S34 Efficient Buildings and Industrial Processes: Driving the Energy Transition
Tracks
Special Session
Friday, August 29, 2025 |
9:00 - 10:30 |
E1 |
Details
Chair: Alessandro Lorenzo Palma, Luca La Notte, Miriam Benedetti, Biagio Di Pietra, Giovanni Landi, Giovanni, Puglisi Paolo Sdringola, ENEA, Italy
Speaker
Dr. Alessandra Gugliandolo
Junior Researcher
ENEA
Impact of occupancy density on the seasonal energy performance of a university residence
Author(s) - Presenters are indicated with (p)
Alessandra Gugliandoro (p), Fabio Minutoli
Discussant for this paper
Luca La Notte
Abstract
The energy efficiency of residential buildings is a key element in the transition towards sustainable models, with a particular focus on university residences, which are characterised by a high variability of occupancy density over the academic year. The need to modernise and increase the number of beds, also in response to the investments envisaged by the National Recovery and Resilience Plan (NRRP), which allocates €1.2 billion for the construction of new university residences and the renovation of existing ones, makes the use of predictive tools to analyse the interactions between energy consumption, living comfort and facilities management essential. These tools include dynamic energy simulations, big data analysis, energy management and monitoring systems based on Building Energy Management Systems (BEMS), the Internet of Things (IoT) for intelligent monitoring. In addition, the use of thermo-fluid dynamic models such as Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) allows the study of temperature distribution and air flows in indoor spaces, optimising air quality and occupant comfort.
Using some of these tools, such as CFD analysis and the use of energy simulation models, this study analyses the heat balance of a university residence, identified through the analysis of several case studies, varying the occupancy density at different times of the year and under different weather conditions. The results show how the increase in internal inputs resulting from a higher occupancy density facilitates energy savings in winter , while in summer it contributes to an increase in cooling demand, creating situations of thermal discomfort.
To mitigate these effects, which are determined by the physiological behaviour of a building organism, we have taken into account the characteristic of the "university housing" building typology; the aim was to improve the distribution of the occupants inside the building, to provide a control system adapted to the needs given by the use of each room, at different times of the day and during the academic year. In addition, a conscious use of natural ventilation and the use of tools to assess user needs (e.g. questionnaires and behavioural analysis) can reduce the consumption and improve the energy efficiency.
These assessments will be developed considering the resources of the NRRP to ensure targeted, effective and sustainable investments. This approach will provide concrete tools for planners, facility managers and policy makers, contributing to the renovation of the university building stock and the creation of more efficient, comfortable and resilient environments to climate and energy challenges.
Using some of these tools, such as CFD analysis and the use of energy simulation models, this study analyses the heat balance of a university residence, identified through the analysis of several case studies, varying the occupancy density at different times of the year and under different weather conditions. The results show how the increase in internal inputs resulting from a higher occupancy density facilitates energy savings in winter , while in summer it contributes to an increase in cooling demand, creating situations of thermal discomfort.
To mitigate these effects, which are determined by the physiological behaviour of a building organism, we have taken into account the characteristic of the "university housing" building typology; the aim was to improve the distribution of the occupants inside the building, to provide a control system adapted to the needs given by the use of each room, at different times of the day and during the academic year. In addition, a conscious use of natural ventilation and the use of tools to assess user needs (e.g. questionnaires and behavioural analysis) can reduce the consumption and improve the energy efficiency.
These assessments will be developed considering the resources of the NRRP to ensure targeted, effective and sustainable investments. This approach will provide concrete tools for planners, facility managers and policy makers, contributing to the renovation of the university building stock and the creation of more efficient, comfortable and resilient environments to climate and energy challenges.
Dr. Luca La Notte
Junior Researcher
ENEA - Italian National Agency for New Technologies, Energy and Sustainable Economic Development
EMPOWER, a web platform based on smart technologies, to enhance user awareness of energy consumption and environmental quality inside buildings
Author(s) - Presenters are indicated with (p)
Alessandro Lorenzo Palma, Luca La Notte (p), Biagio Di Pietra, Alessandra Gugliandolo, Laura Canale, Giorgio Ficco, Elisa Caracci, Nicola Rainisio, Marco Boffi
Discussant for this paper
Alessandro Lorenzo Palma
Abstract
Buildings account for approximately 40% of total final energy consumption in the European Union (EU), and they are also responsible for about 36% of CO₂ emissions due to energy use. To improve efficiency, smart technologies provide valuable insights into energy usage and indoor environmental quality. Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EPBD) IV emphasizes the importance of detailed energy performance data, while Energy Efficiency Directive (EED) introduces requirements for consumption measurement and minimum frequency of reporting to users. Although energy management platforms and end-user information systems are emerging in the market, an integrated approach to energy efficiency is still lacking. To address this gap, the web platform EMPOWER (Energy Monitoring Portal for Aware Users) was developed for condominiums with centralized heating systems, aiming to enhance user awareness of energy consumption and indoor environmental quality. EMPOWER provides access to data collected from smart devices and sensors, available via web and app, offering information on thermal and domestic hot water (DHW) consumption as well as indoor environmental parameters such as temperature, humidity, CO₂, and particulate matter (PM). Specifically, energy consumption is presented through simplified benchmarks and graphical representations to facilitate data comprehension. Preliminary results suggest that frequent access to EMPOWER could lead to reduced consumption, demonstrating its potential as a tool to encourage informed actions for energy efficiency.
