Potential Analysis of Energy Management Systems in combination with Smart Meters in Non-Residential Buildings

Non-residential buildings account for about 2 million buildings in Germany, making up over 10 % of the building stock, yet they are responsible for around 36 % of the final energy consumption. Compared to residential buildings, they have a significantly higher energy consumption and are characterized by a great diversity both in their usage profiles and in the state of their technical installations – ranging from minimally to highly technologically advanced. Despite increasing legal requirements outlined in the German Building Energy Act (Gebäudeenergiegesetz) and the Metering Point Operation Act (Messstellenbetriebsgesetz), non-residential buildings are still rarely equipped with intelligent metering systems. Given their high energy consumption, non-residential buildings therefore offer significant untapped potential for automated energy optimization using energy management systems with smart metering systems.

To unlock this potential, the Deutsche Energie-Agentur (dena) commissioned adelphi consult and ITG Dresden to conduct a comprehensive potential analysis. Starting from a theoretical assessment of demand flexibility options, prioritized non-residential building types with the greatest potential were identified. Subsequently, essential factors limiting the achievable potential were determined through expert interviews and a survey of building representatives. The aim of the study was to identify specific non-residential building types with the greatest potential and to develop recommendations for market actors, building operators and decision makers.

This project supported dena's 4th SET Hub Pilot Project, which focused on developing and implementing an AI-based control algorithm for the building technology of non-residential buildings.