On-Site Generation Simulation with EnergyPlus for CommercialBuildings

Building energy simulation software (e.g., EnergyPlus) is apowerful tool used widely by designers and researchers. However, currentsoftware is limited in modeling distributed generation (DG), including DGwith heat recovery applied to building end-use, i.e., combined heat andpower (CHP). Concurrently, DG investment and dispatch optimizationsoftware has been developed, yet has not been linked to a building energysimulation program for accurate assessment of DG designs, particularlyunder uncertainty in future end-use loads and equipment availability. CHPis a proven approach to cost effective reductions in primary fuelconsumption and CO2 emissions. Integrating DG system design and controlsinto building energy simulation is an important step towards popular DGacceptance. We propose to extend the existing building energy simulationprogram, EnergyPlus (E+), to enable the simulation of various DG modulesand associated control strategies in order to achieve more accurate andholistic analysis of DG technologies. Extension of EnergyPlus isconveniently facilitated by SPARK, a program capable of modeling buildingequipment and controls as individual modules. These modules can beautomatically integrated with EnergyPlus building models. Candidate DGsystems can be selected from the DG investment optimization program,Distributed Energy Resources Customer Adoption Model (DER-CAM). Thedispatch of the modeled DG system can be determined by a novel dispatchoptimization algorithm, the Energy Manager, that accounts for uncertaintyin future load and DG availability, as well as curtailment options. DGequipment and controls can modeled in SPARK and integrated intoEnergyPlus building models. The way to this holistic approach will bedescribed in this paper