The energy transition is not just about installing solar panels or heat pumps, but also about the smart integration of systems. For instance, the link between the building automation and control system (GAC) and the energy management system (EMS) can make a significant contribution to electrification within an existing grid connection. This was demonstrated by the sustainability upgrade of the fire station of the Utrecht Safety Region in the municipality of Zeist.
When making the fire station location in the municipality of Zeist more sustainable, the limits of grid congestion were encountered. This is a familiar situation. Through smart organization and coordination, the question arose: why address the optimization of the HVAC installation through GAC regulations separately and independently from grid congestion measures? What is the result if these are combined into a single whole? And how can the building be made a dynamic part of the energy management system?
The answer turned out to consist of a link between the building automation and control system (GACS) and the energy management system (EMS): by connecting the building installation to the EMS control, it responded to the climate control and hot water installation, and vice versa. As a result, the building began to function as a battery within the EMS, whereby the energy-efficiency improved and gas was no longer needed for the building. As a result, sufficient grid capacity remained even on the coldest days of the year, in January, without solar energy. Comfort and hot water supply remained consistently good. In fact, the combination of smart ventilation and temperature control even created a noticeably more comfortable and healthier working environment.
In his lecture, speaker Edwin Koers uses this example to discuss how it hardware-independent EMS operates on open protocols. How this approach is applicable to any existing building, regardless of the installations present. In doing so, he explains how the sustainable fire station serves as a blueprint for critical environments, where grid congestion and operational continuity can go hand in hand.
