RENplusHOMES - Renewable ENergy-based Positive Homes
Project management overall project: RINA Consulting SPA
Project management: Fabian Ochs
Project staff: Mara Magni, Elisa Venturi
Project partner: Cerqual, Commissariat a l'Energie Atomique et aux Energies Alternatives, Elliniko Institouto Pathitikou Ktiriou, Ethniko Kentro Erevnas Kai Technologiskis Anaptyxis, RINA Consulting SPA, Ressorts, Fondazione ICONS, SocialFare Impresa Sociale SRL, Institut de Tecnologia de la Construcció de Catalunya, Evowall Technology SL, Worldsensing SL, Tallinna TehniIkaülikool, Matek AS, Roofit Solar Energy OU, Aktsiaselts Pristis, Neue Heimat Tirol Gemeinnutzige Wohnungs GMBH, GKN Hydrogen Italy SRL, University of Innsbruck, Universitatea Tehnica Cluj-Napoca, Universitateia Valahia Targoviste, Asociatia Romania Green Building Council, Servelect SRL, PassivHaus Institut
Funding programme: Horizon 2000
Duration: 04.2023 - 09.2026
Summary
RenPlusHomes is a European project focussed on the promotion of key technologies and the development of replicable technology packages for Positive Energy Buildings (PEBs). The project includes four demonstration sites across Europe: Spain, Estonia, Austria and Romania. One notable site is the Young Living project in Innsbruck, Austria.
The Austrian demonstration site is characterised by the novel construction of building blocks designed for young residents. The innovation is based on the hydrogen system (H2S), which consists of a water electroliser, a metal hydride hydrogen storage tank, fuel cells (including combined heat and power) in conjunction with a sophisticated heat management system to provide heating energy and a groundwater heat pump to provide additional heating/cooling for the buildings. The electricity generated by the fuel cell can also be used to feed the heat pump.
The demonstration building will be measured to assess the efficiency of the individual components of the system as well as the overall energy demand. Electricity flows and heat flows are measured. In addition, the outdoor temperature will be measured along with indoor conditions, including temperature, relative humidity and CO2 levels. Analysis of the measured data will make it possible to identify potential faults or sub-optimal behaviour and make improvements that will increase the overall performance of the system. In addition, the analysis will provide insights into the actual performance of the various systems and their sub-components. This includes evaluating the effectiveness of heat recovery from the shower effluent, the seasonal hydrogen storage system (electrolysis, storage, fuel cells and waste heat) and the dynamics of photovoltaic self-consumption, PV contributions to the grid and electricity drawn from the grid. In addition, the analysis will cover building performance and the overall energy balance, taking into account space heating, hot water demand and total electricity consumption.
EU project: https://renplushomes.eu/project/
Austrian Demo: https://renplushomes.eu/demos/innsbruck/