Method and installation for providing energy, particularly thermal, low-carbon energy, in at least one building or the like, and related system

EP4551869A1Pending Publication Date: 2025-05-14ACCENTA
View PDF 0 Cites 0 Cited by

Patent Information

Application Number
EP2023738535
Authority / Receiving Office
EP · EP
Patent Type
Applications
Current Assignee / Owner
Priority Date
2022-07-05
Filing Date
2023-07-04
Publication Date
2025-05-14

AI Technical Summary

Technical Problem

Thermal energy supply installations in buildings face challenges in minimizing their carbon footprint due to the variability of carbon intensity in electricity from the distribution network, which is influenced by climatic and operational factors, making it difficult to optimize energy use while balancing cost and environmental impact.

Method used

A method and system that estimate the carbonation of electricity from the distribution network in real-time, optimizing the combination of energy sources and equipment activation states to moderate the carbon footprint over time, incorporating thermal storage and renewable energy sources to manage energy efficiently and reduce carbon emissions.

Benefits of technology

This approach effectively reduces the overall carbon footprint of thermal energy supply in buildings by optimizing energy use based on real-time carbonation estimates, balancing immediate and long-term efficiency, and considering multiple criteria like operating costs and energy storage management.

✦ Generated by Eureka AI based on patent content.

Smart Images

  • Figure 1.1
    Figure 1.1
Patent Text Reader

Abstract

The installation comprises: - energy collection devices which are linked in an energy-transferring manner to sources comprising at least one carbon energy source, the at least one carbon energy source comprising an electricity distribution network; - energy conversion devices powered at least in part by the collection devices. There is a time-stamped estimate of the carbonisation of the production of electricity powering the distribution network, and the installation is operated with the aim of optimisation in relation to at least one criterion comprising a criterion for reducing the carbon footprint of the thermal energy provided by the installation.
Need to check novelty before this filing date? Find Prior Art

Description

[0001] Description

[0002] Title of the invention: Method and installation for supplying energy, in particular thermal energy, with low carbon content, in at least one building or similar, and system relating thereto.

[0003] The present invention relates to a method for providing energy, in particular thermal energy, with low carbon content, in at least one building or the like, with a view to optimizing it with regard to a certain number of criteria which may include installation cost, operating costs, reduction of energy consumption, environmental considerations, etc.

[0004] The present invention also relates to an installation allowing the implementation of the method.

[0005] The present invention further comprises a control system for implementing the method.

[0006] State of the art

[0007] The invention is of particular, but not limited, interest in relatively large real estate complexes, for example apartment buildings, groups of buildings, industrial complexes, hospitals, shopping centers, hotels or hotel-type complexes, school or university complexes, etc.

[0008] In the building sector, we know of installations that can supply energy from several sources, for example, public gas or electricity distribution networks, geothermal probes, solar thermal collectors, photovoltaic solar collectors, aerothermal collectors, etc. These known installations include various equipment for transforming the collected energy and for using it, for example, heat pumps, Joule effect heaters, air conditioners, boilers, etc. It is also known to implement a process that regulates the installation by weighting the use of different sources and different equipment according to needs and according to economic or other criteria. The documents FR.2 960 099 Al, US 2008 / 092 875 Al, WO 2015 / 014 951 A2, EP 3 012 539 Al, EP 2 141 419 Al, FR 3 065 516 Al, EP 1 987 298 Bl, DE 10 2010 033 909 Al, DE 100 22 544 Al, US 2018 / 0 283 799 Al, KR 2013 00 17 182 A and KR 101 801 775 Bl describe installations of this type, improved in various ways in the sense of an optimized exploitation of the most advantageous resources in terms of cost and / or environment.

[0009] WO 2022 / 029 235 A1 teaches operating the installation according to a scenario covering a period and prescribing for each time slice of the period a combination of activation states of the different equipment of the installation. The scenario is established in advance according to various forecasts, in particular climatic and relating to the use of the building or the state of energy storage resources.

[0010] There is a growing desire to minimize the "carbon footprint" of human activities, that is, the amount of carbon emissions, particularly carbon dioxide, that accompany these activities. This concerns thermal energy supply installations for buildings, both in terms of structure and management. The carbon footprint of an installation depends on the "carbonation" of the energy consumed (number of grams of CO2 per kWh), as well as the energy requirements of the installation.

[0011] Some energy production equipment, particularly solar and aerothermal, operates without releasing carbon. However, their investment cost, their footprint, their limited power and / or, above all, the intermittency of their production, generally force them to coexist with other means of thermal production, using electricity from a distribution network and / or a carbon fuel. A heat pump drawing calories or frigories from a geothermal source constitutes an energy-efficient means. However, its investment cost and the footprint of geothermal collectors for a given average annual power generally prohibit it from being the sole complement to non-carbon resources.This leaves the use of heat pumps, possibly reversible, drawing calories or frigories from air sources, Joule effect heating powered by electricity from the network, and / or combustion heating. Documents US 2008 / 0092 875 A1 and US 7 958 885 B2 propose reducing the carbonation of the energy consumed by a thermal energy supply installation by using thermal accumulators.

[0012] Minimizing the carbon footprint by arbitrating between different energy sources, one of which is the public electricity distribution network, comes up against a difficulty: the carbonation of the electricity supplied by the network is very variable. In countries like France with nuclear and hydroelectric power plants as well as wind and photovoltaic equipment, the electricity supplied by the network is very low in carbon as long as a certain consumption threshold is not exceeded. This threshold depends on climatic factors, activity factors, the time of day, and also the unavailability of certain non-carbon production equipment (nuclear power plant units undergoing maintenance, hydroelectric dams at their minimum level, etc.). Any kWh called by the network above the aforementioned threshold is probably very carbon-intensive because it is supplied by a thermal power plant.

[0013] On the other hand, it may be relevant to consume carbon electricity if it can be used to produce thermal energy very efficiently. For example, it may be advantageous to power a heat pump with carbon electricity or even very carbon electricity when the conditions are conducive to a good efficiency coefficient of the heat pump. Moreover, if the need is for cooling, switching to electrical energy is not always avoidable. The problem of minimizing the carbon footprint of an energy supply installation in at least one building is therefore complex, because it depends on the structure of the energy supply, the structure of demand, the structure of the installation, the climatic situation, and the thermal situation in the building.

[0014] Furthermore, a growing number of countries are granting advantages in the form of labels, bonuses in calls for tender, financial benefits and / or etc., to installation projects and facilities meeting decarbonization objectives.

[0015] Purpose of the invention The purpose of the invention is thus to propose a method, an installation and a regulation system making it possible to reduce the carbon footprint of the thermal energy consumed in at least one building.

