The aims of the project are to gain a thorough understanding of a solar air conditioning system in combination with a cogeneration unit and to optimise the energy system of the EURAC.

The energy system of the EURAC comprises solar thermal collectors (472m² vacuum tubes), a cogeneration unit and an absorbtion chiller, as well as two methane condensing boilers and two compression chillers as back-up.
The heat driven lithium-bromide absorption chiller (480kW) constitutes the heart of the solar air conditioning system. Utilising the heat from either the solar collectors, the cogeneration unit, or the condensing boilers, the absorption chiller provides the basic cooling power during summer and is assisted by two compression chillers.

A monitoring system is implemented recording measurements of heat flows and energy production/consumption of the respective machines in minute intervals. This involves a measurement network in accordance to the basic principles of building automation.

The monitoring will begin summer 2005 and will yield the energy balance for different weather conditions and control settings. Thus it will be possible to evaluate the effective solar contribution both to heating in winter and cooling in summer. The interaction of the various components of the energy system will be optimised.
The results of this study will be presented at the International Conference on Solar Air Conditioning in Bad Staffelstein (Germany) in october 2005.

The experience gathered will contribute to future monitoring projects also in other fields of technology.