IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jeners/v14y2021i17p5577-d630100.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

A Vision for Energy Decarbonization: Planning Sustainable Tertiary Sites as Net-Zero Energy Systems

Author

Listed:
  • Marc Richter

    (Department of Energy Systems and Infrastructures, Fraunhofer Institute for Factory Operation and Automation IFF, 39106 Magdeburg, Germany)

  • Pio Lombardi

    (Department of Energy Systems and Infrastructures, Fraunhofer Institute for Factory Operation and Automation IFF, 39106 Magdeburg, Germany)

  • Bartlomiej Arendarski

    (Department of Energy Systems and Infrastructures, Fraunhofer Institute for Factory Operation and Automation IFF, 39106 Magdeburg, Germany)

  • André Naumann

    (Department of Energy Systems and Infrastructures, Fraunhofer Institute for Factory Operation and Automation IFF, 39106 Magdeburg, Germany)

  • Andreas Hoepfner

    (Department of Energy Systems and Infrastructures, Fraunhofer Institute for Factory Operation and Automation IFF, 39106 Magdeburg, Germany)

  • Przemyslaw Komarnicki

    (Department of Engineering and Industrial Design, Magdeburg-Stendal University of Applied Sciences, 39114 Magdeburg, Germany)

  • Antonio Pantaleo

    (Department of Agro-Environmental and Territorial Sciences, University of Bari Aldo Moro, 70121 Bari, Italy)

Abstract

The power system is changing towards a decarbonized one. The Kyoto protocol and the Paris climate agreement have prompted many nations to approve energy policies based on volatile renewable energy sources (RESs). However, the integration into the grid of the power generated by RESs as well as the electrification of the heating, gas and transportation sectors is becoming a huge challenge. Planning industrial and tertiary sites as net-zero energy systems (NZESs) might contribute to advance the solutions of fully integrating volatile RESs into the power system. This study aims to point out the importance of planning large energy consumer sites such as NZESs, and to depict a holistic modeling approach for this. The methodology is based on a multi-layer approach, which focuses on on-site power generation by RESs, on the improvement of energy efficiency, and on the increase of system flexibility. A qualitative case study has been conducted. It considers the planning of a Net-Zero Energy Data Center located in Germany. Results point out that new interdisciplinary and in particular social analysis methods are necessary. They might be used for accelerating the decision making process during the planning of RES-based on-site power generation systems. Besides, for computation and cooling systems, new technologies that are continuously emerging in the market should be taken into account. If well designed, they contribute to significantly decrease the whole energy demand of data center. Finally, optimal sizing of energy storage systems (electric and thermal) as well as an expedient choice of performance indicators to evaluate technology options are identified as the key factor for decreasing the external energy demand of tertiary sites, such as data center.

