About the Project
The most widespread application, worldwide, of solar thermal systems are the solar water heating systems for the production of hot water (thermosiphon solar water heaters). These systems usually cover 60-90% of the energy that a household needs to heat water. Solar water heaters help achieve the Energy and Climate targets of both Greece and the European Union. To achieve the European goal of energy without carbon dioxide, decentralized and digitized (decarbonized, decentralized, digitalized), in terms of the application of solar water heaters, only their digitization is required, as the first two are met.
The object of the project is the design and development of an integrated digital system with electronic and information/communication technologies, which will include an intelligent device for monitoring and collecting data on the operation of solar water heaters, and a digital application for communication and service to users, the professionals and energy networks. This smart device, which will be developed in the project, will collect using temperature and flow sensors, 24/7 measurements which will then be processed by a specific algorithm and will allow, through remote communication, the control of the device.
The objectives of the project include:
- Feasibility study of application of services and technologies that will increase the user's participation in energy savings and increase the solar share in the production of hot water.
- Feasibility study of application of services and technologies to network operators and energy providers as measures of load reduction, network balancing and integration of heat storage.
- Services to industry professionals to improve the efficiency and reliability of solar systems.
- Development of tools for predicting demand response, demand profile, and smart metering.
- Collaboration with tools for energy billing and services to balance the networks by utilizing the hot water storage.
- Participation in autonomous networks.
- Design demonstration actions to create a database on the provisioning capabilities and added value of smart device installation and application utilization.
The applications and tools that will be developed: a) will allow the upgrading of services to the user by offering easier control and information, b) will be able to be used by industry professionals, manufacturers and installers, to control the good maintenance forecasting and product design improvement, and (c) enable the contribution and evaluation of solar water heaters as devices integrated into smart grids.
At the environmental level, the results of the project are expected to help achieve the Energy and Climate targets of both Greece and the European Union by reducing CO2 emissions. Large amounts of energy are saved each year by contributing to the protection of the environment. Since each solar water heater in its lifetime (20 years) replaces 30 MWh of electricity and avoids greenhouse gas emissions equal to an average car each year.
The collection and processing of operating data will affect the development of EN-ISO standards and certification of solar systems, to which Greece contributes decisively through the secretariat of the only Technical Committee TC 312 that our country has. The consequences will affect both the increase in exports and the Energy Label.