[0016] Presentation of the invention

[0017] According to the invention, the method for supplying thermal energy in at least one building, by means of an installation comprising:

[0018] - energy collection equipment which is in energy transfer relationship with sources comprising at least one carbon energy source, the at least one carbon energy source comprising an electricity distribution network;

[0019] - energy transformation equipment powered at least in part by the collection equipment; method in which, in order to satisfy the installation's needs in terms of thermal energy, the installation is controlled in the direction of optimization with regard to at least one criterion; is characterized in that a time-stamped estimate of the carbonation of the electricity production supplying the electricity distribution network is obtained, and in that the at least one criterion includes a moderation of the carbon footprint of the thermal energy supplied by the installation.

[0020] Controlling the installation typically involves defining for a given moment a combination of activation states of the different equipment in the installation, depending on the demand for thermal energy from the building and its occupants, and depending on the available energy sources, for example the distribution network, photovoltaic or thermal solar collectors, geothermal probes, thermal storage structures, boilers, etc.

[0021] According to the invention, an estimate of the carbonation of the electricity available on the electricity distribution network is obtained. Said carbonation varies very significantly over time, depending on the instantaneous energy mix (share of nuclear, hydraulic, wind, photovoltaic, thermal) used to supply the distribution network. The step of obtaining an estimate of the carbonation can be carried out in several ways. The estimate can be acquired from an external service provider who can be a distribution network operator or a third-party entity. Alternatively, and in particular if such an estimate is not available, the estimate can be made within the framework of the method, on the basis of data such as meteorological data, calendar data, data relating to the energy mix of the distribution network, and / or etc.

[0022] Then the optimization sought within the framework of the process takes into account said estimate in order to minimize the carbon footprint of the installation in the short and long term without compromising future performance. This optimization does not necessarily mean that the management ensures that the carbon footprint is as low as possible in a given situation. Indeed, typically, moderating the carbon footprint is only one of the management criteria. Other criteria are generally taken into account, in particular the operating cost, the management of the maintenance of certain equipment, the management of thermal storage-retrieval equipment if there is any, etc.

[0023] The optimization carried out can thus induce a more carbon-intensive production temporarily, with a very good yield for example (this may be the case with a production of thermodynamic thermal energy whose yield is not constant and varies according to the conditions in which the machine is operated).

[0024] Optimization therefore most often results in a compromise in which the carbon footprint of the installation is moderated, but without necessarily requiring the installation to operate at its lowest possible carbon footprint at a given time. The moderation of the carbon footprint of the thermal installation is thus a balance sheet result that is evaluated over time.

[0025] In some embodiments, data including meteorological data and data relating to the production of electricity supplied to the distribution network are acquired, and the carbonation estimate takes said data into account. The meteorological data are part of the information used to predict the thermal energy requirement in the building. If the installation includes solar photovoltaic and / or solar thermal equipment, this data also makes it possible to predict the production of this equipment. The data relating to the production of electricity supplied to the network are useful for obtaining or refining the carbonation estimate. Even if this data does not directly provide information on the carbonation of the electricity supplied by the network, it can contribute to developing an estimate of this carbonation. Such useful data may relate to the number of operational nuclear reactors and / or their total power.They can also relate to the management of hydroelectric power. They can relate to the power expected from wind generators, etc.

[0026] In one version, data is acquired comprising a history of the carbonation of electricity supplied to the electricity distribution network during one or more previous time intervals, preferably during at least one previous year, and the estimation takes into account said data. In this version, it is assumed that at the corresponding date and time of the previous interval (such as the previous year) and the current interval (such as the current year), the carbonation may be comparable.

[0027] Advantageously, an average of the carbonations of the electricity supplied to the distribution network during years prior to the corresponding date and time is taken, and the estimate is obtained based on this average. The previous years may be the directly preceding years, or selected years. For example, the at least one previous year is selected according to similarity criteria, in particular meteorological and / or carbonation of the electricity production supplying the distribution network, with the current year.

[0028] In one version, at least one previous year is selected based on similarity criteria, particularly meteorological and / or carbonation of the electricity production supplying the distribution network, with the current year.

[0029] When a carbonation value has been established based on at least one previous year, according to an improvement, obtaining the estimate can involve applying a correction taking into account at least one current parameter, taken for example from meteorological data.

[0030] The correction can also take into account certain parameters such as variations in the thermal energy demand in the building depending, for example, on calendar events such as working days / weekends / public holidays / school holidays. What is referred to above as "corresponding date and time" does not necessarily mean the same date and time. For example, in previous years, "corresponding" dates can be chosen based on the day of the week, the working time of the date (public holiday or working day), or even based on the similarity with the current date in terms of meteorology. If, for example, July in a previous year was much warmer than August, while August in the current year is very hot, it is better to establish a correspondence between August 15 (public holiday) of the current year and July 14 (another public holiday) of the previous year.

[0031] In another or the same version, the carbonation estimate can also take into account as a current parameter a state of availability of the means of electricity production supplying the distribution network. When a significant part of the decarbonized means of production, typically nuclear reactors and hydroelectric power plants, is shut down for maintenance, the network operator will probably have to activate carbon resources, for example thermal power plants, to supply the network, particularly in the event of aggravating factors, in particular meteorological factors, such as extreme temperatures.

[0032] In one version, the time-stamped estimate is obtained based on the carbonation of electricity supplied by the distribution network during at least one year prior to a corresponding date chosen with a calendar offset to be the same day of the week as the date for which the estimate is established. In general, the offset date will still be close to the one for which the estimate is established, so that the climatic data of the two dates are comparable.

[0033] In one version, meteorological data is acquired, an average of the carbonations of the production of electricity having supplied the network in certain previous years at the corresponding date and time is taken, and the estimate is obtained by applying to this average a correction taking into account the meteorological data of the year for which the estimate is established in relation to an average of said previous years.

[0034] In a version concerning an installation comprising combustion heating equipment, the combustion heating equipment is activated during a time segment for which the estimated carbonation of the electricity supplied by the grid is high. The carbonation of the grid is a weighted average between the carbonations of decarbonized (nuclear, hydroelectric), low-carbon (wind, solar) and high-carbon (thermal power plants) productions. A high average means that thermal is heavily used. In this case, it can be assumed that the supply of additional kWh by the grid will be provided by thermal power plants. This can be counterproductive in terms of carbon footprint if this additional kWh is intended to produce heat at the consumer's premises. It is better to burn the fuel directly at the consumer's premises, in terms of both the overall carbon footprint and economics.

[0035] Preferably, the method is applied to an installation comprising at least one thermal storage-release equipment such as geothermal equipment and / or at least one tank containing a thermal storage-release fluid. Such equipment offers very advantageous degrees of freedom for optimization according to the invention.

[0036] For example, in the context of optimization, thermal destocking is carried out when the electricity supplied by the electricity distribution network is expected to be highly carbon-intensive, and thermal storage is carried out when the electricity supplied by the said network is expected to be low-carbon.

[0037] According to another example, in the context of the optimization, energy supplied by the electricity distribution network is consumed in a first time segment where its carbonation is relatively low, and stored energy is thus saved, then the storage energy is consumed later when said carbonation is higher than during the first time segment. In particular, at least part of this energy can be stored in order to supplement the energy that will be consumed later.

