Feasibility Assessment of a Grid-Connected Carbon-Neutral Community in Midland, Texas

2020 ◽  
Vol 1 (4) ◽  
Author(s):  
Archan Shah ◽  
Nicholas Engler ◽  
Moncef Krarti
Keyword(s):  
Energy Efficiency ◽  
Carbon Emissions ◽  
Electricity Price ◽  
Pv System ◽  
Energy Efficiency Measures ◽  
Efficiency Measures ◽  
Cost Of Energy ◽  
Energy Needs ◽  
Carbon Neutral ◽  
The Cost

Abstract Midland, Texas is one of the fastest-growing urban population centers in the country and has one of the lowest costs of electricity. This study aims to assess the potential of a grid-connected carbon-neutral community in an oil-rich city using energy efficiency measures and hybrid distributed generation (DG) systems. The community consists mostly of residential buildings including detached homes and apartment buildings. Moreover, a cost-optimization analysis of various DG technologies is carried out to meet both electrical and thermal loads of the community in Midland. The energy efficiency measures are selected for two main objectives: (i) reduce the total energy needs and (ii) electrify most of the buildings within the community. Improvement of heating, ventilating, and air conditioning systems and their controls are the main energy efficiency measures considered for all the buildings part of the community. DG systems are constrained by the renewable energy resources identified to be prevalent within the site of the community. It is found that photovoltaic (PV) systems are the most cost-effective, while wind and combined heat and power (CHP) would not be competitive compared to the current grid energy prices. Specifically, the optimization results indicate that PV, when implemented on a large scale, can provide adequate power to meet the energy needs of the community while also meeting carbon neutrality. A PV system size of 3400 kW is found to be required for the grid-connected community to be carbon neutral. While under this scenario a 100% reduction in carbon emissions is technically feasible, the cost of energy is estimated to be $0.194/kWh, almost double the current grid electricity price. However, if the capital cost of PV is decreased by 70% from its current level, the cost of energy due to the DG addition can be reduced significantly. In particular, a 1050-kW PV system was found to reduce the cost of energy below the grid electricity price of $0.10/kWh and achieves 31% reduction in carbon emissions for the community. Moreover, the 70% reduction in PV capital costs allows the carbon-neutral design for the community to be a cost-competitive solution with the grid.

Design of Carbon-Neutral Residential Communities in Kuwait

2017 ◽  
Vol 139 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Baqer Ameer ◽  
Moncef Krarti
Keyword(s):  
Energy Efficiency ◽  
Renewable Energy ◽  
Wind Turbines ◽  
Renewable Energy Technologies ◽  
Energy Efficiency Measures ◽  
Energy Technologies ◽  
Residential Communities ◽  
Efficiency Measures ◽  
Energy Needs ◽  
Carbon Neutral

In this paper, a general methodology for designing carbon-neutral residential communities is presented. Both energy efficiency measures and renewable energy technologies are considered in the design approach. First, energy end-uses for the buildings within the community are optimized based on a set of cost-effective energy efficiency measures that are selected based on a life-cycle cost analysis. Then, renewable energy technologies are considered to meet the energy needs for the residential community and ensure carbon-neutrality on an annual basis. The methodology is applied to design optimal and carbon-neutral hybrid electrical generation systems for three Kuwaiti residential communities with different sizes and energy efficiency designs. For Kuwait, it is found that wind turbines can cost-effectively generate significant electricity to meet most of the energy needs for the residential communities and thus reducing the country's reliance on fuel-based power plants. Specifically, it is found that wind turbines can generate electricity at a cost of $0.068/kWh well below the current grid power production costs of $0.103/kWh. Moreover, the analysis indicates that concentrated solar power (CSP) can be utilized to achieve carbon-neutral residential communities but at a levelized energy cost of $0.13/kWh slightly lower than the current grid power generation and distribution costs of $0.133/kWh.

scholarly journals Cost Optimization of a Zero-Emission Office Building

Buildings ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (12) ◽  
pp. 222
Author(s):  
Nicola Lolli ◽  
Anne Gunnarshaug Lien ◽  
Øystein Rønneseth
Keyword(s):  
Energy Efficiency ◽  
Time Horizon ◽  
Net Present Value ◽  
Electricity Price ◽  
Office Building ◽  
Photovoltaic Panels ◽  
Energy Efficiency Measures ◽  
Efficiency Measures ◽  
Zero Emission ◽  
Business As Usual

The cost-effectiveness of energy efficiency measures meant to achieve a zero-emission office building is investigated and compared to business as usual energy efficiency measures. The laboratory for zero emission buildings, the ZEB Lab, located in Trondheim, Norway, is an office building designed and built to compensate its lifecycle emissions with the use of a large array of building-integrated photovoltaic panels, pursuing a zero-emissions ambition level. Three design alternatives are investigated by downgrading the building insulation level to the values recommended by the currently enforced Norwegian building code, the byggteknisk forskrift TEK17. A sensitivity analysis of the variation of the installed area of the photovoltaic panels is performed to evaluate if smaller areas give better cost performances. Net present values are calculated by using three scenarios of future increase of electricity price for a time horizon of 20 years. Results show that business as usual solutions give higher net present values. Optimized areas of the photovoltaic panels further increase the net present values of the business as usual solutions in the highest electricity price scenario. The zero-emission ambition level shows a higher net present value than that of the business as usual solutions for a time horizon of at least 36 years.

