The urban design of distributed energy resources

Distributed energy resources (DERs) are a considerable research focus for cities to reach emissions reduction goals and meet growing energy demand. DERs, consisting of local power plants and distribution infrastructure, range from urban to neighborhood scale. In optimizing neighborhood scale DERs, one of the many design decisions is a desirable mix of building types to balance energy demand through daily and annual cycles. However, real estate development drives use-mix primarily through market demand forecasts and financial value creation. The research presented here answers two questions: (1) What are the impacts of altering use-mix to conform to a desired energy profile? and (2) Can site design overcome regulatory and perceptual barriers when integrating DERs at the neighborhood scale? These questions are explored through a review of existing incentives and barriers to district energy systems - including policy, real estate, technical, and design issues. Next I identify within a test site, at the neighborhood scale, the energy and design characteristics pertinent to the research presented here. Ultimately, I propose an analysis framework to examine the energy-form-finance issues encountered when planning a neighborhood scale energy district. Using the resulting framework, I perform a sensitivity analysis that measures the financial impact of altering use-mix to balance energy loads.

Department dc:contributor.department

Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Dept. of Urban Studies and Planning.

Grantor dc:publisher

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Year dc:date.issued

2012

Author dc:creator

• Sheehan, Travis (Travis P.)

Advisor dc:contributor.advisor

• Dennis Frenchman.

• Urban Studies and Planning.
• Architecture.

Statement dc:rights

• M.I.T. theses are protected by copyright. They may be viewed from this source for any purpose, but reproduction or distribution in any format is prohibited without written permission. See provided URL for inquiries about permission.

Licence dc:rights.uri

• http://dspace.mit.edu/handle/1721.1/7582

Language dc:language.iso

eng

Handle dc:identifier.uri

http://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/70380

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:dspace.mit.edu:1721.1/70380