Energy consumption reduction and thermal quality improvement constitute two major aspects of building design and/or retrofitting. Following the current energy transition trends, a state-of-the-art solution is the implementation of Adaptive Dynamic Building Envelopes (ADBEs), which are capable of integrating different technologies and components. The purpose of this investigation is to assess the annual performance improvement of two actual building spaces retrofitted with ADBEs, consisting of Building Integrated Photovoltaics (BIPVs), additional thermal insulation, mechanical ventilation system with heat recovery, and solar air heaters (SAHs). Both buildings are pilot sites for the EU Horizon 2020 Plug-n-Harvest project and are located in two rather different climate zones, i.e., Cardiff, Wales, and Grevena, Greece. Moreover, through detailed dynamic modeling with the use of Modelica language, this study attempts to accurately capture all interactions between buildings and all the aforementioned ADBE components. The simulations compared the energy performance and indoor temperature levels in each space before and after the installation of the ADBEs. The results showed that the harvesting of renewable energy through the ADBE system could potentially contribute 60% and 21.8% to the annual electricity and heating load of the space in Cardiff, respectively, and 43.5% to the annual electricity load of the building space in Grevena.

The development of accurate dynamic battery pack models for electric vehicles (EVs) is critical for the ongoing electrification of the global automotive vehicle fleet, as the battery is a key element in the energy performance of an EV powertrain system. The equivalent circuit model (ECM) technique at the cell level is commonly employed for this purpose, offering a balance of accuracy and efficiency in representing battery operation within the broader powertrain system. In this study, a second-order ECM model of a battery cell has been developed to ensure high accuracy and performance. Modelica, an acausal and object-oriented equation-based modeling language, has been used for its advantageous features, including the development of extendable, modifiable, modular, and reusable models. Parameter lookup tables at multiple levels of state of charge (SoC), extracted from lithium-ion (Li-ion) battery cells with four different commonly used cathode materials, have been utilized. This approach allows for the representation of the battery systems that are used in a wide range of commercial EV applications. To verify the model, an integrated EV model is developed, and the simulation results of the US Environmental Protection Agency Federal Test Procedure (FTP-75) driving cycle have been compared with an equivalent application in MATLAB Simulink. The findings demonstrate a close match between the results obtained from both models across different system points. Specifically, the maximum vehicle velocity deviation during the cycle reaches 1.22 km/h, 8.2% lower than the corresponding value of the reference application. The maximum deviation of SoC is limited to 0.06%, and the maximum value of relative voltage deviation is 1.49%. The verified model enables the exploration of multiple potential architecture configurations for EV powertrains using Modelica.

The development of accurate dynamic battery pack models for electric vehicles (EVs) is critical for the ongoing electrification of the global automotive vehicle fleet, since these serve as a key element in the energy performance of an EV powertrain system. The Equivalent Circuit Model (ECM) technique at the cell level is commonly employed for this purpose, combining accuracy and efficiency in the representation of battery operation within the broader powertrain system. In this study, a second-order ECM model of a battery cell is being developed using Modelica, an equation-based modeling language. Parameter lookup tables at multiple levels of state of charge (SoC), extracted from Li-ion battery cells with 4 different commonly used cathode materials, have been utilized. This approach allows for a representation of the battery systems that are used in a wide range of commercial EV applications. To verify the model, an integrated EV model is developed and simulation results of the FTP75 driving cycle have been compared against an equivalent application in MATLAB Simulink. The findings demonstrate a close match between the results obtained from both software across different system points. Specifically, the maximum deviation of SoC is limited to 0.08% and the maximum value of relative voltage deviation is 1.4%. The verified model enables the exploration of multiple possible architecture configurations of EV powertrains with Modelica.

Electric vehicles (EVs) and photovoltaics (PVs) are expected to be broadly adopted in future power systems. However, the temporal variability of EV load and PV production presents challenges for integrating them into the power grid. This study evaluates and assesses the synergies between EVs and PV systems to maximize solar energy utilization for EV load coverage. The configurations studied include EV charging via the national grid as a reference case (Case 1) and two solar energy harvesting options: EVs powered directly by vehicle-mounted PVs (Case 2) and EV chargers connected to residential PV installations (Case 3). These cases are evaluated across different urban environments with large EV fleets and dissimilar weather conditions: Berlin and Los Angeles. A customized operation profile based on the worldwide harmonized light-duty test cycle (WLTC) and a charge-right-away (CRA) strategy is used. Energy performance analysis is conducted through dynamic simulations using the Modelica language, with environmental and economic indices derived. Key findings highlight the superior performance of residential PV systems in both cities compared to current solar EV technologies, with both solutions offering significant benefits over the reference case. Cases 2 and 3 result in a 44% and 59% reduction in annual energy consumption, greenhouse gas emissions, and charging costs in Berlin, while in Los Angeles, the reductions are 67% and 98%. The average daily solar driving range reaches 20.3% in Berlin and 30.4% in Los Angeles.