[0038] In one version, a heat pump is supplied with relatively high carbonation electrical energy and operated between two thermal sources with a small temperature difference between them. This makes it possible to obtain thermal energy under generally advantageous conditions. In particular, this energy can be stored for later use, at a time when obtaining it would have been generally less advantageous. By "generally" we refer here to the cumulative degree of optimization of obtaining electricity and using it to produce thermal energy.

[0039] It is preferred to apply the method to an installation whose collection equipment comprises at least one renewable energy collection equipment such as at least one photovoltaic collector, at least one solar thermal collector, at least one aerothermal collector, at least one geothermal collector. Such equipment providing on-site or in the immediate vicinity totally decarbonized energy facilitates optimization according to the invention with regard to the criterion of moderating the carbon footprint of the thermal energy supplied to the installation.

[0040] In a preferred version, at a current time of control of the installation, the carbonation estimate is a time-stamped forecast extending over a certain period from the current time, and the optimization comprises defining a scenario prescribing a sequence of combinations of activation states of the equipment over said period, the scenario being defined in the sense of an overall optimization over the period with regard to at least one criterion comprising the moderation of the carbon footprint of the thermal energy supplied by the installation.

[0041] Based on forecasts including said time-stamped carbonation forecast but also forecasts of thermal energy requirements in the installation and availability of thermal energy sources other than the network, the scenario dictates for each instant, for example for each time segment of for example a quarter of an hour, a combination of activation states of the equipment of the installation. This version of the invention makes it possible to reduce the need for computing power and at the same time to manage a thermal trajectory of the entire installation over time. For example, by using the building as a means of thermal storage-removal, the temperature of the building can be allowed to decrease during time segments where energy is expensive and / or highly carbon-intensive, and anticipate more favorable time segments where it will be advantageous to heat the building again.Conversely, the scenario can also prescribe heating the building in anticipation of expected unfavorable future time segments, during which consumption can be reduced by allowing the building to cool down.

[0042] If the equipment includes thermal storage-release equipment, the scenario can similarly prescribe thermal release when the electricity supplied by the network is expected to be high-carbon, and thermal storage when the electricity supplied by the network is low-carbon.

[0043] Preferably, more generally, optimization with regard to the carbon footprint moderation criterion does not aim for maximum immediate moderation, because this would lead to systematically emptying thermal stocks except when free decarbonized energy, such as local photovoltaic energy, is in excess, and therefore to significantly reduce the interest of such storage. On the contrary, we are looking for overall moderation over a certain period, in particular, in the version with scenario, over the period covered by the scenario, which can typically be, for example, 12 months.

[0044] In one version, the step of providing a time-stamped forecast of the carbonation of the electricity production supplied by the distribution network comprises, for each time-stamped time segment, taking into account the carbonation of a time segment preferably corresponding to at least one previous year, and a correction based on differences between the current year and the at least one previous year. Such corrections may be based on meteorological particularities of the current year compared to the corresponding period of the previous year, on changes in the fleet of production means supplying the distribution network, on variations in the use and / or equipment of the premises, etc. In one version of the method:

[0045] - the time-stamped scenario prescribes the energy flows of the different equipment during each of the successive time segments in a sense of overall optimization, with regard to at least one criterion including the criterion of moderation of the carbon footprint of the thermal energy supplied by the installation, over the period covered by the scenario;

[0046] - the installation is carried out by implementing the equipment at each moment, taking the scenario into account.

[0047] Typically, the scenario as established for a relatively distant future, i.e. for example for the following week, the following month or more, is only one approach to the desired optimization. This approach is more or less adequate depending on various past hazards or those whose predictions have recently been made. Such hazards may be meteorological, relating to the actual use of the building, relating to the availability of the network's electricity production means and / or the availability of the installation's equipment, etc. This is why, preferably, at least one time after the start of the installation operation stage, the scenario is updated so that the overall optimization takes into account:

[0048] - possible discrepancies between a history of the supply of thermal energy in the installation and the scenario before updating; and / or

[0049] - possible discrepancies between recent forecasts and older forecasts on which the scenario is based before updating.

[0050] Regardless of the sophistication implemented in developing the scenario, a discrepancy between actual situations and those anticipated by the scenario is difficult to avoid. If the prescribed scenario is implemented rigidly, this results in certain disadvantages in terms of satisfying demand and in terms of optimization with regard to the criteria. Preferably, to counter this, the scenario also prescribes methods of adjustment to the actual demand for thermal energy at the current time, and / or to actual parameters of the energy sources at the current time, these methods being themselves optimized with regard to at least one criterion including the moderation of the carbon footprint of the thermal energy supplied by the installation.For example, if the building's occupants request, via thermostats, more heating than the installation would provide according to the scenario, the adjustment methods prescribe which equipment must be activated, or differently activated, to provide this higher power demand than anticipated. According to another example, if the electricity available on the network is more expensive or more carbon-intensive than according to the scenario, the adjustment methods may prescribe, for example, drawing, or drawing more from storage. According to yet another example, in the event of a deficiency in a heat pump in the installation, the adjustment methods prescribe which other equipment must be activated differently to compensate for the deficiency.

[0051] In one version of the method, the at least one criterion comprises, in addition to said moderation of the carbon footprint, an operating cost moderation criterion and / or an energy efficiency criterion. Each criterion is assigned an evaluation scale commensurate with the scales assigned to the other criteria, and the optimization is carried out based on the sum of the evaluations.

[0052] For example, the scales can be in a monetary unit. The operating cost scale is then, for example, in real value. The carbon footprint and energy efficiency are quantified in the same monetary unit according to a correspondence rule that has been established, for example in euros per kWh and in euros per kg of CO2.

[0053] Advantageously, before establishing the scenario, the following steps are carried out:

[0054] - based on a dynamic thermal simulation of the building, a planned use of the building and an annual climatology of the building's location, establish an annual schedule of the various energy needs of the building;

[0055] - provide a catalog of energy collection, transformation, use and / or storage equipment compatible with the timetable, and with data relating to the building specifications;

[0056] - by computer iterations virtually test different combinations of equipment from the catalog and the dimensions of this equipment to determine those capable of satisfying at least a large part of the schedule; - establish the time-stamped scenario of each of the combinations determined as capable of satisfying the schedule;

[0057] - select one of these determined combinations and the corresponding time-stamped scenario, taking into account the at least one criterion together with installation considerations; and

[0058] - build the installation corresponding to the selected combination.

[0059] Thus, the technique of basing itself on the said scenario not only makes it possible to operate an existing installation favorably, but also, upstream, to give an installation the best possible structure in order to satisfy at least one criterion even better, in particular the criterion of moderating the carbon footprint.

[0060] Considerations for installation include, for example, the investment amount, operating costs, and at least one benefit that may result from meeting energy efficiency and / or carbon footprint reduction standards. Such a benefit may be a favorable commercial and / or tax label.

