The BERLIN project’s team of researchers and energy experts prepared a report on the technical solution adopted for each pilot building on the road towards increasing their self-sufficiency in terms of electric energy All pilots have followed the same methodology and are based on Photovoltaics (PVs)and a Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) for storing electrical power, as well as a controller for managing the interaction between the aforementioned technologies with the building loads and external power entities, such as the utility grid. As each pilot is unique and has its own particularities with respect to the size of the building, the required energy to fulfil its needs, the available space for housing the equipment and infrastructure and the equipment that is already installed and available at the premises, each solution has been adapted to the specific needs of every pilot.

The report forms the basis for the preparation of the tender procedure and the procurement for the equipment and purchase of necessary infrastructure, as well as for the installation of the complete solution in each participating country.

In Cyprus, the main objective of the nanogrid implemented at the pilot facilities is to transform the PV Technology Laboratory into a living lab, where the energy consumption will be covered by the energy production from the PVs and the stored energy from the BESS. The target is to reduce to the minimum the energy consumption costs and nullify the CO₂ footprint of the laboratory. To achieve that, a turnkey solution consisting of 40 kWp of Building Integrated PVs (BIPVs) has been designed, in combination with a BESS of 50 kWh usable capacity and the existing Energy Management System (EMS).

In Greece, the main objective is to increase the self-sufficiency of the pilot buildings by reducing the energy demand from the utility grid. Specifically, in the case of the town hall, full coverage of electric needs will be attempted. In both cases, the existing PV installation will be expanded, while a new BESS will be added.  Demand Side Management capabilities of the buildings will be enabled by installing controllable loads (controlled by smart plugs). In both cases the main target will be to increase the self-consumption rate (SCR) to more than 85% and the self-sufficiency rate (SSR).

The goal of the BERLIN pilot demonstration in Israel  is to contribute to the Eilat-Eilot Renewable Energy Initiative which aims to transform Eilat and Eilot into leaders in energy efficiency. At Eilot school site, a nanogrid  will be developed, comprised of solar PV systems, battery storage and a Load Management System (LMS). Both Building Applied PV (BAPV), for maximum energy production, and BIPVs serving also as shading for the public areas, are to be installed. The school was designed and built using modern energy efficient building techniques including a Building Management System (BMS) that controls all lighting and Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning (HVAC) elements in the school.

The Eilat school site is not new and does not have the same BMS that is available in the newly built Eilot school. This requires direct control of the significant loads by the EMS as opposed to controlling the existing BMS. The overall system will function in a similar fashion to that to be installed at the school in Eilot, requiring additional hardware in the local electrical distribution panels.

Finally in Italy, the main goal for the pilot sites is to create a demonstrative installation (and living lab) of a nanogrid for existing buildings to show the feasibility of a greener, ecologically sustainable and economically profitable future scenario. In particular, the nanogrid will reduce the building energy consumption, for minimising the electricity bill, and providing flexibility services if required. Three technologies, namely PV, BESS and DSM, will be implemented and tested, under the concept of Nanogrid, at the UNICA Campus. By evaluating the meteorological information, the energy consumption and the PV energy production, the EMS of the nanogrid will handle the controllable loads and the BESS in order to maximise self-consumption and minimise the CO₂ building production.

You can find more details regarding the pilot sites, the methodology and the equipment in this report.