Good practice examples
Energy Center Bračak
Energy center Bračak castle
Location | Krapina-Zagorje County, Croatia (North-West) |
Decision-making arguments | The Bračak castle is a property protected as part of the country’s cultural heritage. In 2012 Krapina-Zagorje County with EU financial support the Ministry of Regional Development and European Union funds and the technical support of REGEA, started to reconstruct the abandoned castle Bračak to become the Bračak Energy Center. The aim was to create an example of energy excellence and a combination of state-of-the-art technical solutions and preservation of cultural heritage. |
CSSC technologies used | high-efficiency ventilation system with recuperation gas-powered micro-cogeneration system producing 6 kW of electric power and 14.9 kW of heating power to heat water. 10 kWp photovoltaic systems 10 kWh battery system with power converter Energy management system: server and an open two-way database upon which energy management algorithms are implemented for optimal coordination of the energy systems with the possibility of prediction and cost management |
Timeframe | First phase (2011 – 2017) Second phase (2019-2021) |
Resources needed | The total value of the renovation: EUR 3.2 million, (FZOEU, EU funds and Krapina-Zagorje County own funds). Second phase – through Store4HUC project (Interreg Europe) |
Impact indicators | Upgrade from E class energy grade to B and C. 70% thermal energy annual savings. 88% of consumption from own RES production 52.4 tons CO2 emission reduction. 265 MWh/yr reduction of specific thermal energy |
Heat pump concept Neusiedl am See
Heat pump concept Neusiedl am See - from wind energy to district heating
Location | Neusiedl am See in Burgenland, Austria |
Decision-making arguments | The Parndorf Plateau, recognised as one of the windiest inland regions in Europe, was chosen for the erection of the first wind turbines more than 15 years ago. The increasing attractiveness of the town of Neusiedl am See led to a steady population growth which prompted the construction of a biomass heating plant including a district heating network in 2006 to meet the growing demand for heat. Thus, Neusiedl am See took advantage of the opportunity to combine the sectors electricity (wind power) and heat (district heating) developing a project which involved intelligently combined innovative technologies. |
CSSC technologies used | Wind power to district heating Intelligently coupled two energy sources by a heat pump, thus enabling the replacement of gas and biomass by the use of wind energy |
Timeframe | In operation since 2019 |
Resources needed | Investment of 3.3 Mil. EUR |
Impact indicators | 1250 MWh/a natural gas savings |
HOTFLEX project
HOTFLEX project 150 KW Reversible High Temperature Electrolysis-/ Fuel Cell System for Flexibilization of the Energy Supply
Location | Mellach, Austria |
Decision-making arguments | VERBUND utility company, which in 2012 opened an 838 MW natural gas-fired plant in Mellach, develops Hotflex - a pilot project at Austria’s biggest power station to research the possibility of using hydrogen as a replacement for natural gas to run the plant’s gas turbines. VERBUND will test the partial substitution of natural gas with hydrogen, a first for an industrial power plant. The pilot is a collaboration with Graz University of Technology and German cleantech company Sunfire, which develops and manufactures high-temperature electrolyzers and high-temperature fuel cells. With the Hotflex pilot, excess wind and solar power can be taken from the grid and converted into hydrogen by high-temperature electrolysis. This so-called ‘green’ hydrogen will be mixed with natural gas to drive the two gas turbines. The hydrogen is to be produced directly at the power plant site by high-temperature electrolysis with a production capacity of 40 Nm³/h. A special feature of the pilot plant, whose components are manufactured by Sunfire in Dresden, is that it can operate in reverse mode as a fuel cell, enabling the plant to produce electricity and heat from natural gas. VERBUND will test this fuel cell operating mode primarily as a possibility for self or emergency power supply of its power plant. |
CSSC technologies used | High-temperature electrolysis (hydrogen produced from water using RES electricity) Power to heat Fuel cell (power and heat from electricity) |
Timeframe | Started in 2019 to be finalized in 2022 |
Resources needed | No data available |
Impact indicators | No data available |
Battery storage in the summer resorts “Albena”
Battery storage in the summer resorts “Albena”
Location | Albena summer resort, Bulgaria |
Decision-making arguments | A large share of renewable energy sources bringing volatility into the grid energy consumption motivated the development of the demo pilot. Volatility could lead to financial penalties by the grid operators or energy suppliers, possibly causing increase of the energy costs. By using battery storage systems and smart charging of EVs, the consumption of energy can be controlled/balanced. Energy management approaches like peak shaving, peak shifting, valley filling, etc., may change the form of the curve of used power. Using constant residual power from the grid will lead to financial benefits for the owner and thus, make the business model of the project profitable. |