[0061] According to a second aspect of the invention, the installation for supplying energy, in particular thermal energy, in at least one building or the like, the installation comprising:

[0062] - energy collection equipment which is in an energy transfer relationship each with a respective source;

[0063] - energy transformation equipment powered at least in part by the collection equipment;

[0064] - energy-using equipment;

[0065] - a regulation system capable of defining for at least some of the equipment different respective activation states chosen according to parameters, in particular climatic, in the sense of an optimization with regard to criteria, is characterized in that the regulation system implements a method according to the invention supplemented or not by all or part of its improvements. In an advantageous version the installation comprises at least one thermal storage-release equipment such as geothermal equipment and / or at least one tank containing a thermal storage-release fluid.

[0066] The collection equipment may include at least one renewable energy capture equipment such as at least one photovoltaic sensor, at least one solar thermal sensor, at least one aerothermal sensor, and / or at least one geothermal sensor.

[0067] According to a third aspect of the invention, the system for regulating an installation intended to supply energy, in particular thermal energy, in at least one building or the like, this installation comprising:

[0068] - energy collection equipment which is in an energy transfer relationship each with a respective source;

[0069] - energy transformation equipment powered at least in part by the collection equipment;

[0070] - energy-using equipment; the regulation system being capable of defining for at least some of the equipment different respective activation states chosen according to parameters, in particular climatic, in the sense of optimization with regard to criteria, is characterized in that the system is designed to implement in the installation a method according to the invention supplemented or not by all or part of its improvements.

[0071] Other features and advantages of the invention will appear in the description below relating to non-limiting embodiments, with reference to the appended drawings.

[0072] Brief description of the Figures

[0073] [Fig.l] Figure 1 is a schematic representation of an installation according to the invention, in a building;

[0074] Description of Embodiments The following description is to be understood as describing any feature or combination of features, in the terms used below or in more general terms, provided that such feature or combination of features produces a technical effect or advantage, even if the feature or combination of features constitutes only part of a sentence or paragraph.

[0075] In the example shown in Figure 1, the installation is associated with a building 1 located on a plot of land 2. The installation comprises energy collection equipment comprising here: at least one photovoltaic solar collector CPh transforming solar radiation 33 into electrical energy; at least one thermal solar collector CTh transforming solar radiation 33 into heat absorbed by a heat transfer fluid flowing through the collector; at least one aerothermal exchanger Ath capable of operating as a heat collector or as a heat sink (cold collector) for a heat transfer fluid flowing through said collector by exchanging calories between the liquid and the outside air 34; several geothermal probes 3; and at least one connection to a public electricity distribution network 36.The geothermal probes 3 are of the BTES type driven into an area of ​​the ground 2 and the corresponding subsoil which is here called geothermal medium 31 to distinguish it from the natural ground 32 which is not thermally influenced by the probes 3. There may also be a fuel reservoir or, as shown, a connection to a fuel distribution network 37, in particular combustible gas. In other embodiments, certain types of collection equipment such as CPh, CTh and / or Ath are not present, the invention being able to be implemented as long as the connection to the network 36 is not the only source of energy capable of supplying the installation so that it provides thermal energy (hot and / or cold) to the building.

[0076] An electrical box 6 receives the electrical energy from the network 36 and from the photovoltaic sensor Cph and supplies the electricity from one and / or the other of these sources to a power output 7. In certain embodiments, the box 6 or a specific box (not shown) can also inject electricity produced by the photovoltaic sensor CPh into the distribution network 36. In addition, the installation comprises a set 8 of thermal energy transformation and storage equipment, namely, in the example, heat pumps PAC, a boiler Comb connected to the fuel source 37 for exceptional periods, as well as a cold tank 9 and a hot tank 11 which typically contain water with additives. The pool of heat pumps PAC makes it possible to produce cold and heat at will.The cold tank 9 is intended to accumulate cold by freezing all or part of the water it contains, and to restore this cold by total or partial thawing of its frozen contents. Each tank 9, 11 contains a heat exchanger for exchanging heat with a heat transfer fluid to receive or supply thermal energy in connection with the sources, directly or by interposed heat pump.

[0077] There is also in the installation a set 10 of user equipment which is in interface relation with the user (occupant of the building, technical or management staff) for the energy consumption of the building, namely for example lamps 12 and electrical sockets 13, AC air conditioning modules, Ht heating modules, heated floors 14, domestic hot water distribution points 16 (only one of each is shown to simplify the representation).

[0078] The installation further comprises a selective connection assembly 17, capable of establishing appropriate connections between the thermal sensors 3, ATh, CTh, the storage and transformation equipment 8 and the utilization equipment 10. The connection assembly 17 typically comprises pipes, single solenoid valves 18, multi-way solenoid valves 19, and pumps 21. The assembly 17 is connected to the probes 3 by pipes 22 for a heat transfer fluid, generally water with additives, circulating in the probes 3 where this heat transfer fluid exchanges heat with the geothermal medium 31.

[0079] There are also in the installation multiple temperature, pressure and flow detectors as well as electrical intensity meters, and multiple control devices such as thermostats or switches, some available to users, others available to technical or building management staff. Here, simply shown, for this purpose, are a temperature detector Te for the heat transfer fluid entering the probes 3, a temperature detector Ts for the heat transfer fluid leaving the probes 3, and a flow meter D measuring the flow of heat transfer fluid in the probes 3, as well as optionally a detector Tg for the temperature of the geothermal medium 31. It is known that beyond a certain depth where it is no longer influenced by the surface temperature, the temperature of the geothermal medium 31 increases with depth (geothermal gradient).The Tg detector is placed at a depth chosen so that the local temperature is representative of an average for the geothermal environment 31.

[0080] The representation of the assemblies 8, 10 and 17 in the form of blocks in Figure 1 is conceptual; in practice, some of the different equipment in each of these assemblies may be scattered throughout the building. This is particularly, but not exclusively, the case for the utilization equipment 10. Furthermore, the classification between transformation and storage equipment 8 and utilization equipment 10 is partly arbitrary. For example, Ht heating devices may be energy transformers operating by the Joule effect and include a thermal storage capacity. The double horizontal arrows 20 between these blocks symbolize the fluid connections between them.

[0081] The installation can be configured in many ways using an AUT programmable controller which issues commands to selectively connect the various pieces of equipment and to control their activation status, all based on parameters including the level of demand for each form of energy (electricity, heating, cooling, domestic hot water, etc.) and the power available from the local sensors (CPh, CTh, Ath, 3).

[0082] In general, multiple combinations of activation states of the different equipment are capable of satisfying the demand. A control unit CU executes an optimization program that issues recommendations sent to the AUT controller to enable the AUT controller to select and activate the optimal combination of activation states. The recommendations are priority orders between equipment having similar functions, and / or recommendations for activation levels of the equipment, and / or recommendations concerning operating modes for equipment having at least two operating modes.Equipment with two possible operating modes is, for example, equipment that can intervene in the production of cold or heat (heat pumps PAC if they are reversible), equipment that can transfer or acquire energy (tanks 9, 11), sensors such as probes 3 or the Ath aerothermal sensor which can operate as a cold or heat sensor, AC air conditioning modules where applicable capable of operating in heating or cooling.

