project manager – patterson@cardiff.ac.uk

Thank you