Energy Transition

Bernard Lachal is a former Professor of the University of Geneva's Faculty of Science, where he led the "Energy Systems" group for over 20 years. His research focuses on the observation and improvement of practices in the energy systems field.

• Foreword xiPreface xvAcknowledgments xviiPart 1. The Context of Case Study Feedback (CSF) 1Chapter 1. Energy Transition 31.1. The global energy system and its evolution 31.2. The necessary transformation of the global energy system 51.2.1. Fossil fuels: planned scarcity upstream and environmental problem downstream 61.2.2. Nuclear energy: environmental and accessibility issues 61.2.3. An overall inefficient system 71.2.4. A productive and simple-energy vision 81.2.5. Energy transition 91.3. The three concordances 101.3.1. Form concordance 111.3.2. Place concordance 121.3.3. Time concordance 121.3.4. Economic, social and environmental constraints 12Chapter 2. Energy Systems and Technological Systems 152.1. Transformers and concordances 162.1.1. Form converters 172.1.2. Storage 172.1.3. Transport 182.2. From the transformer to the energy system 182.3. Effectiveness of resources and effectiveness of results 22Chapter 3. The Innovation Process 273.1. A well-defined process 273.2. Limit of these curves in the context of energy systems 333.3. Operation and use 36Chapter 4. Case Study Feedback, the Basis of Learning by Using 394.1. Innovation in energy systems 394.2. Case study feedback 424.2.1. CSF classification test 434.2.2. CSF content 45Part 2. CSF Tools: Operation and Envisaged Uses 47Chapter 5. The Human Context 495.1. Why the human aspects? 495.1.1. In vivo rather than in vitro 495.1.2. The importance of objective information in the field of innovative energy systems 505.2. Who are the actors involved and how are they involved? 515.2.1. Actors involved in the innovation process 515.2.2. Actors related to the particular energy system 515.2.3. Actors involved in the implementation of CSF 545.3. How to take into account human aspects in CSF 555.3.1. The perimeter 555.3.2. The objectives of the CSF 565.3.3. The resources 575.3.4. The team’s experience 575.3.5. The follow-up group 58Chapter 6. The Energy Context and the Sankey Diagram 596.1. A drawing is better than a long speech 596.2. Design, development and operation 636.2.1. The importance of precise terminology 636.2.2. Balance failure 666.2.3. To avoid having a chilling effect 676.2.4. Shape: graphic rules 696.3. Uses 72Chapter 7. From System to Experimental Concept 777.1. The importance and difficulties of a quantitative quality assessment 777.2. From the energy system to be evaluated to the measurement concept 787.2.1. From objectives to a breakdown into subsystems and components 807.2.2. Developing the measurement system 847.2.3. Some properties of the sensors and their use 917.2.4. Some remarks on the measurement of primary energies 937.3. Link to other phases of the evaluation 96Chapter 8. Data Observation and Global Indicators 998.1. Observing and feeling 998.2. Energy indicators 101Chapter 9. Input/Output and Signature Relationships: the Operation in Use 1079.1. Convenient visualization of an expected relationship 1089.2. Search for a global relationship 1119.3. Signatures as simple management tools 1149.4. The signature as the basis for adjustment 1159.5. The signature as the basis for a standard 116Chapter 10. Modeling 11910.1. Why model? 11910.2. Analytical and systemic approaches 12110.3. Modeling and approximate knowledge 12310.4. Modeling in the context of approximate knowledge of CSF 12410.5. The steps of the modeling and the necessary validation 12610.6. Some component modeling carried out in CSF 12810.6.1. Integrating dynamic aspects to check the proper functioning of a component 12810.6.2. Developing a more explicit but simple model 13210.7. Simulation of energy systems 135Chapter 11. Conducting the Evaluation 13711.1. Publication 13711.2. Summary of the CSF process 140Part 3. The Practice of CSF 143Chapter 12. Challenges of Innovation: Summer Overheating in an Administrative Building 14512.1. Background information 14512.2. Description of the building 14712.3. The measurement concept and initial findings 14712.4. Overheating indicators: strict application of the standard 14912.4.1. Proof of need according to standards 15012.4.2. Use of the standard by the design office when defining the concept 15112.4.3. Comparison with the real situation 15212.5. Building consensus 15312.5.1. Is the indoor humidity in the offices too high? 15312.5.2. Is the ventilation through the windows as predicted? 15312.5.3. Is the ventilation, even in accordance with predictions and properly used, sufficient? 15512.5.4. Do occupants use night cooling as intended? 15612.5.5. Is the false ceiling an inconvenience? 15612.6. Conclusions 157Chapter 13. Audits or Implementation of Knowledge: Transformation of Valère Castle to a Museum 15913.1. The context of the study 15913.2. The Aymon CSF 16113.2.1. Measures and preliminary findings 16313.2.2. System modeling 16713.3. Return to Valère 17213.3.1. The building 17313.3.2. The building’s relationship with the weather 17313.3.3. The building’s relationship with the operation of the future museum 17413.3.4. The building’s relationship with the technical installations 17413.3.5. The resulting indoor climate 17413.4. Modeling and scenarios: proposal of the concept based on the “Aymon system” 17513.4.1. Real in situ simulation of the new use 17513.4.2. Virtual simulation of the new use 17913.4.3. Results of scenarios and proposals 18113.5. Implementation of the concept and commissioning by the Valais engineering school (now HES-SO Valais) 18213.6. Conclusion 186Chapter 14. CSF to Evaluate and Improve the Appropriation of Innovation: the Case of Buildings 18714.1. Context: from the catalogue of solutions to real practice 18714.2. Increased complexity of construction and systems techniques well-highlighted by the Sankey diagram 19014.3. The importance of use and human aspects that are difficult to quantify 19914.4. The problem of the “performance gap”: modeling to account for the difference in performance 20314.5. A surprising invariant in the functioning of the “building” system: the relevance of I/O relationships and signatures 20814.5.1. Modeling the thermal demand of buildings 21214.5.2. Investment for infrastructure development and reimbursement from the energy used 212Part 4. Towards Involved Research? 217Chapter 15. CSF and Learning Through Use 21915.1. Expertise or contested innovation 22015.2. Auditing or putting innovation into practice 22115.3. Feedback: in situ evaluation of the appropriation of an innovation 22315.4. Big Data and CSF 22415.5. The different learning experiences 22515.6. CSF and learning by use 230Chapter 16. CSF, Energy Transition and Involved Research 23316.1. Current limitations and potential of CSF 23316.1.1. The impact of CSF 23316.1.2. An evolution over time 23416.1.3. Supporting the trial-and-error approach 23516.1.4. The exemplarity of the objects studied 23616.1.5. Energy context and opportunism 23716.2. Feedback and energy transition: towards involved research? 240References 243Index 249