[0083] The recommendations issued by the control unit CU can be provided in the form of alternative or cumulative possibilities with priority ranks. It is preferable to avoid the AUT controller being prevented from satisfying the request due to excessively restrictive recommendations issued by the control unit CU. In particular, the installation must preferably be fully operational from the point of view of the building users even if, for example, a piece of equipment reaches its power limit or is faulty.

[0084] The AUT automaton and the CU control unit could be grouped into a single “intelligent” automaton. The subdivision proposed here is advantageous in that it is compatible with a pre-existing installation, equipped with a conventional AUT automaton, which has been retrofitted according to the invention by adding to it in particular the CU control unit and possibly some of the collection 3, CPh, CTh, ATh, transformation and storage 8, use 10, and connection 17 equipment. Another advantage of the subdivision proposed here is that it allows all or part of the CU control unit to be installed remotely (as a variant of what is presented here for illustrative purposes). Thus, a single CU control unit can serve several installations. For example, the CU control unit may be owned by a service provider providing its services to the owner or tenant of the building 1.The CU control unit can also be common to several buildings such as 1, belonging to the same complex.

[0085] The electrical block 6 is connected to the AUT controller which controls it. The power output 7 electrically supplies the three assemblies 8, 10 and 17, as well as, in a manner not shown, the AUT controller and the control unit CU. The control unit CU comprises a computer connection port for a connection 23, for example via the Internet, with one or more data sources, including in particular weather forecasts.

[0086] To develop its recommendations, the CU control unit takes into account data that can be of very diverse natures, namely economic, meteorological, environmental, linked to the good management of thermal stocks in the geothermal environment 31, in tanks 9 and 11 and in the building itself depending on the date, occupancy parameters of the premises, etc.

[0087] According to the invention, one of the environmental parameters on which the control unit CU is based to develop its recommendations is a time-stamped estimate of the carbonation of the electricity supplied by the network. Since the overall consumption of the customers of the network 36 varies rapidly during the day, particularly at certain times of the day, the carbonation of the electricity can also vary very rapidly, particularly the carbonation of the kWh supplied in addition to the production capacity of the decarbonized (hydro, nuclear) or low-carbon (wind, photovoltaic) production means. This explains why it is preferred, according to the invention, to have fairly precisely time-stamped data.

[0088] For example, since the peak hours of electricity consumption (morning hours in winter in cold or temperate regions, hot summer hours in temperate or hot regions) are well known, the control unit CU can recommend drawing thermal energy from the stocks during such hours and replenishing the stocks outside these hours using the network 36, while the network 36 provides low-carbon electricity. In such a case, the tanks 9, 11 or even the building as a thermal reserve are effective.

[0089] According to another example, for a longer-term decarbonization strategy, we know that electricity consumption on network 36 is moderate and more regular during the inter-seasons (April-May and September-October in temperate regions). The electricity supplied during these periods is low-carbon. It can be expected that during these periods the control unit CU recommends consumption of electricity from network 36 to replenish the thermal stocks that will be useful during the following season. This means, for example, cooling the geothermal medium 31 and / or the cold tank 9 in the spring for air conditioning needs in the summer, or heating them in the fall for the cold season.

[0090] In tariff zones where the price of kWh supplied by the 36 network varies according to the energy situation, the search for moderation of carbonation tends to converge with economic optimization because periods of high tariffs are often periods of more carbon-intensive production.

[0091] When the installation includes production equipment such as Cph photovoltaic collectors, Cth solar thermal collectors and Ath aerothermal collectors, the use of this equipment at its maximum instantaneous capacity (which depends on instantaneous weather conditions) converges with a minimization of costs and the carbon footprint of the installation since the energy they supply to the installation is free and completely decarbonized. In the case where the thermal power that this equipment is capable of supplying exceeds the installation's demand, optimization generally consists of directing the excess power to thermal storage equipment. However, this is not always possible, or may involve arbitration.For example, in the event of high heat, it will be possible to implement an arbitration concerning the thermal energy proposed by the Ath and / or Cth sensors if there is no possibility of direct use of this energy, for example to heat a swimming pool or the hot water tank 11 or a domestic hot water tank (for example if they are already at a temperature at least substantially equal to that of the heat transfer fluids having passed through the Cth and / or Ath sensors) or to cool the cold tank 9, (if the outside temperature is positive in °C while the contents of the tank are partially frozen). In such cases, the arbitration may lead to deciding to activate the heat pump despite electricity which is a priori expensive and / or carbon-intensive.

[0092] For example, if a period of intense heat occurs late in the warm season, it may be beneficial from an energy perspective to store heat with a better heat pump efficiency coefficient during this warm period than at much lower temperatures later. Similarly, if a very cool period occurs late in the cold season, cold energy may be advantageously stored during this period for later use in cooling or air conditioning.

[0093] If the difference is small between the temperature of the heat transfer fluid supplied by the Ath or Cth sensor and the hot water tank 11 or the domestic hot water tank, the efficiency coefficient of a heat pump drawing calories from the Ath or Cth sensor to supply them to the tank 11 or the domestic hot water tank will be excellent and will compensate for any poor quality of the electricity consumed by the heat pump in terms of optimization within the meaning of the invention.

[0094] In another example, the outside temperature is around 5°C, electricity is expensive and / or carbon-based, while the contents of the cold tank 9 are partially frozen. The heat transfer fluid supplied by the Ath aerothermal collector cannot directly supply frigories to the tank 9 since it is hotter than the contents of the tank. On the other hand, a heat pump extracting calories from the tank 9 and releasing them into the atmosphere via the Ath aerothermal collector operating as a hot source will have a very good efficiency which will compensate for the possible poor quality of the electricity consumed, in terms of optimization within the meaning of the invention.

[0095] In such examples, the optimization can be not only instantaneous, but also global, i.e. include the future. Even if the level of immediate optimization is unsatisfactory, the optimization can be very satisfactory overall if the stored thermal energy makes it possible to avoid or restrict the subsequent use of processes that are much less qualitative in terms of optimization within the meaning of the invention.

[0096] The search for moderate carbonation is preferably only one criterion among others for the optimization practiced according to the invention. In general, the optimization sought is an optimal compromise between operating cost, consumption of exogenous energy (i.e. other than produced by the thermal collectors of the installation), carbon footprint and management of thermal stocks, in particular management of the temperature of the geothermal medium, which must not drift in the medium and long term. Good management of thermal stocks is important. If it were neglected, it would almost always be more advantageous in the short term to draw from thermal stocks all the thermal energy called for by demand beyond what is provided free of charge by the solar collectors Cph and Cth and aerial Ath.

[0097] Thus, more generally, as has just been seen in the non-limiting example above, the optimization is preferably a global optimization encompassing the present instant and a certain period following the present instant. According to the invention, preferably, an optimization is accepted which is only “imperfect” at the current instant when a better optimization at the current instant would probably lead to a poorer optimization over the entire period.

