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Distributed Generation (DG) and RES (Renewable Energy Sources) are expected to grow exponentially, changing design and operation of electrical distribution networks. This is leading to the realization of Micro-Grids (MGs), active networks and Smart Grids (SGs). A real support for the SGs operation could be easily guaranteed through the use of customized electric power storage devices. These devices are similar to Flexible Alternating Current Transmission Systems (FACTS), typically employed in transmission systems. Accordingly, in this paper, a customized electric power storage device, for application in Smart MGs, is proposed and described. Its layout, main components and functions are described. The control modes and strategies for the energy management in a Smart MG and its Battery Management System (BMS) are also described.

Building automation systems (BAS) allow automated control of equipment and eventually control of indoor conditions. Indeed, BAS are becoming a powerful tool to improve the energy performance and occupant comfort, introducing the concept of “intelligent building”. At this regard, there is a need to build a knowledge base and to develop suitable algorithms for a smart management. Fuzzy logic is a valuable candidate for building robust algorithms. The aim of the present work is to demonstrate that a fuzzy logic approach is able to optimize the level of energy performance and comfort taking advantage of solar energy and BAS in an office space. In fact, solar energy can be used in the form of daylight and solar heat gain, benefiting both energy performance and psychophysical comfort, provided that dynamic facade elements and integrated multi criteria decision making methods are used. In this paper has been developed a virtual model of a smart office room (SOR), equipped with dynamic shading, lighting and air conditioning control system. Different scenarios were considered as follows: i) control versus no-control; ii) economy versus comfort mode; iii) summer versus winter scenario; iv) fluorescent versus LED lighting; v) dimming versus switching lighting control. The configured control model makes comfort mode energy performance similar to that of economy mode, thus demonstrating that the use of solar energy and BAS benefits energy saving and comfort as well. In addition, both economy comfort mode exhibited a better energy performance than non-controlled scenarios. In conclusion, the proposed model is a valuable tool to optimize comfort features and yet decreasing the energy demand.

The aim of the present paper is to investigate the appropriateness of a new testing way consisting in the use of one or more auxiliary electrodes at short distances. If correctly applied, the method gives always conservative results. In the measurement the leakage current distribution around the ground electrode introduces a systematic error that increase the gradients in the area influenced by the current electrodes at short distance. The authors demonstrate that the error is precautionary and so the values of surface potentials measured with the auxiliary electrode at reduced distance are conservative. Simulations done by a program based on the Method of Moments confirm these effects.

The paper describes a case history of an advanced lighting control system designed and realized for a couple of classrooms of the University of Rome. The control is organized by adopting a BUS system with "distributed intelligence" without a central and with smart actuators. The control turns on/off and regulates the lighting output of two classrooms, according to the actual presence of activities and to the actual availability of daylighting. A classroom was arranged with a light solution consisting in “on-off switching” control and not changing the luminaires, a second classroom was arranged with an advanced solution consisting in the replacement of the luminaires with a “dimming” control. A third class identical to the other two was taken as a reference to compare the results, in fact the architecture includes a supervisory system that allows a remote meter of the energetic values for the three classrooms. The paper shows the results of a year of monitoring campaign and compares the results with the energetic evaluation done by the a suggested tool based on the Standard EN15193 methodology.