CSSC technologies used | smart invertor |
Timeframe | Active since 2016. |
Resources needed | 240000 EUR |
Impact indicators | 130000 kWh Energy savings 130000 kWh RES production 117 t CO2/ year emission reduction |
Solar Thermal HVAC input – Târgoviște University
Solar Thermal HVAC input – Târgoviște University
Location | Târgoviște, Romania |
Decision-making arguments | Problems addressed: 1. HVAC system low efficiency and 2. Solar Thermal (ST) generator usage as thermal input for HVAC, instead of DHW. The practice reaches its objectives through the following enabling scenarios: - Load optimisation based on weather compensation applied on heat generators (natural gas burners), refrigeration unit (air-water heat pump) and distribution circuits. - Solar Thermal interconnect at the HVAC distribution level on 2 circuits operated by weather compensated setpoints. |
CSSC technologies used | Thermal energy storage (water) Sector coupling: thermal energy for heating and cooling in buildings, thermal energy for district heating |
Timeframe | Operational since 2014 |
Resources needed | 61000 EUR |
Impact indicators | 30 building users 40% reduction of gas consumption |
PV driven Microgrid - Târgoviște University
PV driven Microgrid - Târgoviște University
Location | Târgoviște, Romania |
Decision-making arguments | The system was configured to serve critical consumers but also the entire IT infrastructure together with the data center. |
CSSC technologies used | Energy storage: batteries (li-ion, lead-acid), thermal storage in water Sector coupling: power to heating and cooling in buildings, power to district heating, power to mobility |
Timeframe | Operational since 2016 |
Resources needed | 370000 EUR |
Impact indicators | 30 building users 17.8 T/year CO2 emission reduction |
Solar thermal system for domestic hot water preparation - Transilvania University in Brașov
Solar thermal system for domestic hot water preparation - Transilvania University in Brașov
Location | Brasov, Romania |
Decision-making arguments | The system was designed to prepare domestic hot water using a solar thermal system for the locker rooms of the Gym of Transilvania University in Brașov. |
CSSC technologies used | Thermal storage (water). Sector coupling: natural gas for condensing thermal power plant and electricity for operating pump groups |
Timeframe | Operational since 2009 |
Resources needed | No data available |
Impact indicators | 4.782,14 tons CO2 emission reduction: nominal efficiency of flat plan solar thermal collectors 81% nominal efficiency solar thermal 78.4% annual efficiency of solar thermal system 54.7% |
Battery storage facility C-Energy Planá
Battery storage facility C-Energy Planá
Location | Czech Republic, South Bohemian Region |
Decision-making arguments | The largest battery storage facility in the Czechia was meant to ensure a reliable supply of electricity sources within the heating plant, including PV to LDS, to create a power backup for the provision of support service with start within 5 minutes (mFRR5 +), to ensure the transition and operation of LDS in island mode. |
CSSC technologies used | 4 MW battery storage facility; The SIESTORAGE storage system with the SIESTART (application serves to increase the flexibility of existing electricity sources – ancillary services). Technology includes control systems, Li-Ion battery cells, switchboards, inverters / converters, transformers, self-consumption power supply and other auxiliary systems. |
Timeframe | 2019 to 2029 |
Resources needed | Up to 3 million EUR |
Impact indicators | 540 MWh annual production of renewable electricity from photovoltaic power plant 168 tons of greenhouse gas emissions; in the 10 years of the project life it is 1,680 tons. |
Reconstruction of the demonstration building of the Secondary School EMILA BELLUŠA
Energy center Bračak castle
Location | Trenčín, Slovakia |
Decision-making arguments | The school building, completed in 1970, has undergone a comprehensive renovation in 2018 whose main scope was to reduce energy losses and improve the internal environment of the building. The former E category building is currently one of the buildings with almost zero energy demand (A0). |
CSSC technologies used | Battery storage |
Timeframe | Year of renovation 2018 |
Resources needed | 2,61 million EUR |
Impact indicators | 77% heat consumption reduction 60% electricity consumption reduction |
GRIDBOOSTER
GRIDBOOSTER
Location | Bratislava, Slovakia |
Decision-making arguments | The implementing organisations, committed to expanding a supportive ecosystem for electromobility, set themselves and created the first ever battery assisted electric vehicle fast charging station – GridBooster (GB) – in Central and Eastern Europe |
CSSC technologies used | Two 50 kW fast charging stations supported by a nearby energy storage unit (battery) capable of storing 52 kWh of energy and dispensing up to 60 kW of power at once. |
Timeframe | Implemented in early 2019. |
Resources needed | No data available |
Impact indicators | Support provided for prosumers |
PV installation Humenné
PV installation Humenné
Location | Myslina, Slovenia (Muller Textiles Slovakia, s.r.o. - Industrial property located in the industrial park) |
