Building Energy Flexibility Provision via Optimal Thermal Energy Management

Decarbonizing the energy sector requires the integration of renewable resources to the largest possible extent. However, renewable resources do not readily adapt to uctuating energy needs. Instead, we can adapt the demand to the production, and this leads to demand-side management (DSM). Buildings
have great potential for DSM. First, they represent 33% of the worlds total energy consumption. Second, their thermal mass can be used to store heat or
coldness, and if these are procured electrically, then the building is in principle able to provide exibility to the electric power grid. We study the ability of a mathematical-optimization-based thermal energy management system (TEMS) for residential/commercial/institutional units to improve the
exibility provided by such units to the grid. The TEMS provides benefits to both the unit users and the grid operator, since it manages heating while guaranteeing indoor thermal comfort and provides exibility to the grid.