Techno-economic analysis of a PV/biomass/fuel cell energy system considering different fuel cell system initial capital costs

Solar Energy ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 133 ◽  
pp. 409-420 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ali Heydari ◽  
Alireza Askarzadeh
Keyword(s):  
Fuel Cell ◽  
Economic Analysis ◽  
Energy System ◽  
Cell System ◽  
Biomass Fuel ◽  
Fuel Cell System ◽  
Initial Capital ◽  
Capital Costs ◽  
Cell Energy

Techno-Economic Analysis of Hybrid PV/Wind/Fuel-Cell System for EVCS

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mohammad Mominur Rahman ◽  
Ghazi A. Ghazi ◽  
Essam A. Al-Ammar ◽  
Wonsuk Ko
Keyword(s):  
Fuel Cell ◽  
Economic Analysis ◽  
Cell System ◽  
Fuel Cell System

Definition and Cost Evaluation of Fuel Cell Bus and Passenger Vehicle Power Plants

2014 ◽  
Author(s):  
Brian D. James ◽  
Jennie M. Moton ◽  
Whitney G. Colella
Keyword(s):  
Fuel Cell ◽  
Cell System ◽  
Proton Exchange ◽  
Fuel Cell Vehicle ◽  
Pt Catalyst ◽  
Stoichiometric Ratio ◽  
Operating Pressure ◽  
Fuel Cell System ◽  
System Cost ◽  
Capital Costs

A design for manufacture and assembly (DFMA™) analysis is applied to future bus and automotive fuel cell vehicle (FCV) system designs. This DFMA™ analysis is used to identify (1) optimal fuel cell system (FCS) operating parameters for system cost minimization, (2) FCV designs appropriate for volume manufacture, (3) FCV manufacturing supply chain designs, (4) projected future capital costs of FCVs at varying manufacturing rates, and (5) primary cost drivers. This DFMA™ analysis focuses on the FCS drive train. It excludes fuel storage, the electric drive drain, and all other parts of the vehicle (chassis, exterior, etc.). These FCSs are envisioned to use low temperature proton exchange membrane (LT PEM) stacks to convert hydrogen fuel into electric power. Models are developed to minimize LT PEM fuel cell system costs by finding the cost optimal combination of (1) stack operating pressure, (2) cell voltage, (3) platinum (Pt) catalyst loading, (4) stoichiometric ratio of oxygen, and (5) coolant stack exit temperature. A multi-variable Monte Carlo sensitivity analysis indicates, with 90% confidence, that a FCS producing peak net 160 kilowatt-electric (kWe) for a bus application and produced at a rate of 1,000 FCS/year (yr) is expected to cost between $251/kWe and $334/kWe. Similarly, a peak net 80 kWe automotive FCS manufactured at a rate of 500,000 FCSs/year is estimated to cost between $51/kWe and $65/kWe, with 90% confidence. Total FCS costs are the sum of PEM stack and balance of plant (BOP) costs. The BOP components represent 32% of the bus FCS costs and 48% of the automotive system cost.

An Economic Analysis of Stationary Fuel Cell Power Plants

2005 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ahmad Pourmovahed ◽  
Hamid Nejad
Keyword(s):  
Fuel Cells ◽  
Fuel Cell ◽  
Los Angeles ◽  
Economic Analysis ◽  
Power Plants ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Payback Period ◽  
Cell System ◽  
Fuel Cell System ◽  
Power Load

Fuel cells are often credited for being quieter, cleaner, more reliable and more efficient than traditional power plants. They may be used as the primary source of power or as a back-up system with significant benefits. They have potential for producing financial savings when used to produce electricity. The objective of this study was to determine the feasibility of using a 250-kW stationary fuel cell system as the primary provider of electrical power at an industrial facility. Additionally, the cost and payback period for such a system including hook up and maintenance were estimated. The biggest drawback to stationary fuel cells is the high initial cost. However, coupled with incentives such as rebates and cogeneration opportunities, select locations in the country may be suitable candidates for implementation. In addition, the type of application and power load cycle are key factors in selecting an appropriate fuel cell type. Most fuel cells favor operating continuously as they are not designed to withstand intermittently changing loads and their efficiencies and life time drop if they are cycled on and off. The only currently viable option is to select a facility located in a “fuel cell friendly” state with a minimum (base) electric demand of 250 kW, 24 hours a day, 5 days a week. The fuel cell would operate based on a “base load strategy”, providing electrical/thermal energy at a constant rate. A detailed economic analysis was carried out. It indicates that the payback period for a currently available large stationary fuel cell system installed in California is over 20 years in Los Angeles and about 15 years outside Los Angeles. This is primarily due to lower electric rates in Los Angeles. Despite multi-year programs providing various funding to assist this new technology, without significant cost reduction by fuel cell developers, no large-scale economic deployment of stationary fuel cells will be viable.

