Abstract Body

The total amount of renewable energy produced by a net zero energy building is equal or greater to the total amount of energy used on an annual basis. Net zero energy buildings rely on the energy grid to overcome the mismatch between energy production and energy use load patterns. In the Netherlands, this mismatch has currently no negative economic consequences, as there is a net metering agreement. However, this agreement has a close end date what could make residential energy production and net zero energy buildings less attractive. The addition of a battery storage system to net zero energy buildings could allow to increase the percentage of renewable energy production self-consumption and therefore reduce the possible future energy costs. The aim of this research is to optimize the sizing of a battery storage system to reduce the energy costs of residential net zero energy buildings on a future scenario in which there is no more net metering agreement. The optimization of the energy storage system sizing is based on computer simulation results of a battery model fed with one year one hour resolution energy use and solar energy production data of 120 residential net zero energy buildings located in Zoetermeer, the Netherlands. The modelled battery characteristics are based on the current market batteries characteristics. The simulation has been carried out taking various future scenarios into account, from a partial net metering agreement to none metering agreement with hourly variable energy price. The results show that the use of a battery storage system can not only reduce energy cost for the user, but it can also avoid grid energy peaks.