INTACT: Off-Grid Energy Architectures for Emergency Shelter Operation at CEMTEC
Authors
Olejniczak, Aleksander Cezary ; Sledzikowska, Jagoda
Term
4. term
Education
Publication year
2026
Submitted on
2026-05-27
Abstract
Prolonged grid outages can disrupt both electricity and heat in buildings. This project assesses whether the CEMTEC office building in Hobro can operate as a temporary emergency shelter in islanded mode by covering basic electrical needs and a reduced heat service during 72-hour outages. Three autonomous energy architectures are examined: an HT-PEM fuel cell supplied by hydrogen, an HT-PEM fuel cell with a methanol reformer, and a reference setup combining a battery energy storage system, a heat pump, and a hot water tank. Using reconstructed heat demand, high-resolution electricity and heat profiles, and two representative 72-hour scenarios (typical and stress), a dynamic system model was developed capturing electrical and thermal layers, energy storage, fuel cell operation, auxiliary consumption, and Power Management System logic. The architectures are compared in terms of demand coverage, required component sizes, autonomous operation, energy shortages, and techno-economic aspects. Results indicate all three options can sustain 72 hours of off-grid operation under the stated assumptions but with different trade-offs: the hydrogen-fueled HT-PEMFC is the most balanced choice, combining full electrical coverage, a favorable operating margin, and the best techno-economic outcome; the methanol reformer remains a viable alternative due to liquid fuel logistics but adds complexity and reduces margin; the BESS+HP+HWT option is technically feasible but limited by very large storage requirements. These findings provide a comparative assessment for a reference demand profile and are not a definitive certification of readiness for all crisis conditions.
Langvarige strømafbrydelser kan lamme både elforsyning og varme i bygninger. Dette projekt undersøger, om CEMTEC-kontorbygningen i Hobro kan fungere som midlertidigt nødherberg i ø-drift ved at dække basis elbehov og et reduceret varmebehov under 72 timer lange afbrydelser. Tre autonome energiaritekturer vurderes: en HT-PEM brændselscelle drevet af brint, en HT-PEM brændselscelle med metanolreformer samt en reference med batterienergilager, varmepumpe og varmtvandsbeholder. På baggrund af rekonstruerede varmebehov, detaljerede el- og varmeprofiler og to repræsentative 72-timersscenarier (typisk og belastning) er der udviklet en dynamisk systemmodel, der omfatter de elektriske og termiske lag, energilagring, brændselscelledrift, hjælpeforbrug og Power Management System-logik. Arkitekturerne sammenlignes mht. behovsdækning, krævede komponentstørrelser, autonom drift, energimangler og techno-økonomi. Resultaterne viser, at alle tre løsninger kan opretholde 72 timers ø-drift under de givne forudsætninger, men med forskellige kompromiser: den brintdrevne HT-PEMFC fremstår mest afbalanceret med fuld el-dækning, et gunstigt driftsmargen og den bedste techno-økonomiske vurdering; metanolreformeren er en teknisk relevant alternativ med fordel for flydende brændstoflogistik, men øger systemkompleksitet og reducerer margen; BESS+HP+HWT er teknisk mulig, men kræver meget stor lagerkapacitet, hvilket svækker konkurrencedygtigheden. Fundene er en komparativ vurdering for et referencebehov og udgør ikke en endelig beredskabsdokumentation for alle krisescenarier.
[This abstract has been generated with the help of AI directly from the project full text]
Keywords