• Energy Research
• other engineering and technologies close
• 12. Responsible consumption close
• Research Repository of Catalonia close

Most existing commercial building energy management systems (BEMS) are reactive rule-based. This means that an action is produced when an event occurs. In consequence, these systems cannot predict future scenarios and anticipate events to optimize building operation. This paper presents the procedure of implementing a predictive control strategy in a commercial BEMS for boilers in buildings, and describes the results achieved. The proposed control is based on a neural network that turns on the boiler each day at the optimum time, according to the surrounding environment, to achieve thermal comfort levels at the beginning of the working day. The control strategy presented in this paper is compared with the current control strategy implemented in BEMS that is based on scheduled on/off control. The control strategy was tested during one heating season and a set of key performance indicators were used to assess the benefits of the proposed control strategy. The results showed that the implementation of predictive control in a BEMS for building boilers can reduce the energy required to heat the building by around 20% without compromising the user’s comfort. Peer Reviewed

Part of the large amounts of waste generated by human activities could have a second use while solving social problems. In this sense, the authors are carrying out a research project involving the participative development of innovative solar control devices integrated into school architecture using household waste. In general, the objectives of this research project are to: (a) optimize pupils’ learning process by improving lighting and thermal comfort levels and (b) reduce the generation of Spanish household waste by reusing part of it and increase the teaching community’s awareness about this waste. This research article reports on the steps taken to achieve these objectives by characterizing the most sustainable types of the waste-based solar control device. In this sense, this research paper defines and applies a new methodology which combines General Morphology Analysis (GMA), a new tool based on The Integrated Value Model for Sustainable Assessment and Focus groups. First, up to 96 different types of solar control devices composed of household waste have been defined using GMA and, second, these 96 types and conventional roller shutters have been assessed using this new tool. Based on these article results, one of the best alternatives has been prototyped during an initial workshop.

Industrial waste heat (IWH) is a key strategy to improve energy efficiency and reduce CO2 emissions in the industry. But its potential for different countries remains unclear due to a non-existent or inconsistent data basis. The objective of this paper is to assess the IWH potential of the European non-metallic mineral industry, using databases which comprise CO2 emissions of more than 400 industrial sites as well as country- and sector-specific parameters. This sector is selected because of its homogenous nature, meaning that most sites carry out similar or the same processes, which facilitates site-level modelling with subsector-level assumptions. The bottom-up approach is employed to derive the IWH potential for this industry over the period 2007–2012. Average results in this period show an IWH potential per site of 0.33 PJ/a and a potential for the whole sector of 134 PJ/a. The countries with the largest IWH potentials are Germany, Italy, France and Spain with yearly average potentials of 23, 19, 17 and 16 PJ, respectively. The subsector with the most IWH potential is cement. Further work should focus on the improvement of methodologies to assess the IWH potential, in particular through a techno-economic assessment of links between IWH sources and potential sinks. The work is partially funded by the Spanish Government (ENE2015-64117-C5-1-R (MINECO/FEDER)). This project has received funding from the European Commission Seventh Framework Programme (FP/2007-2013) under Grant Agreement No PIRSES-GA-2013-610692 (INNOSTORAGE) and from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 Research and Innovation programme under Grant Agreement No 657466 (INPATH-TES).

Strength in sustainability is becoming more and more essential for anyone who wants to dedicate themselves to the practice of competent and professional engineering. From the scientific-technical teachings, therefore, the transversal competencies of sustainability and social commitment should be addressed, so that students understand and become aware of the problems of a global world. Using the project-based learning tool (PBL), from a practical case, transversal competencies related to the global issues of the Sustainable Development Objectives (ODS) can be explained and evaluated in a classroom of Engineering or scientific degrees through the subject of Linear Algebra. This project presented is novel since usually, in a class of mathematics, teacher proposes examples in which we can see an attempt to approximate math to essential topics such as sustainability. In this case, the procedure is the other way round; it is about setting as the objective of the course the solution of a problem related to sustainability and adapting the mathematics program so that throughout the course the problem is solved. It is not about looking for application examples of the tools, but looking for algebra tools to solve the problem.

The growing demand for energy and the accelerating threats from climate change call for innovative and sustainable solutions to decrease dependency on fossil fuels. Biomass -based, small-scale Combined Cooling, Heating and Power (CCHP) systems are one of these solutions, because they can satisfy the energy demands of the consumer with enhanced flexibility, l ower losses, less costs and less environmental pollution as compared to centralized facilities. Due to recent advances in several scientific subfields with relevance to small-scale CCHP, a rapidly increasing amount of literature is now available. Therefore, a structural overview is essential for engineers and researchers. This paper presents a review of the current investigations in small-scale CCHP systems covering biomass-fired concepts and solar extensions. To this end, critical system components are described and analysed according to their specific advantages and drawbacks. Recent case studies have been collected and key findings are highlighted according to each type of prime mover. The results indicate a scientific bias towards the economic viability of such systems and the need for real-life and experiment system data. However, the potential of biomass-fired CCHP systems and of such systems with solar extensions has clearly been recognised. Based on the results, future policy implementations should focus on fostering such systems in areas with high energy costs and to increase energy resilience in developed regions. Additionally research and industry applying novel prime mover technologies should be financially supported.

In order to redefine the influence of the energy and technological transitions upon the challenge of climate change this paper shows that buildings are key agents. This paper discusses the importance of addressing building energy efficiency in a holistic and transformational way, to avoid that incremental measures increase the lock-in effect. Moreover, policies should consider a demand-side energy transition, contrary to today's discourse, where the supply side and energy production are prominent. Finally, the most important issues in this energy transition are intergenerational divide and justice. Dr. Cabeza would like to thank the Catalan Government for the quality accreditation given to her research group GREiA (2017 SGR 1537). GREiA is a certified agent TECNIO in the category of technology developers from the Government of Catalonia. This work is partially supported by ICREA under the ICREA Academia programme.