[0098] To obtain said time-stamped estimate of carbonation, a first possibility consists of obtaining this time-stamped estimate via link 23 from the operators of network 36 and / or the electricity producers supplying network 36. However, currently, at least in certain countries and notably in France, said producers and operators do not provide either the value of the carbonation of electricity at the current time or a forecast of future carbonation.

[0099] Faced with this situation, the invention provides for developing the time-stamped forecast on the basis of relevant information relating to the carbonation of the electricity being distributed on the network 36 and going to be distributed during a future period on the network 36.

[0100] Such information may relate to the carbonation of electricity supplied by the network 36 over one or more previous years, day by day or even hour by hour, or preferably quarter-hour by quarter-hour. Such information may come from a public or private source. A private source may be a database that has been compiled over previous years specifically for the implementation of the invention.

[0101] Other relevant information relates to the availability of the various means of electricity production supplying the network 36. From one year to the next, some means may have been shut down, temporarily or permanently, while others may have been (re)commissioned. Still other relevant information may relate to the general level of demand, which evolves with demographics, with the increasing electrification of energy consumption, but also, conversely, with energy-saving measures such as the increasing thermal insulation of homes.

[0102] In one version, the carbonation of the electricity supplied by the network 36 is evaluated based on a carbonation observed in the past at the corresponding date and time. The carbonation observed in the past is preferably an average of the carbonations observed in several years prior to the corresponding date and time. The date of the current year and the corresponding date of a previous year may be the same calendar date. But it is also possible to match different dates of the same day of the week, for example two Mondays. It is possible to match public holidays, school holiday dates, or even days that are similar in terms of weather. It will generally be impossible to achieve a perfect match between a day of the current year and a day of a past year or an average of days of past years.However, in one version, the carbonation at a corresponding date and time in a previous year or the average of the carbonations at corresponding dates and times in several previous years is taken as the time-stamped estimate of the carbonation at the current time. Indeed, since taking carbonation into account is not crucial for the proper functioning of the installation, an approximate estimate is sufficient in certain cases.

[0103] In other versions, we want to refine the timestamped estimate. Having obtained a first approximation of the carbonation, for example as explained above, we apply a correction to this evaluation to obtain the timestamped estimate of the carbonation. If the corresponding date is the same calendar date, the correction can take into account the differences inherent in the calendar (day of the week or weekend, public holiday or not, school holiday or not).If the corresponding date is chosen "intelligently" as mentioned above, the correction takes into account, for example, changes in the production supplying network 36, for example the growth of the wind farm, the temporary or permanent closure, or on the contrary the (re)commissioning of nuclear power plant units, the variation in the electrical power supplied by network 36 between the current year and the previous year taken into consideration, and a meteorological differential between the current year and the said previous year. The corrections to be applied according to each variation parameter can be determined by analyzing the data available concerning previous years in terms of calendar, meteorology, power supplied by the network, carbonation of electricity, changes in the production means, etc.

[0104] In one version, each optimization criterion is assigned an evaluation scale commensurable with the scales assigned to the other criteria, and the optimization is carried out by seeking an extremum of the sum of the evaluations. For example, the scales are pecuniary scales formulated in monetary units such as the euro. In such a case, the operating costs are counted in real values, a pecuniary scale is assigned to each kg of CO2 emitted, whether in the form of carbonation of electricity from the network 36 and in the form of local combustion discharge if the installation includes at least one Comb combustion device, and another pecuniary scale is assigned to each kWh consumed. The kWh can be weighted differently depending on whether it is local combustion or acquisition via the network 36, depending on how the cost in non-renewable primary energy of each kWh supplied on the network 36 is assessed.

[0105] For the value of kg of CO2 emitted, we can base ourselves on the market value of CO2 (generally expressed in euros per tonne), and / or on the tax and image penalties associated with high CO2 emissions.

[0106] Having thus expressed in a commensurate manner the three parameters relevant to optimization, we seek for a given instant the combination of activation states of the different equipment of the installation which satisfies the demand and for which the sum of the values ​​of the three parameters is optimal, that is to say minimal if the scales are in monetary units.

[0107] As already mentioned above, the optimization preferably takes into account the management of the thermal stocks of the installation. In the example shown in Figure 1, these are the stocks in the tanks 9 and 11 and in the geothermal medium 31. We want to avoid the optimization systematically leading to thermal destocking. To achieve this, we can, according to a first option, impose a thermal content trajectory on each of the storage structures. With regard to the hot tank 11 and the geothermal medium 31, the thermal content is measurable by a temperature measurement. In the cold tank 9, the temperature is generally stable, equal to the temperature where the liquid phase and the solid phase coexist. The thermal content is for example measurable according to the filling level since the total mass of liquid and solid is constant while the specific volume of the solid is different from that of the liquid.In this first option, the actual thermal contents are measured, their deviation from their trajectory is calculated, the sum of the deviations is calculated and this sum is algebraically added to the installation's demand to obtain a corrected demand. The combinations of equipment states are chosen to bring the stocks back to their respective trajectory.

[0108] According to a second, preferred option, stocks are managed within the framework of a global optimization that includes not only the present moment but a period following the present moment. In this case, a certain deficit or even an increase in the thermal deficit of the stocks can be admitted compared to their trajectory, at times when compliance with the trajectory would be unfavorable with regard to the optimization criteria chosen (operating cost, carbonation and exogenous energy consumption in the example taken above) and where it is anticipated that catching up on the deficit will be less penalizing later.In this same or another global optimization process, one can maintain or increase a surplus of thermal stocks at times when this penalizes the instantaneous optimization relatively little and where one anticipates that this excess stock will be of greater benefit in terms of optimization at a later time for which one predicts, for example, high carbonation and / or a high price of electricity supplying the electricity network 36.

[0109] In general, depending on its location (hot, cold, windy, north or south facing area, etc.) and its purpose (residential, office, industrial, holiday, etc.), an installation will mainly need heat or cold over the course of a year. Furthermore, the geothermal environment is almost always a particularly advantageous thermal source for immediate optimization purposes with regard to the chosen optimization criteria (operating cost, energy expenditure and carbon footprint of the installation). However, if we systematically draw calories and frigories from the geothermal environment, its long-term temperature will drift in the opposite direction to the majority need (i.e., for example, will decrease if the majority need is heating).After a few years, the heat becomes increasingly difficult to extract, to the point that the geothermal medium ends up becoming unusable, which is catastrophic compared to the initial investment. This is why, as explained above, the invention proposes to regulate the thermal extraction from the geothermal medium in order to respect a temperature trajectory deemed ideal. This regulation can be indirect: before starting up the installation, the reactivity (temperature variation) of the geothermal medium is measured when a determined quantity of heat is extracted. In operation, the temperature is not regulated directly, but according to the thermal extractions carried out, which can be translated into terms of temperature of the geothermal medium according to the initial tests.Such indirect temperature regulation is more precise than direct measurement using the Tg detector because the instantaneous temperature variations of the geothermal medium are very slow and therefore very small between two close moments. With such indirect regulation, the Tg detector is not necessarily present, and if it is, it only serves to check from time to time the correspondence rule between drawing and temperature variation, and to correct this rule if necessary if a permanent gap seems to be established between the measured temperature and the trajectory. In the absence of the Tg detector, an unfavorable drift of the geothermal medium will nevertheless be observable according to the drop in drawing efficiency.

