Grid-Interactive Net Zero Energy Buildings for a Net Zero Emission Future

Delivering the national statement at the COP26 global climate summit in Glasgow, the Prime Minister of India made five commitments; one of them being that India will achieve Net Zero Emissions by 2070. For a country whose 60 percent of energy needs depend on fossil fuels, it means a rapid phase out of coal, oil and gas – and transition towards decarbonization of the grid.

There is a growing impetus on increasing renewable energy share in the electricity mix, integration of battery storage as well as electrification of transportation systems. For an emerging economy like India, this offers a huge opportunity to evolve sustainably. Integration of buildings and grid is one of the responsible pathways towards a net zero emission future. Read more on the role of buildings in grid modernization.

The ZerO-In Dialogues expand discussions from a singular net zero building to high performing, smart, connected, and flexible communities and cities moving towards net zero emissions. The series, developed in partnership with Government of India's National Smart Grid Mission, aims at creating the momentum for a transformative push towards Grid-Interactive Net Zero Energy Buildings.

Dialogue 01 | Grid-Interactive Net Zero Energy Buildings (G-NZEBs)

The first dialogue of the series on December 10, 2021 introduced the concept of Grid Interactive Net Zero Energy Buildings; – what they are and why they are important. John Smith-Sreen, USAID India; Atul Bali, National Smart Grid Mission; Arun Kumar Mishra, Energy Efficiency Services Limited; Neelam Janaiah, Telangana State Renewable Energy Development Corporation Ltd; Ralph DiNola, New Buildings Institute; Apurva Chaturvedi, USAID India and Tanmay Tathagat, Environmental Design Solutions discussed:

• Demand Flexibility offered by buildings and equipment as an untapped opportunity.
• Buildings as the nexus between electric vehicle infrastructure growth, smart appliances expansion and increasing renewable energy penetration in the grid.
• Roles of buildings towards an equitable decarbonization of the grid.

Dialogue 02 | Emerging Technologies for G-NZEBs

The second dialogue on December 22, 2021 focused on emerging and innovative technologies that enable tapping on to the demand flexibility offered by buildings and appliances, in turn empowering utilities with improved demand management. Mona Chandra, National Grid US; Amrita Chowdhury, Gaia Smart Cities; and Arjun P Gupta, Smart Joules; presented case-studies, and perspectives across the scale - equipment, buildings, municipalities, utilities and cities.

Dialogue 03 | Consumer Engagement for G-NZEBs | January 12, 2022

Dialogue 03 will focus on use of technology for increased grid flexibility and consumer engagement. The dialogue hosts Mary Ann Piette, Director, Building Technology and Urban Systems Division; Director, Demand Response Research Center, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (LBNL). Mary Ann leads the new California Load Flexibility Research and Deployment Hub (CalFlexHub), a platform for advancing dynamic energy management.

Dialogue 04 | Enabling Policies for G-NZEBs | January 19, 2022

Dialogue 04 will bring in a global perspective on cutting-edge strategies, utility program approaches, and opportunities in the fast-developing building-grid integration space. Smita Gupta and Alexi Miller from USA’s New Buildings Institute will discuss behind-the-meter distributed energy resources, utility program best practices, design and operational building strategies, and key barriers to expanding demand flexibility and time-of-use targeted energy efficiency in buildings across India and beyond.

TSREDCO-TSSPDCL Office, Hyderabad

Telangana’s first Grid-Interactive Super ECBC Compliant NZEB

A commitment to net zero made jointly by Power Secretary, Telangana Government and the Telangana State Renewable Energy Development Corporation Ltd. (TSREDCO) was the genesis of a state-of-the-art grid-interactive net zero energy building office. This six-storey office shared by TSREDCO and Telangana State Southern Power Distribution Company Limited (TSSPDCL) is on it's way to be the first grid-interactive super ECBC compliant Net Zero Energy Building (NZEB) in India.

The building is designed to be highly energy-efficient and is a grid-connected building that meets its energy needs through renewable energy while keeping a two-way communication with the grid to balance demand with the electricity supply. Demand flexibility is integrated in the building enabling it to respond to load profiles of the utility and contribute towards curtailing demand during peak period. The project also will generate power on-site through a 100 kWp roof-top solar power plant; generating around 150,000 units annually.

Technical assistance to this project is being provided under the MAITREE program.

U.S. Department of Energy invests USD 61 million for Smart Buildings that Accelerate Renewable Energy Adoption and Grid Resilience

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) selected ten “Connected Communities” that will equip more than 7,000 buildings with smart controls, sensors, and analytics to reduce energy use, costs, and emissions. The selected connected communities will demonstrate the capabilities of grid-interactive buildings across a wider range of technologies, locations, and building types. They will be equipped to communicate with the electrical grid, reducing the amount of energy they require during periods of peak demand. The selectees are; Electric Power Research Institute, Inc. (New York City, Seattle, San Diego); IBACOS, Inc. (NC); Open Market ESCO Limited Liability Company (MA); PacifiCorp (UT); Portland General Electric (OR); Post Road Foundation (ME, NH); Slipstream Group Inc. (WI); Spokane Edo LLC (WA); SunPower Corporation (CA); and Ohio State University (OH). Read more

German utilities progress with blockchain energy trading

Utilities in Germany are exploring how to make use of blockchain technology in adapting power trading to the growing share of decentralized renewable power generation under the country's energy transition. In October 2020, Wildpoldsried in the Bavarian Allgäu region became the first German municipality to try out blockchain-based electricity trading platform, Pebbles (Peer to Peer Energy Trading Based on Blockchain Infrastructure). Other blockchain projects under way are the RegHEE (Local Trade and Labelling of Electricity from Renewable Sources on a Blockchain Platform) funded by Bavarian Ministry of Economic Affairs, Regional Development and Energy, and the FlexHub (Distributed Flexibility Data Register for Energy System Transformation Electricity Markets) developed by research institute Fraunhofer, where the suitability of blockchain technology will also be tested.

Smart Cities Technology International Symposium | Jan 18 - Jan 19, 2022

Organized by the Smart Grid Observer, the virtual 6th Annual Smart Cities Technology International Symposium will bring together thought leaders and practitioners from around the world to explore the most recent technology advances, business models, and lessons learnt in making smart city a reality. Expert speakers will examine the experiences of municipal governments who are pushing the envelope and moving toward actual implementation of the smart city vision. Learn More

Getting to Net Zero Through Climate Finance | January 22, 2022

Governments have pledged up to USD 100 billion towards action against global warming, and all over the world, investors and lenders have made ESG (environmental, social, governance) a critical factor in their investment decisions. This session will discuss how climate finance will enable achieving the goal of net-zero carbon emissions: why the pledges, how they will flow to end-users, and why ESG is critical to accessing these funds. Learn More

2022 ASHRAE Winter Conference | January 29 – February 2, 2022

The 2022 ASHRAE Winter Conference is an hybrid event featuring over 80 technical sessions with updates from society leaders, tours, social events and live streamed sessions for virtual attendees. Technical sessions will address building performance, energy system integration, international environmental health and IEQ and challenges and opportunities for industrial and commercial purposes. Learn More

About USAID MAITREE
USAID Market Integration and Transformation for Energy Efficiency program (MAITREE) is a four-year bilateral program with the Ministry of Power. MAITREE supports efforts for moving towards a super-efficient and net zero energy target for buildings. Environmental Design Solutions (EDS) is the implementing partner of this program.

Environmental Design Solutions [EDS]
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