Decision-making arguments | The scope was to use the electricity produced on the roof of the production hall as efficiently as possible also reducing the carbon footprint. It was possible as Slovenské elektrárne – energetické služby, s.r.o. offered photovoltaic system as a service and Fuergy company offered battery storage integrated with AI-powered software, to maximize the use of electricity. |
CSSC technologies used | Battery storage with a capacity of 432 kWh which stores energy from the installed PV panels, with a capacity of 499 kWp. |
Timeframe | 2020 |
Resources needed | No data available |
Impact indicators | 500 MWh of electricity production per year |
Freiburg technisches Rathaus: public net plus energy building
Freiburg technisches Rathaus: public net plus energy building
Location | Freiburg, Germany |
Decision-making arguments | As part of a consolidation of several administrative buildings scattered throughout the city, the former technical town hall was demolished, and a new plus-energy building was constructed. Sector coupling and energy storage were considered and implemented from the beginning of the planning. Now the building produces more energy than it needs. |
CSSC technologies used | The energy required for the building is generated thermally via suction and sip wells as well as solar thermal in connection with heat pumps and electrically via photovoltaics on the roof and facade. Surplus electricity is fed into the grid, over the course of a year, the building generates more energy than it consumes. |
Timeframe | Contsruction started in 2013. The building is operational since 2017. |
Resources needed | 80 million EUR |
Impact indicators | 545.54 MWh/yr. production from PV Around 120,000 €/yr saved |
Bergwelt Kandel - Mountain restaurant and accommodation
Bergwelt Kandel - Mountain restaurant and accommodation
Location | Waldkirch, Germany |
Decision-making arguments | The mountain Kandel is a popular destination in the Black Forest and region around Freiburg. The hotel is located in the middle of nature in a highly frequented tourist place. The goal was to be energy self-sufficient, so it can also serve as a good example for other tourist infrastructure. Built using timber it will be energy self-sufficient thanks to sector coupling. |
CSSC technologies used | Hydrogen-based energy storage. |
Timeframe | 2019 to 2020, currently under construction |
Resources needed | No data available |
Impact indicators | No data available |
Power plant in the Freiburg district of Wiehre
Power plant in the Freiburg district of Wiehre
Location | Freiburg, district Wiehre, Germany |
Decision-making arguments | The main objective was to promote the use of CHPs in inner-city building stock by overcoming typical obstacles with the by means of consulting, information and promotion. The project does not only refer to the technical implementation of a power plant, but also includes social factors. Through the project, private homeowners were informed, motivated and encouraged to implement the energy transition in their own homes. |
CSSC technologies used | Combined heat and power plant (CHP). |
Timeframe | October 2012 - December 2014 |
Resources needed | No data available |
Impact indicators | 40% Primary energy savings |
Hydrogen plant at Wyhlen hydropower station
Hydrogen plant at Wyhlen hydropower station
Location | Whylen, Baden-Württemberg, Germany |
Decision-making arguments | The construction was part of a lighthouse project, supported by the Center for Solar Energy and Hydrogen Research Baden-Württemberg (ZSW) |
CSSC technologies used | Sector coupling – power to gas |
Timeframe | 2019- start of operation |
Resources needed | No data available |
Impact indicators | No data available |
E-car sharing using PV and energy storage
E-car sharing using PV and energy storage
Location | Donaueschingen, Baden-Württemberg, Germany |
Decision-making arguments | Student/Schoolproject initiated by Friends' association to support the Technical High School. The project is a highly replicable one. |
CSSC technologies used | Sector coupling |
Timeframe | 2016 – start of the project |
Resources needed | No data available |
Impact indicators | No data available |
Waste heat extraction Whylen
Waste heat extraction Whylen
Location | Whylen, Baden-Württemberg, Germany |
Decision-making arguments | The objective was to use the energy from waste heat to be used to heat buildings and produce electricity. |
CSSC technologies used | Sector coupling (heat to power) |
Timeframe | 2020 - start of project |
Resources needed | 2.8 Millions EUR |
Impact indicators | 10,000 tons of CO2 emission reduction in Rheinfelden |
Fontis Sol L.T.D
Fontis Sol L.T.D
Location | Niksic, Montenegro |
Decision-making arguments | Given the high number of hours of sunshine the project was meant to use solar energy, as an efficient and environmentally friendly way, to reduce household heating and cooling costs. |
CSSC technologies used | Sector coupling: power to heat |
Timeframe | 2012 start of the project |
Resources needed | 10000 EUR |
Impact indicators | 0.006 GWh/year energy savings 0.79 tCO2eq/year emission reduction |
Demo centers
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