Smart-ready service H-2d · Heating
Sequencing in case of different heat generators
In short
- 1This service determines how a building selects which heat source to activate at any given moment.
- 2When multiple heat generators are present, such as a boiler and a heat pump, the control system determines the order of activation.
- 3Levels range from control based on operating hours to control based on predicted load and electricity grid signals.
The levels
Level 0
Priorities only based on running time
Level 1
Control according to fixed priority list: e.g. based on rated energy efficiency
Level 2
Control according to dynamic priority list (based on current energy efficiency, carbon emissions and capacity of generators, e.g. solar, geothermal heat, cogeneration plant, fossil fuels)
Level 3
Control according to dynamic priority list (based on current AND predicted load, energy efficiency, carbon emissions and capacity of generators)
Level 4
Control according to dynamic priority list (based on current AND predicted load, energy efficiency, carbon emissions, capacity of generators AND external signals from grid)
What is heat source sequencing?
Many buildings have more than one source of heat. Think of a gas boiler alongside a heat pump, or combined heat and power (CHP) alongside solar panels that generate hot water. The building management system (BMS) must then determine which source is activated at which moment.
This smart-ready service, H-2d, assesses how intelligently that choice is made within the Heating domain. It does not count in method A, the simplified assessment method of the Smart Readiness Indicator (SRI), but it does count in the full method B.
How do the levels differ from each other?
At the lowest level, 0, the system selects based only on operating hours. The generator that has run the least receives priority. This does not account for efficiency or environmental impact.
Level 1 works with a fixed priority list, often based on the nominal efficiency of each generator. Level 2 makes that list dynamic: the system looks at the actual efficiency, CO2 emissions and capacity of each source, such as solar energy, ground source heat, CHP or fossil fuels.
Level 3 adds forecasting. The system accounts for expected load, not only the current situation. Level 4 goes a step further and also uses external signals from the electricity grid, so that heat generation can respond to supply and demand on the grid.
Why is this relevant for buildings with multiple heat sources?
Buildings with hybrid generation, for example a boiler combined with a heat pump, can save significantly on energy and emissions through intelligent sequencing. A fixed list does not account for changing conditions, such as a sunny day or a peak in electricity price.
As buildings combine more decentralised and renewable sources, this functionality becomes increasingly important for the building's energy performance, which is also reflected in the energy label.
Relevant for these building types
Next step
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