Defining the energy role of buildings as flexumers: A review of definitions, technologies, and applications

The Future Design of Smart Energy Systems with Energy Flexumers: A Constructive Literature Review

“…Coined by Bärwaldt in 2018 [247], flexumers boost the ability to adapt energy use, generation, and storage flexibly. Essentially, a flexumer enhances the energy functions of a prosumer by incorporating additional capabilities like energy storage and flexibility [248,249]. Flexumers, with their ability to regulate energy supply and demand (i.e., in response to energy network demands, operator and user requirements, and local climate conditions), offer valuable advantages to the distribution grid [248][249][250].…”

“…Essentially, a flexumer enhances the energy functions of a prosumer by incorporating additional capabilities like energy storage and flexibility [248,249]. Flexumers, with their ability to regulate energy supply and demand (i.e., in response to energy network demands, operator and user requirements, and local climate conditions), offer valuable advantages to the distribution grid [248][249][250]. Figure 4 indicates the evolution of building energy roles, from consumers to prosumers, then flexumers.…”

Application of passive and active scenarios to a residential building in a dry and hot climate to achieve a positive energy building (PEB)

“…A critical review of EU actions on NZEB and PEB development, considering advanced materials and technologies, was presented in the mentioned research [ 31 ]. A case study of a single-family residential NZEB demonstrates that a carefully designed building envelope and systems can achieve almost total energy consumption coverage from renewables, generating a potential energy surplus for sharing with urban grids [ [32] , [33] , [34] , [35] , [36] , [37] , [38] ]. In another paper, the focus was on NZEB targets with high indoor air quality in an Italian multi-family complex converted from an industrial shed.…”

“…Three hybrid ventilation strategies were compared for potential cooling energy savings. The analysis considered climatic influences, highlighting earth-to-air heat exchanger (EAHX) as the most efficient strategy across Italian zones [ [37] , [38] , [39] , [40] , [41] , [42] , [43] ]. Amid the European construction sector's transition to energy-efficient buildings and NZEB, some papers addressed gaps in achieving EU 2020 carbon targets through cross-comparative studies in seven southern European countries.…”