Faster towards Europe’s first positive energy apartment building thanks to corona
Working from home resulted in an impressive 750 metres of cable in the home of Eelke Bontekoe, researcher at the Copernicus Institute of Utrecht University. Because of the closure of university buildings, he took an energy measuring system home. Since he had extra time and opportunity, he thoroughly tested and optimized the system. Now the measuring network is complete to be readily installed in the first positive energy apartment building to investigate the performance of the Inside Out renovation system.
Efficient energy production
Eelke Bontekoe investigates the generation of solar energy in urban regions in a number of multidisciplinary innovation projects, one of which is Inside Out. This collaborative project realizes Europe’s first positive energy apartment building in Utrecht Overvecht. The unique renovation system developed by the Inside Out consortium is perfectly suited to his research because of the large-scale application of solar panels.
“About 1100 solar panels will be placed on the positive energy apartment building situated at the Henriëttedreef in Utrecht. At each side of the building we will measure irradiance of sunlight at three different heights. Each side has a grid of nine panels where we also determine the influence of temperature on energy output. Additionally, the effect of shading caused by balconies is investigated,” explains Bontekoe. Normally only the output of solar panels is measured, but his research goes beyond that. “The facade contains sensors that measure temperature. This way we can figure out the influence of temperature on the energy output of solar panels. As a result, we can increase output with strategically placed ventilation for example.”
Increased efficiency of solar panels
“In order to work efficiently, I planned to answer as many practical questions as possible before placing the measuring system in the apartment building,” says Bontekoe. “At first I wanted to test some things at university, but this was not possible due to the corona outbreak. Then I decided to just take the whole set-up home.” At home he found out how many sensors you can attach to one cable, what the maximum cable length is for good signal transmission, where signal enhancers are required and how the measuring equipment works in an optimal way. “Because I could take the time at home, I tested more than I planned ”, according to Bontekoe. Now a perfectly working measuring network can be directly installed in the apartment building. Bontekoe: “Normally we install a measuring set-up directly on site, but testing it before installation definitely has advantages. This experience clearly shows that.”
Towards energy-generating apartment buildings
In the collaborative project Inside Out, a high-rise apartment building in Utrecht Overvecht is altered to generate energy by applying an innovative renovation system. The Inside Out renovation system combines multifunctional, modular construction elements and can be applied to similar high-rise apartment buildings in the future. The system includes for example a smart facade that heats apartments, supplies them with sustainable electricity and provides ventilation. Despite the corona outbreak developments have continued: project partners placed the first new facades on June 8th of this year. The project was also recently awarded the SustainaBul Best Practice award 2020.
Led by the Utrecht Sustainability Institute, the knowledge institutes and companies Utrecht University, University of Applied Sciences Utrecht, Bo-Ex housing corporation, Bos Installatiewerken, Alkondor Hengelo, Mex Architects, LomboXnet and Bosch Thermotechniek collaborate to realize a positive energy high-rise buildings together. Inside Out is carried out with Top Sector Energy Subsidy from the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Climate.