The Hybrid – BioVGE project has the primary objective of developing and demonstrating a highly integrated solar/biomass hybrid air conditioning system for space cooling and heating of residential and commercial buildings that is affordable, operating with improved efficiency and reduced need for maintenance. The proposed system will be driven by heat, using two renewable energy resources: solar thermal and biomass. Only a small amount of electricity will be needed for the circulation pumps and the control system (less than 5% of the total needs). Thus, it is expected that 95% of the building thermal load will be satisfied by renewable energy. The Hybrid-BioVGE project is a cooperation of seven key research institutions and companies of the required trans-disciplinary approach. The proposed system will be composed by a number of major components, including solar collector field, biomass boiler, thermal energy storage unit using PCM, thermally driven variable geometry ejector chiller, heat distribution and intelligent integrated control system. The Hybrid – BioVGE system represents innovative solutions at both component and system levels. Component level innovations include e.g. the application low cost solar collectors, high performance variable geometry ejector chiller, multi-fuel biomass boiler. At the system level, innovation effort will be carried out in order to reduce system complexity and to develop an intelligent energy monitoring and control unit that will lead to efficient operation of its components, with reduced cost and little need for interference by the end user. The potential of the proposed technology will be demonstrated by testing three small scale prototypes, adequate for residential and small commercial buildings, under different European climatic conditions: heating load dominated; balanced heating and cooling load; and cooling load dominated. A TRL of 7 for the Hybrid – BioVGE system will be achieved by the end of the project.

Surefit will demonstrate fast-track renovation of existing domestic buildings by integrating innovative, cost-effective, and environmentally conscious prefabricated technologies. This is to reach target of near zero energy through reducing heat losses through building envelope, and energy consumption by heating, cooling, ventilation and lighting, while increasing the share of renewable energy in buildings. This will be achieved through a systematic approach involving key stakeholders (building owners/users, manufacturers, product/services developers) in space heating, cooling, domestic hot water, lighting and power generation, as well as a demonstration phase in 5 representative buildings in different European climates. The technologies will include bio-aerogel panels integrated with phase change materials, photovoltaic (PV) vacuum glazing windows, roof and window heat recovery devices, solar assisted heat pumps/ground source heat pumps, evaporative coolers, integrated solar thermal/PV systems and lighting devices. These will be prefabricated for rapid retrofit with minimal disruption to occupants, ensuring high levels of occupant comfort/indoor environmental quality as well as low risk of moisture-related problems/summer overheating. The work programme will involve optimal sizing and prefabrication of technologies tailored to building design/requirements; retrofitting/monitoring buildings in different climates with support of advanced building energy management systems; analysing indoor environment quality, energy use, user behaviour/acceptance of the solutions; developing methodology, guidelines/effective operational tools for rapid retrofitting and decision-making; and developing business model involving all relevant actors including, public authorities/investors/users and holistic integration of disciplines across the value chain. These outcomes will be delivered by a consortium comprising leading companies, research/public institutions from European countries.