Dynamic performance of a solar hybrid heating network integrated with a micro-cogeneration unit serving a small-scale residential district including electric vehicles

Abstract

A solar hybrid district heating network integrated with a seasonal borehole thermal energy storage is modelled, simulated and analyzed over a 5-year period. The system is devoted to satisfying the thermal demand of a smallscale district consisting of 6 typical Italian single-family houses in Naples (south of Italy); the charging of 6 plugin electric vehicles is also considered. The performance of the proposed plant is investigated by considering two alternative natural gas-fueled back-up systems. The energy, environmental and economic performance of the proposed plant are analyzed and compared with those associated to a conventional heating system in order to assess the potential benefits.