A model to design and optimize multi-energy systems in buildings at the design concept stage

Increasing interest is currently being addressed to multi-energy systems in buildings. These systems integrate different energy sources, at least one of which is renewable, in order to cover the thermal and electrical loads of a building. Since the design and operation of such systems are very complicated for many reasons (e.g. the intermittent nature of the renewable sources, the highly interlinked system layouts), it is of the foremost importance to provide tools to help select the best system configuration and energy sources mix.