Cost‐effective energy saving in the building sector is a high priority in Europe.
The European Union has set ambitious targets for buildings’ energy performance in order to convert old energy-intensive ones into nearly zero energy buildings (nZEBs).
This study focuses on the implementation of a collective self‐consumption nZEB concept in Mediterranean climate conditions, considering a typical multi‐family building (or apartment block) in the urban environment. The aggregated use of PVs, geothermal and energy storage systems allow the self‐production and self‐consumption of energy, in a way that the independence from fossil fuels and the reliability of the electricity grid are enhanced. The proposed nZEB implementation scheme will be analysed from techno‐economical perspective, presenting detailed calculations regarding the components dimensions and costs giving emphasis on life cycle cost analysis (LCCA) indexes – as well as the energy transactions between the building and the electricity grid.
The main outcomes of this work are that the proposed nZEB implementation is a sustainable solution for the Mediterranean area, whereas the incorporation of electrical energy storage units—though beneficial for the reliability of the grid—calls for the implementation of positive policies regarding the reduction of their payback period.
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Special mentions must go to Faidra Kotarela, Anastasios Kyritsis and Nick Papanikolaou.