Renewable energies and self-consumption

The Consortium Extremadura Energy Agency (Agenex) is carrying two prototypes for shared energy self-consumption with battery storage in several public buildings located near the Hernán Cortés University Residence in Badajoz and the El Brocense Secondary Education Center in Cáceres.

Both prototypes will transform the energy consumption pattern of these buildings towards a more sustainable pattern.

This pilot project, promoted by Agenex and the Provincial Councils of Badajoz and Cáceres, will allow the sharing of photovoltaic solar energy production with several surrounding buildings, thanks to several solar installations on the roof, plus a photovoltaic solar facade (in Badajoz), under the collective self-consumption modality, with surplus electricity compensated and stored with batteries.

Likewise, a pioneering External Thermal Insulation System (SATE) is being implemented on the facade of the Provincial Archive in Badajoz, to avoid heat loss in winter and cold in summer.

With these actions, significant energy savings will be achieved, and the habitability and life of the building will be improved, according to the director of the Consortium, Cosme Segador, who recently presented the prototype in the framework of a conference on the European Innoinvest project, aimed at developing prototypes and materials in energy efficiency.

Furthermore, the director considers the analysis of the distribution of renewable energy production according to the consumption profile of buildings, such as the Hernán Cortés University Residence in Badajoz, which has its main energy consumption in the afternoon, while other administrative buildings consume more in the morning. Hence, energy uses can complement each other and generate savings.

He also adds that, in a context where sustainable energy production and consumption are prioritized, switching to an energy self-consumption model, such as the collective one, is one of the "best saving mechanisms" for individuals, families, entrepreneurs, public administrations, municipalities, and, of course, the industrial sector.

In Badajoz, the photovoltaic self-consumption plants that will share energy with the Hernán Cortés University Residence and the Data Processing Center building have already been installed, and the PV installation of the Badajoz Provincial Council Archive is nearing completion.

These buildings will also share the energy produced with the Rural Development and Sustainability Area building, the Official Gazette of the Province (B.O.P.) building, and the Autonomous Tax Collection Agency (OAR) and the Office of the Consortium Agency of Extremadura Energy, which already have their own operational photovoltaic self-consumption installation. Together, they will have a photovoltaic power of 137.53 kilowatts Peak (kWp).

Currently, insulation work is being carried out on the external facade of the Provincial Archive, consisting of the placement of an innovative 7 cm external insulation system, plus a ventilated chamber of another 5 cm.

Next week, a vertical photovoltaic plant will be installed on this facade, which will complement the previous ones.

In Cáceres, a similar project is being carried out, by installing a photovoltaic solar panel with storage and 51 kW of power, which will provide energy to the buildings of the San Francisco Cultural Complex, the Julián Murillo and the Casa Pedrilla-Guayasamín Museum in the capital of Cáceres.

This is also possible thanks to the INNOINVEST project (Interreg Spain-Portugal), led by Agenex in collaboration with fourteen other partners from Extremadura and Portugal.