SmartExergy – Primary Energy Efficient and Hybrid Grid Solutions for Municipal Energy Supply Systems

The use and integration of intermittent renewable energy sources into energy networks and the increase of primary energy efficiency are key in paving the way towards a low-carbon energy supply. This requires the available existing resources, energy flows and renewable potentials in municipal energy systems to be used as technologically efficient as possible. New innovative tools and methods are necessary to achieve this goal as well as minimizing costs and maximizing security of supply. In the paper shown here, a new method for the analysis of municipal energy systems is presented. A cellular approach is combined with energy and exergy analysis. Exergy analysis is used to determine the causes, locations and magnitudes of primary energy losses. Energy analysis is used to quantify the amounts of excess energy that can be stored using the linkage of power, gas and district heating networks in order to develop innovative hybrid grid solutions. Results of a case study for the Austrian mid-sized city of Leoben are presented as well.