Suggested Citation

  • Marc Richter & Pio Lombardi & Bartlomiej Arendarski & André Naumann & Andreas Hoepfner & Przemyslaw Komarnicki & Antonio Pantaleo, 2021. "A Vision for Energy Decarbonization: Planning Sustainable Tertiary Sites as Net-Zero Energy Systems," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(17), pages 1-16, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jeners:v:14:y:2021:i:17:p:5577-:d:630100
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/14/17/5577/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/14/17/5577/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Christoph Wenge & Robert Pietracho & Stephan Balischewski & Bartlomiej Arendarski & Pio Lombardi & Przemyslaw Komarnicki & Leszek Kasprzyk, 2020. "Multi Usage Applications of Li-Ion Battery Storage in a Large Photovoltaic Plant: A Practical Experience," Energies, MDPI, vol. 13(18), pages 1-18, September.
    2. Rafique, M. Mujahid & Rehman, S. & Alhems, Luai M., 2018. "Developing zero energy and sustainable villages – A case study for communities of the future," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 127(C), pages 565-574.
    3. Lopes, Rui Amaral & Martins, João & Aelenei, Daniel & Lima, Celson Pantoja, 2016. "A cooperative net zero energy community to improve load matching," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 93(C), pages 1-13.
    4. Nematchoua, Modeste Kameni & Marie-Reine Nishimwe, Antoinette & Reiter, Sigrid, 2021. "Towards nearly zero-energy residential neighbourhoods in the European Union: A case study," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 135(C).
    5. Sokolnikova, P. & Lombardi, P. & Arendarski, B. & Suslov, K. & Pantaleo, A.M. & Kranhold, M. & Komarnicki, P., 2020. "Net-zero multi-energy systems for Siberian rural communities: A methodology to size thermal and electric storage units," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 155(C), pages 979-989.
    6. Sinn, Hans-Werner, 2017. "Buffering volatility: A study on the limits of Germany's energy revolution," European Economic Review, Elsevier, vol. 99(C), pages 130-150.
    7. Stötzer, Martin & Hauer, Ines & Richter, Marc & Styczynski, Zbigniew A., 2015. "Potential of demand side integration to maximize use of renewable energy sources in Germany," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 146(C), pages 344-352.
    8. Caro-Ruiz, C. & Lombardi, P. & Richter, M. & Pelzer, A. & Komarnicki, P. & Pavas, A. & Mojica-Nava, E., 2019. "Coordination of optimal sizing of energy storage systems and production buffer stocks in a net zero energy factory," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 238(C), pages 851-862.
    9. Bandeiras, F. & Gomes, M. & Coelho, P. & Fernandes, J., 2020. "Towards net zero energy in industrial and commercial buildings in Portugal," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 119(C).
    10. Pio Alessandro Lombardi & Kranthi Ranadheer Moreddy & André Naumann & Przemyslaw Komarnicki & Carmine Rodio & Sergio Bruno, 2019. "Data Centers as Active Multi-Energy Systems for Power Grid Decarbonization: A Technical and Economic Analysis," Energies, MDPI, vol. 12(21), pages 1-14, November.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Guo, Jiacheng & Liu, Zhijian & Li, Ying & Wu, Di & Liu, Xuan & Zhang, Shicong & Yang, Xinyan & Ge, Hua & Zhang, Peiwen, 2022. "Thermodynamic performance analyses and optimization design method of a novel distributed energy system coupled with hybrid-energy storage," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 182(C), pages 1182-1200.
    2. Modeste Kameni Nematchoua & José A. Orosa, 2023. "Low Carbon Emissions and Energy Consumption: A Targeted Approach Based on the Life Cycle Assessment of a District," Waste, MDPI, vol. 1(3), pages 1-24, July.
    3. Chen, Xiaofei & Xiao, Jinmei & Yuan, Jiaqi & Xiao, Ziwei & Gang, Wenjie, 2021. "Application and performance analysis of 100% renewable energy systems serving low-density communities," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 176(C), pages 433-446.
    4. Schreiner, Lena & Madlener, Reinhard, 2022. "Investing in power grid infrastructure as a flexibility option: A DSGE assessment for Germany," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 107(C).
    5. Behrang Shirizadeh, Quentin Perrier, and Philippe Quirion, 2022. "How Sensitive are Optimal Fully Renewable Power Systems to Technology Cost Uncertainty?," The Energy Journal, International Association for Energy Economics, vol. 0(Number 1).
    6. Moura, Ricardo & Brito, Miguel Centeno, 2019. "Prosumer aggregation policies, country experience and business models," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 132(C), pages 820-830.
    7. Pascal A. Schirmer & Iosif Mporas, 2019. "Statistical and Electrical Features Evaluation for Electrical Appliances Energy Disaggregation," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(11), pages 1-14, June.
    8. Verdolini, Elena & Vona, Francesco & Popp, David, 2018. "Bridging the gap: Do fast-reacting fossil technologies facilitate renewable energy diffusion?," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 116(C), pages 242-256.
    9. Modeste Kameni Nematchoua, 2022. "Strategies for Studying Acidification and Eutrophication Potentials, a Case Study of 150 Countries," J, MDPI, vol. 5(1), pages 1-16, March.
    10. Helm, Carsten & Mier, Mathias, 2021. "Steering the energy transition in a world of intermittent electricity supply: Optimal subsidies and taxes for renewables and storage," Journal of Environmental Economics and Management, Elsevier, vol. 109(C).
    11. João Tabanêz Patrício & Rui Amaral Lopes & Naim Majdalani & Daniel Aelenei & João Martins, 2023. "Aggregated Use of Energy Flexibility in Office Buildings," Energies, MDPI, vol. 16(2), pages 1-17, January.
    12. Shi Chen & Wolfgang Karl Hardle & Brenda L'opez Cabrera, 2020. "Regularization Approach for Network Modeling of German Power Derivative Market," Papers 2009.09739, arXiv.org.
    13. Jan Abrell & Sebastian Rausch & Clemens Streitberger, 2022. "The Economic and Climate Value of Flexibility in Green Energy Markets," Environmental & Resource Economics, Springer;European Association of Environmental and Resource Economists, vol. 83(2), pages 289-312, October.
    14. Abada, I. & Ehrenmann, A. & Lambin, X., 2017. "On the viability of energy communities," Cambridge Working Papers in Economics 1740, Faculty of Economics, University of Cambridge.
    15. Kılkış, Şiir & Ulpiani, Giulia & Vetters, Nadja, 2024. "Visions for climate neutrality and opportunities for co-learning in European cities," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 195(C).
    16. Gabriele Battista & Emanuele de Lieto Vollaro & Andrea Vallati & Roberto de Lieto Vollaro, 2023. "Technical–Financial Feasibility Study of a Micro-Cogeneration System in the Buildings in Italy," Energies, MDPI, vol. 16(14), pages 1-15, July.
    17. Badr Eddine Lebrouhi & Eric Schall & Bilal Lamrani & Yassine Chaibi & Tarik Kousksou, 2022. "Energy Transition in France," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(10), pages 1-28, May.
    18. Luthander, Rasmus & Nilsson, Annica M. & Widén, Joakim & Åberg, Magnus, 2019. "Graphical analysis of photovoltaic generation and load matching in buildings: A novel way of studying self-consumption and self-sufficiency," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 250(C), pages 748-759.
    19. Jung, Seunghoon & Jeoung, Jaewon & Kang, Hyuna & Hong, Taehoon, 2021. "Optimal planning of a rooftop PV system using GIS-based reinforcement learning," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 298(C).
    20. Gugler, Klaus & Haxhimusa, Adhurim, 2019. "Market integration and technology mix: Evidence from the German and French electricity markets," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 126(C), pages 30-46.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jeners:v:14:y:2021:i:17:p:5577-:d:630100. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.