Dr. Alessandro Lorenzo Palma
Senior Researcher
ENEA - Italian National Agency for New Technologies, Energy and Sustainable Economic Development
Application of a demand-response-optimized electrical load profile to a plant supplying an energy micro-community
Author(s) - Presenters are indicated with (p)
Alessandro Lorenzo Palma (p)
Discussant for this paper
Ruggero Nissim
Abstract
The European Renewable Energy Directive promotes the uptake of Renewable Energy Communities and Jointly Acting Renewable Self-Consumers for the local production and shared consumption of energy, as an alternative to the classic model based on centralized production, transmission, and distribution. Demand response (DR) programs are able to efficiently balance supply and demand both on grid-connected and islanded microgrids by deploying renewable energy sources and storage systems. In this work, carried out under the MASE – ENEA program agreement on Electrical System Research, we applied DR logics to optimize the electrical load profile of an apartment building acting as an energy micro-community. In the study, conducted with an experimental hybrid system called S.A.P.I.EN.T.E., installed at ENEA Casaccia Research Centre, an energy micro-community of apartment buildings was tested under real operating conditions. Through the plant control system, it was possible to emulate and compare the results coming from the implementation of a non-optimized electrical load and of the DR-optimized one. The advantages in terms of energy self-consumption and self-sufficiency have been highlighted. We also extended the study to a larger energy community employing a simulation platform based on Matlab/Simulink models to evaluate the energetics indices and economic profitability by applying DR logics. We have shown that in the context of a micro-community served by a hybrid plant like S.A.P.I.EN.T.E., the best energy performance and economical revenue occur in presence of a tracking system of PV power production, and optimization of the building’s electrical load profile through Demand-Response logics.
Mr Ruggero Nissim
Junior Researcher
Enea
S.A.P.I.EN.T.E. Experimental Test Facility For Full-Scale Testing Of New Configurations Of Collective Thermal Electric Self-Consumption From Renewable Sources.
Author(s) - Presenters are indicated with (p)
Ruggero Nissim (p)
Discussant for this paper
Alessandra Gugliandolo
Abstract
The European Renewable Energy Directive promotes the adoption of renewable self-consumption strategies for local production and shared consumption of energy. In this paper, the authors illustrate the plant named S.A.P.I.EN.T.E., an experimental facility designed to simulate Collective Self-consumption Groups (CSG) and related experimental tests focused on maximizing self-consumption of locally produced renewable energy. We demonstrate, through experimental tests, the benefits in terms of energy Self-Consumption (SC) and Self-Sufficiency (SS) that such a system architecture can achieve.
S.A.P.I.EN.T.E. installed at the ENEA Casaccia Research Center, is composed of four different sections: energy generation, energy storage, distribution system and energy utilities. A control system based on a programmable logic controller is used to manage energy flows and implement demand side management strategies.
We will show the plant structure, operating logics and control systems. We will demonstrate how the storage systems belonging to such a plant maximize self-consumption of locally produced energy through experimental test results.
We demonstrate effective resource management and control methods to enhance SC and SS in the context of CSG, adopting power to heat and load shifting strategies. We also show how converting electrical power into thermal power by means of a heat pump can enhance the energy coefficients, while also warrantying thermal comfort to the CSG users.
S.A.P.I.EN.T.E. installed at the ENEA Casaccia Research Center, is composed of four different sections: energy generation, energy storage, distribution system and energy utilities. A control system based on a programmable logic controller is used to manage energy flows and implement demand side management strategies.
We will show the plant structure, operating logics and control systems. We will demonstrate how the storage systems belonging to such a plant maximize self-consumption of locally produced energy through experimental test results.
We demonstrate effective resource management and control methods to enhance SC and SS in the context of CSG, adopting power to heat and load shifting strategies. We also show how converting electrical power into thermal power by means of a heat pump can enhance the energy coefficients, while also warrantying thermal comfort to the CSG users.