scholarly journals Economic Analysis of Hydrogen Household Energy Systems Including Incentives on Energy Communities and Externalities: A Case Study in Italy

Energies ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (18) ◽  
pp. 5847
Author(s):  
Niccolò Caramanico ◽  
Giuseppe Di Di Florio ◽  
Maria Camilla Baratto ◽  
Viviana Cigolotti ◽  
Riccardo Basosi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Life Cycle ◽  
Fuel Cell ◽  
Natural Gas ◽  
Economic Analysis ◽  
Solid Oxide Fuel Cell ◽  
Cell System ◽  
Solid Oxide ◽  
Oxide Fuel ◽  
Fuel Cell System ◽  
Net Metering

The building sector is one of the key energy consumers worldwide. Fuel cell micro-Cogeneration Heat and Power systems for residential and small commercial applications are proposed as one of the most promising innovations contributing to the transition towards a sustainable energy infrastructure. For the application and the diffusion of these systems, in addition to their environmental performance, it is necessary, however, to evaluate their economic feasibility. In this paper a life cycle assessment of a fuel cell/photovoltaic hybrid micro-cogeneration heat and power system for a residential building is integrated with a detailed economic analysis. Financial indicators (net present cost and payback time are used for studying two different investments: reversible-Solid Oxide Fuel Cell and natural gas SOFC in comparison to a base scenario, using a homeowner perspective approach. Moreover, two alternative incentives scenarios are analysed and applied: net metering and self-consumers’ groups (or energy communities). Results show that both systems obtain annual savings, but their high capital costs still would make the investments not profitable. However, the natural gas Solide Oxide Fuel Cell with the net metering incentive is the best scenario among all. On the contrary, the reversible-Solid Oxide Fuel Cell maximizes its economic performance only when the self-consumers’ groups incentive is applied. For a complete life cycle cost analysis, environmental impacts are monetized using three different monetization methods with the aim to internalize (considering them into direct cost) the externalities (environmental costs). If externalities are considered as an effective cost, the natural gas Solide Oxide Fuel Cell system increases its saving because its environmental impact is lower than in the base case one, while the reversible-Solid Oxide Fuel Cell system reduces it.

Optimal Synthesis/Design of a Pem Fuel Cell Cogeneration System for Multi-Unit Residential Applications–Application of a Decomposition Strategy

2004 ◽  
Vol 126 (1) ◽  
pp. 30-39 ◽  
Author(s):  
Borja Oyarza´bal ◽  
Michael R. von Spakovsky ◽  
Michael W. Ellis
Keyword(s):  
Fuel Cell ◽  
Design Optimization ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Unit Cost ◽  
Pem Fuel Cell ◽  
Energy System ◽  
Cell System ◽  
Proton Exchange ◽  
Fuel Cell System ◽  
Synthesis Design

The application of a decomposition methodology to the synthesis/design optimization of a stationary cogeneration proton exchange membrane (PEM) fuel cell system for residential applications is the focus of this paper. Detailed thermodynamic, economic, and geometric models were developed to describe the operation and cost of the fuel processing sub-system and the fuel cell stack sub-system. Details of these models are given in an accompanying paper by the authors. In the present paper, the case is made for the usefulness and need of decomposition in large-scale optimization. The types of decomposition strategies considered are conceptual, time, and physical decomposition. Specific solution approaches to the latter, namely Local-Global Optimization (LGO) are outlined in the paper. Conceptual/time decomposition and physical decomposition using the LGO approach are applied to the fuel cell system. These techniques prove to be useful tools for simplifying the overall synthesis/design optimization problem of the fuel cell system. The results of the decomposed synthesis/design optimization indicate that this system is more economical for a relatively large cluster of residences (i.e. 50). Results also show that a unit cost of power production of less than 10 cents/kWh on an exergy basis requires the manufacture of more than 1500 fuel cell sub-system units per year. Finally, based on the off-design optimization results, the fuel cell system is unable by itself to satisfy the winter heat demands. Thus, the case is made for integrating the fuel cell system with another system, namely, a heat pump, to form what is called a total energy system.

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