[0110] More generally, according to the invention, the optimization sought is a global optimization over a certain period starting at the time of intervention or a little before and extending into the future of the present moment.

[0111] To do this, we use forecasts relating to relevant parameters to develop an estimate of the building's thermal energy demand at different future times and to choose at these times the optimal combination of states of the installation's equipment to satisfy this demand.

[0112] The parameters for which forecasts can be taken into account are typically all or part of the following list: outside temperature, sunshine, wind speed, energy purchase price, energy resale price, environmental parameters including carbonation of Tl electricity supplied by the network 36 and also possibly atmospheric pollution parameters, degree of occupancy of the building, state of thermal stocks in storage structures, etc.

[0113] Forecasts relating to climatic parameters and energy prices applicable in the coming period are available in a form that can directly feed input 23 of the control unit CU. In practice, input 23 is typically a connection to one or more servers via the Internet; its representation in Figure 1 is purely illustrative. Concerning carbonation, if forecasts are not available, they are established, for example, using the method described above, either in the control unit CU or remotely for transmission to the control unit CU via input 23.

[0114] Generally speaking, the method for overall optimization of the supply of thermal energy in a building preferably corresponds, in principle, to that described in WO 2022 / 029 235 A1. Only the adaptation of this known method will be described here so that the overall optimization tends to minimize the carbon footprint of the supply of thermal energy by the installation.

[0115] At a current time of control of the installation, the carbonation estimate of the electricity supplied by the distribution network 36 is a time-stamped forecast extending over a certain period from the current time. The optimization comprises defining a scenario prescribing a sequence of time-stamped combinations of activation states of the equipment over said period. Each combination of states is assigned to a time segment defined by its date and time, for example the start time of the time segment. Typically all the time segments have the same duration, for example a quarter of an hour, and they follow one another contiguous in time. The scenario is defined in the sense of an overall optimization over the period with regard to at least one criterion including the moderation of the carbon footprint of the thermal energy supplied by the installation. The multi-criteria optimization is carried out for example as described above.Typically, for each time segment of the period there is a sum of the criteria in the common scale, scale in monetary units in the example described above. The optimal scenario is the one for which the result of the addition of the sums obtained for each of the different time segments is the most favorable, therefore the smallest if the scale is expressed in monetary cost units. The search for the optimal scenario is typically carried out by computer iterations.

[0116] In one version, once the time-stamped scenario has been established, the installation is carried out by implementing, at each moment, the equipment taking the scenario into account.

[0117] Preferably, it is planned to update the scenario during its execution to take into account possible divergences between a history of the supply of thermal energy in the installation and the scenario before update; and / or possible divergences between recent forecasts and older forecasts on which the scenario before update is based.

[0118] In an improved version, the scenario also prescribes adjustment methods to the actual demand for thermal energy at the current time and / or to actual parameters of the energy sources at the current time, these methods themselves being optimized with regard to at least one criterion including the moderation of the carbon footprint of the thermal energy supplied by the installation. In the example of Figure 1, if the AUT controller is faced with a demand for thermal energy different from that predicted by the scenario, it adjusts the scenario in accordance with the adjustment methods valid for the current time segment.

[0119] When building or renovating a building or complex, it's advantageous to meet the conditions for obtaining labels and / or tax benefits. They also offer a sales pitch by displaying their ecological virtues and promising savings in use.

[0120] In this perspective, which is added to that of optimization as described so far, the invention proposes, in one version, not only to optimize the energy supply of an installation, but, upstream, to design the installation so that it allows optimizations that are particularly advantageous with regard to the criteria including in particular the criterion of moderation of the carbon footprint accompanying the satisfaction of the demand for thermal energy. It is possible to proceed as follows: - based on a dynamic thermal simulation of the building, a planned use of the building and an annual climatology of the site where the building is located, establish an annual schedule of the various energy needs of the building;

[0121] - provide a catalog of energy collection, transformation, use and / or storage equipment compatible with the timetable, and with data relating to the building specifications;

[0122] - by computer iterations virtually test different combinations of equipment from the catalog and the dimensions of this equipment to determine those capable of satisfying at least a large part of the schedule;

[0123] - establish the time-stamped scenario of each of the combinations determined to be capable of satisfying the timetable;

[0124] - select one of these determined combinations and the corresponding time-stamped scenario taking into account the at least one criterion together with installation considerations; and

[0125] - build the installation corresponding to the selected combination.

[0126] The "dynamic thermal simulation", or STD, mentioned above is a study prior to the construction of a building, providing a timeline of the building's thermal energy requirements based on multiple factors such as the location, exposure, sunshine, windy or otherwise of the site, construction materials used and thermal insulation measures that will be implemented, and the building's intended use (residential, office, hotel, etc.). Depending on the country, this study or another equivalent may be designated by different local terminology.

[0127] Installation considerations include the investment amount, operating cost, and at least one benefit that may accrue from meeting energy efficiency and / or carbon footprint moderation standards.

[0128] Of course, the invention is not limited to the examples described and shown.

[0129] The installation shown in Figure 1 is only one example among an infinite number of others possible, and is also only a very schematic view of a real installation which would include much more than one piece of equipment of each type, much more than a geothermal probe, for example up to more than 100 probes, and would often concern more than a single building etc. The invention is applicable to real estate complexes of very diverse natures. In certain cases, heat (for housing, offices, etc.) and cold (for example for a cold store) are needed simultaneously. In other cases, only heat is needed (cold countries), or almost only cold (hot countries). The invention is compatible with all these particular cases.

Claims

CLAIMS

1. Method for supplying thermal energy in at least one building, by means of an installation comprising: - energy collection equipment (CPh, CTh, Ath, 3, 6) which are in energy transfer relationship with sources (31, 33, 34, 36, 37) comprising at least one carbon energy source (36, 37), the at least one carbon energy source comprising an electricity distribution network (36); - energy transformation equipment (PAC, Comb) powered at least in part by the collection equipment; method in which, in order to satisfy the needs of the installation in terms of thermal energy, the installation is controlled in the direction of optimization with regard to at least one criterion; characterized in that a time-stamped estimate of the carbonation of the electrical production supplying the electrical distribution network (36) is provided, and in that the at least one criterion comprises a moderation of the carbon footprint of the thermal energy supplied by the installation.

2. Method according to claim 1, characterized in that data comprising meteorological data and data relating to the production of electricity supplying the electrical distribution network (36) are acquired and in that the carbonation estimation takes said data into account.

3. Method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that data are acquired comprising a history of the carbonation of the electricity having supplied the distribution network during one or more previous time intervals, preferably during at least one previous year, and in that the carbonation estimate takes said data into account.

