Coordinate generation, storage, charging and building demand.
Energy integration connects relevant information from building loads, solar generation, battery storage, EV charging and the electricity supply to support informed and coordinated operation.
Energy assets should not operate as isolated systems.
A building may consume, generate, store and redistribute electrical energy at different times. Relevant information from these functions can support operational decisions, demand management and a clearer understanding of how the building's energy environment performs.
Integration coordinates information and intent. Dedicated equipment retains responsibility for safe electrical operation.
Six coordinated energy-integration functions.
Building-load visibility
Monitor relevant building demand and significant electrical loads.
Solar-generation information
Make relevant photovoltaic production and operating information available for coordinated energy management.
Battery-storage information
Exchange suitable operating status, available capacity and control requests with compatible storage systems.
EV-charging coordination
Coordinate charging demand with available electrical capacity, schedules and project priorities.
Demand management
Use defined priorities and operating limits to help avoid unnecessary demand peaks.
Supervisory overview
Give authorised operators a coordinated view of relevant generation, storage, charging and consumption information.
Understand where energy comes from, where it goes and when it is needed.
Supply
Understand available electricity-supply conditions and relevant operating limits.
Generate
Monitor relevant solar generation and its contribution to building demand.
Store
Consider available battery capacity, operating state and project-defined priorities.
Use
Coordinate significant building loads and EV charging according to available capacity and operational requirements.
Not every load has the same priority or flexibility.
Some loads must remain continuously available, while others may be scheduled, limited or temporarily deferred. The project should define clear operating priorities, permitted responses and recovery behaviour before automatic demand management is introduced.
EV charging should be considered as part of the building's energy strategy.
Charging demand can be significant and may vary according to the number of connected vehicles, charging power and required departure times. A coordinated strategy can consider available building capacity, user priorities and charging schedules without overriding the charger's dedicated safety functions.
Supervisory integration does not replace electrical protection.
Inverters, battery-management systems, EV chargers, switchgear and electrical-protection devices retain responsibility for their dedicated control and safety functions. Building integration may exchange authorised information or requests, but it must respect equipment limits, certified functions and the approved electrical design.
Energy integration becomes more useful with operational context.
Energy measurements, building demand, occupancy, climate-control modes and operating schedules can provide useful context for coordinated energy decisions. Each response should remain appropriate to the application and approved project strategy.
Energy-integration priorities vary by building environment.
Hospitality
Coordinate significant hotel loads, EV charging and available generation or storage information with operational priorities.
Residential
Support understandable coordination between household demand, solar generation, battery storage and EV charging where installed.
Commercial
Coordinate building demand, tenant requirements, EV charging and available energy assets according to defined priorities.
Energy integration requires clear interfaces, limits and responsibilities.
- Electrical supply capacity and demand limits
- Significant loads and operating priorities
- Solar, storage and EV-system interfaces
- Permitted monitoring and control points
- Communication loss and fallback behaviour
- Electrical protection and specialist responsibilities
- Commissioning, testing and operational handover
The strategy should be coordinated with the building owner, electrical designer, energy-system specialists, controls engineer, system integrator and operational team.
Planning an integrated energy strategy?
Share the building demand, available supply capacity and proposed solar, storage or EV-charging requirements with GreenControls.