Energy performance investigation of net plus energy town: Energy balance of the Jincheon Eco-Friendly energy town

Increasing the energy supplement from renewable energy systems is one of the major issues for preparing the climate change challenges. In order to expanding the energy supplement from the renewable energy, the surplus energy should be generated in the community. This study presents the feasibility of configuration of net plus energy community by real-scale experimental research and measurements with an eco-friendly energy town constructed in Jincheon, stated in the middle of the South Korea. The 72,000 m2 of town contains six public buildings: a high school, library, youth center, childcare center, public health center, and management center, and the facilities incorporated a hybrid renewable energy system (HRES). This paper demonstrates the field tests and measurement results of annual and monthly source and site energy consumption and generation. The annual average daily final yield of the PV system installed in the town achieved 3.5 kWh/kWp/d, and the monthly performance ratio ranged from 65% to 79%. It was also found that the HRES contributed to generate over 24% more surplus energy compared with conventional heat pump system. Consequently, the annual source energy balance of the town showed that the proposed town achieved 134.5% net plus energy town in South Korea. •A hybrid renewable energy system was integrated into six town purpose buildings.•Town energy was distributed through a PV installation system and heat pumps.•The town met the South Korean regulation EUI standards for zero-energy buildings.•Achieved 134.5% plus-energy town status via integration of the proposed system.