4. Method according to claim 3, characterized in that an average is taken of the carbonations of the production of electricity having supplied the network in certain previous years at the corresponding date and time, and the estimate is obtained based on this average.

5. Method according to claim 4, characterized in that the at least one previous year is selected according to criteria of resemblance, in particular meteorological and / or carbonation of the production of electricity supplying the distribution network, with the current year.

6. Method according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the estimate is obtained by applying to a carbonation value based on at least one previous year a correction taking into account at least one current parameter.

7. Method according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that meteorological data are acquired and the carbonation estimation takes into account said meteorological data as a current parameter.

8. Method according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the carbonation estimate takes into account as a current parameter a state of availability of the means of electrical production supplying the distribution network (36).

9. Method according to one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the carbonation estimate takes into account as a topical parameter the day of the week and / or the workability of the day to which the estimate relates.

10. Method according to claim 1, characterized in that the time-stamped estimate is obtained based on the carbonation of the electricity supplied by the distribution network (36) during at least one year prior to a corresponding date chosen with a calendar offset to be the same day of the week as the date for which the estimate is established.

11. Method according to one of claims 1 to 10, the installation comprising combustion heating equipment (Comb), characterized in that the combustion heating equipment is activated during a time segment for which the carbonation estimate of the electricity supplied by the network (36) is high.

12. Method according to one of claims 1 to 11, characterized in that it is applied to an installation comprising at least one thermal storage-release equipment such as geothermal equipment (3) and / or at least one tank (9, 11) containing a thermal storage-release fluid.

13. Method according to one of claims 1 to 12, characterized in that thermal destocking is carried out when the electricity supplied by the network (36) is expected to be highly carbon-based, and thermal storage is carried out when the electricity supplied by the network (36) is expected to be low in carbon.

14. Method according to one of claims 1 to 13, characterized in that in the context of the optimization, energy supplied by the electrical distribution network (36) is consumed in a first time segment where its carbonation is relatively low, and storage energy is thus saved, then the storage energy is consumed later when said carbonation is higher than during the first time segment.

15. Method according to one of claims 1 to 14, characterized in that a heat pump is supplied with electrical energy having a relatively high carbonation and is operated between two thermal sources having a small temperature difference between them.

16. Method according to one of claims 1 to 15, characterized in that it is applied to an installation whose collection equipment comprises at least one renewable energy collection equipment such as at least one photovoltaic sensor (CPh), at least one solar thermal sensor (STh), at least one aerothermal sensor (Ath), at least one geothermal sensor (3).

17. Method according to one of claims 1 to 16, characterized in that at a current time of control of the installation, the carbonation estimate is a time-stamped forecast extending over a certain period from the current time, and in that the optimization comprises defining a scenario prescribing a sequence of combinations of activation states of the equipment over said period, the scenario being defined in the sense of an overall optimization over the period with regard to the at least one criterion including moderation of the carbon footprint of the thermal energy supplied by the installation.

18. Method according to claim 17, characterized in that the step of providing a time-stamped forecast of the carbonation of the electricity production supplied by the distribution network comprises, for each time-stamped time segment, taking into account the carbonation of a time segment preferably corresponding to at least one previous year, and where appropriate a correction based on differences between the current year and the at least one previous year.

19. Method according to claim 17 or 18, characterized in that: - the time-stamped scenario prescribes the energy flows of the different equipment during each of the successive time segments in a sense of overall optimization, with regard to at least one criterion including the criterion of moderation of the carbon footprint of the thermal energy supplied by the installation, over the period covered by the scenario; - the installation is carried out by implementing the equipment at each moment, taking the scenario into account.

20. Method according to claim 19, characterized in that at least one time after the start of the step of operating the installation, the scenario is updated so that the global optimization takes into account: - possible discrepancies between a history of the supply of thermal energy in the installation and the scenario before updating; and / or - possible discrepancies between recent forecasts and older forecasts on which the scenario is based before updating.

21. Method according to claim 19 or 20, characterized in that the scenario further prescribes methods of adjustment to the actual demand for thermal energy at the current time and / or to actual parameters of the energy sources at the current time, these methods themselves being optimized with regard to at least one criterion comprising the moderation of the carbon footprint of the thermal energy supplied by the installation.

22. Method according to one of claims 17 to 21, characterized in that before establishing the scenario, the following steps are carried out: - based on a dynamic thermal simulation of the building, a planned use of the building and an annual climatology of the building's location, establish an annual schedule of the various energy needs of the building; - provide a catalog of energy collection, transformation, use and / or storage equipment compatible with the timetable, and with data relating to the building specifications; - by computer iterations virtually test different combinations of equipment from the catalog and the dimensions of this equipment to determine those capable of satisfying at least a large part of the schedule; - establish the time-stamped scenario of each of the combinations determined to be capable of satisfying the timetable; - select one of these determined combinations and the corresponding time-stamped scenario taking into account the at least one criterion together with installation considerations; and - build the installation corresponding to the selected combination.

23. A method according to claim 22, characterized in that the installation considerations include the amount of investment, the operating cost and at least one benefit that may arise from meeting energy efficiency and / or carbon footprint moderation standards.

24. Method according to one of claims 1 to 23, characterized in that the at least one criterion comprises, in addition to said moderation of the carbon footprint, a criterion of moderation of the operating cost and / or a criterion of energy sobriety, in that each criterion is assigned an evaluation scale commensurable with the scales assigned to the other criteria, and the optimization is carried out according to the sum of the evaluations.

25. Installation for supplying energy, in particular thermal energy, in at least one building or the like, the installation comprising: - energy collection equipment (Cph, CTh, Ath, 3, 6) which are in energy transfer relation each with a respective source; - energy transformation equipment (PAC, Comb) powered at least in part by collection equipment; - energy-using equipment (10); - a regulation system capable of defining for at least some of the equipment different respective activation states chosen according to parameters, in particular climatic, in the sense of optimization with regard to criteria, characterized in that the regulation system implements a method according to one of claims 1 to 24.

26. Installation according to claim 25, characterized in that it comprises at least one thermal storage-release equipment such as geothermal equipment (3, 31) and / or at least one tank (9, 11) containing a thermal storage-release fluid.

27. ​​Installation according to claim 25 or 26, characterized in that the collection equipment comprises at least one renewable energy collection equipment such as at least one photovoltaic sensor (CPh), at least one solar thermal sensor (CTh), at least one aerothermal sensor (Ath), at least one geothermal sensor (3).

28. System for regulating an installation intended to supply energy, in particular thermal energy, in at least one building or the like, this installation comprising: - energy collection equipment (CPh, CTh, Ath, 3, 6) which are in energy transfer relation each with a respective source (31, 33, 34, 36); - energy transformation equipment (PAC, Comb) powered at least in part by collection equipment; - energy user equipment (10); the regulation system being capable of defining for at least some of the equipment different respective activation states chosen as a function of parameters, in particular climatic, in the sense of optimization with regard to criteria, characterized in that the system is designed to implement in the installation a method according to one of claims 1 to 24.