Using Reference Load and PV Profiles for Realistic Evaluations of Residential Energy Systems Including PV Systems

Abstract

Reference test seenarios with standardized, well-defined input profiles are of high importance for the development, layout, dimensioning and comparison of energy systems. The guideline VDI 4655 provides reference load profiles for residential buildings that consider building characteristics as well as climatic and seasonal influences. These reference profiles have been extended by NEXT ENERGY with photovoltaic (PV) power profiles, such that realistic seenarios for residential energy infrastructures including PV systems can be designed. In this work, we give an overview of the VDI 4655 reference load profiles as well as the PV power profiles and demonstrate their usefulness in the context of renewable energy systems with the help of two case studies. We show how time-lapse test profiles can be constructed conveniently from the reference load profiles. They allow for the simulation of entire years in a fraction of the time using real components in a laboratory setting. The high accuracy of the reference profiles and the utilization of real components in a laboratory setting substantially facilitate the realistic evaluation of residential energy infrastructures including renewable energy components.