The choice and architectural implications of battery storage technologies in residential buildings

This thesis investigated the implications of the integration of battery storage technologies on the architectural design of buildings, providing design considerations for architects and built environment practitioners. The study focused on the UK residential sector, considering ‘high energy’ battery applications in grid-connected systems, which provide the possibility of ‘island’ mode operation for a period of several hours up to several days. The implications were assessed in different scenarios in 2030, addressing business as usual, the implementation of energy efficiency and demand response measures, electric heating and electrification of transport. The research was split into three phases and was conducted through quantitative and qualitative methods. Phase 1 included the analysis of the energy storage side, which led to a classification of battery storage technologies and their characteristics into a database. The analysis in this phase was conducted through a systematic literature review, contact with battery manufacturers and other stakeholders, exploration of case studies, as well as interviews to battery stakeholders. Phase 2 included the modelling of the energy demand side, which explored the evolution of the peak demand and electricity consumption in various residential building scales in 2030. Phase 3 used the outputs from Phase 1 and Phase 2 to assess the applicability of nine battery technologies in different building scales, their spatial requirements, such as footprint, volume, mass, ventilation, location and their cost. The findings suggest that the implications for building design are of great importance regarding the applicability of battery technologies in different building scales and of minor importance as regards the footprint, volume and mass requirements. The study reveals the most suitable technologies for each residential scale and scenario in 2030 regarding their spatial requirements and cost

Distributed or centralised renewable energy systems? Meeting the demands of the Mediterranean islands

The development of renewable energy technologies in an optimum way combined with energy efficiency technologies is investigated in the Greek island Ios. The energy consumption of the building and the transport sectors in the medium term have been estimated for a baseline and a sustainable future scenario. The transformation of the oil based transport to electricity powered one has been performed. Investigation on potential renewable energy systems based on solar and wind technologies and possible ways of their arrangement has been carried out. It is concluded that a viable combination of distributed and centralized RES systems with appropriate storage facilities constitutes the optimum solution. Ios island could then act as an exemplar of sustainable development for similar initiatives in other islands of the Mediterranean