HYDROHOUSE

HYDROHOUSE project was developed specially for FP7, FCH-JU and ”Energy-efficient Buildings” (EeB.NMP.2012-2: Systemic Approach for retrofitting existing buildings, including envelope upgrading, high performance lighting systems, energyefficient HVAC systems and renewable energy generation systems).

The basic idea behind the project is to develop a Renewable Energy Combined Heat & Power Co-generation System (RE-CHP) as a new innovative and competitive concept for the new emerging Combined Heat and Power (CHP) co-generating systems, a kind of step ahead in comparison to existing systems that are already reaching the market.

The final product is to be a proof-of-concept of a CHP system consisting of a single module, easy to install, maintain, and transport; with feasible cost-efficiency at least in the short run. The system will be fed by Renewable Energy Source (RES), for the purpose of this project – photovoltaic (wind or geothermal sources could be viable alternatives). In other words, the house equipped with this system could be heat and power independent of the grid with up to zero Greenhouse Emissions (GHE).

The overall goal is to create a CHP which will be able to replace the existing local heating systems of district houses, in some cases to be integrated into them to attain minimum installation efforts. Optionally, this could be combined with an inverter system to enhance the Energy Management System (EMS, which include power and heat management) efficiency and to capture the energy dissipating from the energy storage system and possibly from the photovoltaic system.