Design and Modelling of Energy Sufficiency Measures in Outdoor Spaces in Energy Communities

Master project
Fall 2024

IPESE would like to complete its team with a master’s student capable of collaborating proactively with project partners, contributing their own ideas and implementing them rigorously in energy system models. The main objective of this master’s project is to understand the role of open spaces (parks, courtyards, shared areas) in the energy transition. The student will model energy communities using the open-source REHO tool, supplement it with microclimatic data and understand the interactions between hot spots and active cooling demands (air conditioning). The project is closely integrated with the SFOE’s Swice project, which aims to complement the techno-economic approach to energy transition with human well-being considerations. As a result, real-life case studies and energy sufficiency interventions are being carried out in Living Labs in Fribourg and Geneva. These interventions form the basis of the scenario modelled in REHO. As part of this master’s project, the student will carry out the following tasks:

  • Improve the air conditioning model of REHO with the consideration for microclimates (data are provided by a project partner)

  • Model heating and cooling demands evolution due to climate change. Model a pathway of technical and social interventions between 2024 to 2050 to supply these demands

  • Consider the renovation of buildings and combine it with the pathway of interventions

  • In collaboration with project partners, determine hobbies and occupancy profiles shifts occurring from social interventions (ex: repurpose an area with a park, an outdoor leisure place or shared kitchens). Assess the impact of these interventions on energy demands with a sensitivity

  • Apply the modelling framework on the Living Labs case studies, and on the whole cities of Geneva and Fribourg.

The student will have the opportunity to take part in workshops to help design social interventions in the field. Based on this experience, she/he will draw on the analysis of social science researchers to model their inputs to energy models. Pro-activity and curiosity are just as necessary as a good knowledge of Python.

The project will be supervised by Cédric Terrier (PhD student IPESE) and Dr. Eduardo Pina (Postdoc IPESE). If interested, please send your CV, with a short motivation letter, to cedric.terrier@epfl.ch.