Overview
Why I did this
Large energy systems are difficult to improve because demand, temperature levels and technology choices all influence each other. This project helped me understand energy performance from a system perspective.
Energy systems · Heat recovery · Heat pumps
EPFL Campus Energy System
A system modelling project on campus energy demand, heat recovery scenarios and heat-pump integration.
Method
How it was modelled
The work combined campus heat demand analysis, heat recovery scenarios and heat-pump modelling. Different strategies were compared to understand which system choices improve efficiency.
Results
Good energy design depends on integration.
The project showed that component efficiency alone is not enough. Heat pumps, recovered heat and demand profiles only perform well when their temperature levels and timing match the wider system.
Takeaway
What this shows
Energy systems should be judged by how well all parts work together. A technically strong component can still perform poorly if it is not matched to the demand and temperature requirements.
Tools
Skills used
Energy balances, heat-pump modelling, demand analysis, scenario comparison, optimization thinking and technical reporting.