Tobias Weiss (2019): Energy-Flexible Zero-Energy Buildings. The impact of building design on energy flexibility. 1nd reviewer: Brian Cody, 2nd reviewer: Anna Marszahl-Ponianowska; 301 pages, English

The primary goal of this dissertation is a comprehensive analysis of the impact of building design pa-rameters on energy flexibility. The thesis describes the future role of energy-flexibility of zero and plus-energy buildings as part of the overall energy system. The geographic scope of the work covers buildings in Austria.
In order to quantify and classify the inherent energy flexibility potential in high performing buildings, an evaluation framework for energy-flexible buildings is developed. This approach not only enables comparison across buildings but also allows a general comparison of energy-flexible building technologies.
A sensitivity analysis of buildings using dynamic building simulation in high time resolution demon-strates that energy flexibility can provide value, for both building designers and grid operators. Energy flexible buildings are able to stabilise energy grids and allow for a high share of fluctuating renewables in the energy supply while reducing peak-power capacities and CO2-emissions.
The main added value of this work lies in the methodology of the simulation-based approach used to quantify energy flexibility. Potentials of single technologies and benchmarks for energy flexibility and grid interdependency of various case study buildings show the impact of building design on energy flexibility.