The activity described in this report is part of the research actions aimed at developing technological solutions capable of reducing primary energy consumption in complex building-system-user systems in the residential sector. As better specified in RSE Report no. 20000159, a three-year project has been launched for developing and testing an energy management system that includes the various factors that can contribute to the efficiency of consumption. In addition to reducing necessary consumption for air conditioning and household appliances, ideal energy management should also be able to integrate the effects of the expected changes in the relations between users and energy suppliers, which include the possibility of creating forms of consumer aggregation, forms of individual or collective self-consumption of energy from renewable sources and the provision of services to the electricity grid.

The project involves the analysis of the consumption of an ‘efficient and smart building’ and the development and validation of a control system that, also using Machine Learning (ML) and Predictive Control (MPC) techniques, allows for optimising the energy consumption of a single building through minimisation of electricity withdrawal from the grid by the systems, maximising the performance of the air conditioning system and promoting the self-production of electricity. User’s behaviour is also taken into account as well as weather forecasts and the thermophysical characteristics of the building. To achieve the expected objectives, as a first step, a new laboratory was created which is the ideal environment for studying in detail the problems of developing an intelligent control system and testing its effectiveness.

This document describes the setup of the experimental laboratory at RSE headquarters in Piacenza, consisting of a building of approximately 100 m ² , specifically designed to simulate the performance of an all-electric building in a residential context and validate and/or test new plant and energy management solutions; the description includes drawings, diagrams and images that provide a complete overview of the facility; the characteristics of the materials, systems and appliances installed are also described.