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AbstractDecarbonising the energy system requires high shares of variable renewable generation and sector coupling like power to heat. In addition to heat supply, heat pumps can be used in future energy systems to provide flexibility to the electricity system by using the thermal storage potential of the building stock and buffer tanks to shift electricity demand to hours of high renewable electricity production. Bridging the gap between two methodological approaches, we coupled a detailed building technology operation model and the open-source energy system model Balmorel to evaluate the flexibility potential that decentral heat pumps can provide to the electricity system. Austria in the year 2030 serves as an example of a 100% renewable-based electricity system (at an annual national balance). Results show that system benefits from heat pump flexibility are relatively limited in extent and concentrated on short-term flexibility. Flexible heat pumps reduce system cost, CO2 emissions, and photovoltaics and wind curtailment in all scenarios. The amount of electricity shifted in the assessed standard flexibility scenario is 194 GWhel and accounts for about 20% of the available flexible heat pump electricity demand. A comparison of different modelling approaches and a deterministic sensitivity analysis of key input parameters complement the modelling. The most important input parameters impacting heat pump flexibility are the flexible capacity (determined by installed capacity and share of control), shifting time limitations, and cost assumptions for the flexibility provided. Heat pump flexibility contributes more to increasing low residual loads (up to 22% in the assessed scenarios) than decreasing residual load peaks. Wind power integration benefits more from heat pump flexibility than photovoltaics because of the temporal correlation between heat demand and wind generation.

AbstractDecarbonising the energy system requires high shares of variable renewable generation and sector coupling like power to heat. In addition to heat supply, heat pumps can be used in future energy systems to provide flexibility to the electricity system by using the thermal storage potential of the building stock and buffer tanks to shift electricity demand to hours of high renewable electricity production. Bridging the gap between two methodological approaches, we coupled a detailed building technology operation model and the open-source energy system model Balmorel to evaluate the flexibility potential that decentral heat pumps can provide to the electricity system. Austria in the year 2030 serves as an example of a 100% renewable-based electricity system (at an annual national balance). Results show that system benefits from heat pump flexibility are relatively limited in extent and concentrated on short-term flexibility. Flexible heat pumps reduce system cost, CO2 emissions, and photovoltaics and wind curtailment in all scenarios. The amount of electricity shifted in the assessed standard flexibility scenario is 194 GWhel and accounts for about 20% of the available flexible heat pump electricity demand. A comparison of different modelling approaches and a deterministic sensitivity analysis of key input parameters complement the modelling. The most important input parameters impacting heat pump flexibility are the flexible capacity (determined by installed capacity and share of control), shifting time limitations, and cost assumptions for the flexibility provided. Heat pump flexibility contributes more to increasing low residual loads (up to 22% in the assessed scenarios) than decreasing residual load peaks. Wind power integration benefits more from heat pump flexibility than photovoltaics because of the temporal correlation between heat demand and wind generation.

This report reflects upon the concept of social innovation and the way it is used in the energy sector. It does so by bringing together theoretical investigations and empirical knowledge. We aim to clarify the concept of social innovation in the energy sector by reviewing the literature and reflecting over a number of social innovation projects in Europe. The analysis of the projects against various contextual factors and their goals reveals the significant potential of social innovation on accelerating the energy transition while tackling societal problems. Energy production, energy efficiency and energy literacy are the main domains to which socially innovative activities contribute the most. High competences of project leadership and management observed though projects are often small in scale and context-dependent. This indicates that successful socially innovative energy initiatives require advanced bottom-up governance structures even if that may imply limitations for scaling up. This setting may complicate top-down support as legal, financial or even cultural policy-making must be tailor-made and reinvent or adjust continuously. Nevertheless, social innovative activities are expected to further proliferate the following years and move towards a sound environmental, cultural, political, economic and social direction, as knowledge creation and diffusion of technological and governance innovations accompanied with policy support are on the rise. JRC.C.7-Knowledge for the Energy Union

This report reflects upon the concept of social innovation and the way it is used in the energy sector. It does so by bringing together theoretical investigations and empirical knowledge. We aim to clarify the concept of social innovation in the energy sector by reviewing the literature and reflecting over a number of social innovation projects in Europe. The analysis of the projects against various contextual factors and their goals reveals the significant potential of social innovation on accelerating the energy transition while tackling societal problems. Energy production, energy efficiency and energy literacy are the main domains to which socially innovative activities contribute the most. High competences of project leadership and management observed though projects are often small in scale and context-dependent. This indicates that successful socially innovative energy initiatives require advanced bottom-up governance structures even if that may imply limitations for scaling up. This setting may complicate top-down support as legal, financial or even cultural policy-making must be tailor-made and reinvent or adjust continuously. Nevertheless, social innovative activities are expected to further proliferate the following years and move towards a sound environmental, cultural, political, economic and social direction, as knowledge creation and diffusion of technological and governance innovations accompanied with policy support are on the rise. JRC.C.7-Knowledge for the Energy Union

Currently active suspension system is more applicable than passive for improving the suspension performance, ensuring the stability and passenger safety in modern automotive suspension system. However, high energy consumption is one of the main disadvantages of implementing this system in real applications. In this paper, the energy consumption of electromagnetic actuators used for an active suspension system controlled by proportional-integral-derivative (PID), fuzzy adaptive PID, and neuron adaptive PID are investigated through simulation studies. Based on the energy consumption and the performance analysis, it has found that it is potential to develop a vibration energy recovery system to achieve the energy balance requirement in active suspension systems.

Currently active suspension system is more applicable than passive for improving the suspension performance, ensuring the stability and passenger safety in modern automotive suspension system. However, high energy consumption is one of the main disadvantages of implementing this system in real applications. In this paper, the energy consumption of electromagnetic actuators used for an active suspension system controlled by proportional-integral-derivative (PID), fuzzy adaptive PID, and neuron adaptive PID are investigated through simulation studies. Based on the energy consumption and the performance analysis, it has found that it is potential to develop a vibration energy recovery system to achieve the energy balance requirement in active suspension systems.

The EU has set out to reduce negative impacts from electricity generation on the environment, human health and towards our dependence on fossil fuels. As the fastest growing renewable source of electricity, photovoltaics plays an important role in the energy transition. The manufacturing of photovoltaic modules requires materials classified as critical, making them prone to supply disruptions. Although these materials are essential to the EU economy, they are not sufficiently recovered at the end of a photovoltaic module’s life. An alternative intermediate solution could be to extend the lifespan of existing modules, to slow down demand for these materials in the future. The aim of this study was to analyse the theoretical options and practical examples of product life extension strategies for photovoltaics. The R-Ladder was used as a guiding framework, which provided examples of life extension strategies. These include Reuse, Repair, Refurbishment, Remanufacture and Repurpose. Aspects for each of these strategies were analysed to find potential benefits and challenges related to four aspects: economics, environment, energy, and materials. The approach of this study includes a literature review to identify the life extension strategies discussed specifically for photovoltaics in the context of the circular economy. This was followed by a multi-case study on practical applications of Reuse, Repair and Repurposing of photovoltaic modules. Findings from literature and the case study were further supplemented with the insights from six experts. These experts had diverse backgrounds in research, manufacturing, and procurement to offer a variety of insights and perspectives on life extension strategies for photovoltaics. Finally, two scenarios were created for possible life extension pathways for used photovoltaic modules to illustrate the potential impacts compared to a commonplace premature replacement scenario. Economics and module performance are key factors in decision-making and acquisition of a photovoltaic ...