Increasing the Energy Efficiency of Hybrid RES Installations Using KNX System

Buildings belong to the group of largest receivers of energy in the form of electricity and heat. Therefore, research and actions are needed to improve energetic performance of these objects. Renewable energy sources (RAS) help significantly reduce the use of energy from the primary sources and to reduce energy losses. In order to increase the possibilities of using these energy sources, hybrid generation system (HGS) have been introduced, which combine several technologies of obtaining electricity and heat (Paska et al. in Wiadomości Elektrotechniczne 12:3–13, 2005 [1]). These systems include small sets of cooperating units that produce electricity and heat based on different primary energy media (both renewable and non-renewable) and/or including system(s) of energy storage. The cooperation of the units is controlled and coordinated by advanced energoelectronic systems. The choice of energy sources to be applied in a particular building depends on the type and use of the building. Optimum energy system for a building should be controlled automatically, allowing full adjustment and management of the energy sources performance. Energy performance should be controlled based on the current and expected atmospheric conditions, as well as the current energy demand of the building. Data measuring, analysis and acquisition may be successfully carried out by the KNX system equipment. This equipment has an advantage of acquiring real-time data from various sensors in order to perform the necessary functions that improve the effectiveness of energy production. The KNX technology enables data storage and analysis on the energy production, its performance, profit and total energy saving. Cooperation with the elements of the building’s automatic systems allow to manage the load and, as a result, increase the building’s energetic performance.