Development and Performance Evaluation of a Thermal Energy Prosumer System Using EnergyPlus-Based Simulation During the Cooling

This study aims to develop and evaluate a thermal energy presumer system during the cooling season using EnergyPlus-based simulation. The research focuses on J-Town, located in Chungcheongbuk-do, Korea, where multiple buildings share cooling energy via heat pumps and chilled-water storage systems. A district-level thermal energy prosumer model is implemented in a single EnergyPlus simulation environment to represent buildings that can both consume and supply cooling energy through heat exchangers. Real BEMS data from the demonstration site are utilized to reflect realistic system capacities and operating schedules. Based on the developed model, several scenario-based operation strategies are evaluated to assess their impact on energy consumption, operating cost, and carbon emissions. The results demonstrate that the performance of thermal energy prosumer systems strongly depends on the location of the main prosumer and the resulting operational characteristics of heat pump systems. The findings of this study provide insights into the design and operation of plant-level thermal energy prosumer systems and establish a simulation-based framework for future development of advanced control strategies.