Feasibility Analysis of Distributed Generation System for Large University Campus

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Amy Allen ◽  
Moncef Krarti
Keyword(s):  
Energy Efficiency ◽  
Life Cycle ◽  
Distributed Generation ◽  
Carbon Emissions ◽  
Life Cycle Cost ◽  
College Campuses ◽  
University Campus ◽  
Generation System ◽  
Energy Efficiency Measures ◽  
Efficiency Measures

Distributed electric generation systems are increasingly considered to offset energy costs and carbon emissions of large building complexes. College campuses, with their physical compactness, and diversity in building loads, present a common application for distributed generation systems. This paper presents the analysis approach and the main results of a feasibility study of a distributed generation system to supply electric and thermal energy for a large university campus, incorporating energy efficiency measures, to reduce carbon emissions at minimal life cycle cost. The presented study uses a load profile developed based on calibrated detailed simulation energy models for prototypical campus buildings. The calibration analysis is carried out using measured energy consumption data, at the individual building level, and the whole-campus level. Several combinations of distributed generation options are evaluated, using an hourly optimization analysis tool, to meet the entire campus hourly electrical and thermal loads. Proposed efficiency measures and distributed generation options are evaluated using different indicators, including life cycle cost and carbon emissions. The analysis results indicate that implementing energy efficiency measures to reduce electrical and thermal loads before implementing distributed generation options is the most cost-effective approach to reducing the campus’s energy-related carbon emissions. The results of the study are summarized to guide college campuses and managers of other urban districts as they adapt to a changing energy landscape.

scholarly journals Energy Efficiency Measures Applied to Heritage Retrofit Buildings: A Simulated Student Housing Case Study in Vienna

Heritage ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 4 (4) ◽  
pp. 3919-3937
Author(s):  
Essam Elnagar ◽  
Simran Munde ◽  
Vincent Lemort
Keyword(s):  
Energy Efficiency ◽  
Energy Efficient ◽  
Energy Demand ◽  
Energy Performance ◽  
Building Envelope ◽  
Positive Energy ◽  
Energy Status ◽  
Pv System ◽  
Energy Efficiency Measures ◽  
Efficiency Measures

One pavilion was selected for deep retrofitting from the Otto Wagner area situated in the west of Vienna. The retrofitting process involves sustainable and energy-efficient construction to improve the energy performance and energy production potential of the building while preserving the cultural heritage and significance. This four-story pavilion was re-designed according to the proposed regulations of a net positive energy university building to become a student residence. Architectural, building envelope, and engineering interventions along with various changes were simulated through the Sefaira tool in the SketchUp model. These included: optimization of the U-values of the roof, walls, and floor; the addition of different layers of sustainable energy-efficient insulation materials to decrease the overall energy demand. The specific energy demands for heating, cooling, and lighting were decreased in the proposed model to reduce the total energy use intensity from 248.9 kWh/(m2 year) to 54.3 kWh/(m2 year) resulting in a 78.2% reduction. The main goal of this study is to try and achieve a net positive energy status building as part of the Otto Wagner area by improving the building envelope and integrating renewable energies. A total of 22.5% of the annual energy consumption was generated by the designed PV system. The selected building achieved the passive house standards in Austria by optimizing the energy performance with the proposed energy efficiency measures.

An analysis of the cost-effectiveness of energy efficiency measures and factors affecting their implementation: a case study of Thai sugar industry

2014 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
pp. 141-153 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sumate Sathitbun-anan ◽  
Bundit Fungtammasan ◽  
Mirko Barz ◽  
Boonrod Sajjakulnukit ◽  
Suthum Pathumsawad
Keyword(s):  
Energy Efficiency ◽  
Cost Effectiveness ◽  
Sugar Industry ◽  
Factors Affecting ◽  
Energy Efficiency Measures ◽  
Efficiency Measures ◽  
The Cost

scholarly journals Optimal Configuration with Capacity Analysis of PV-Plus-BESS for Behind-the-Meter Application

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (17) ◽  
pp. 7851
Author(s):  
Cheng-Yu Peng ◽  
Cheng-Chien Kuo ◽  
Chih-Ta Tsai
Keyword(s):  
Capacity Allocation ◽  
Electricity Price ◽  
System Capacity ◽  
Pv System ◽  
Pv Systems ◽  
Benefit Evaluation ◽  
Cost Of Energy ◽  
Battery Energy Storage Systems ◽  
Battery Energy ◽  
The Cost

As the cost of photovoltaic (PV) systems and battery energy storage systems (BESS) decreases, PV-plus-BESS applied to behind-the-meter (BTM) market has grown rapidly in recent years. With user time of use rates (TOU) for charging and discharging schedule, it can effectively reduce the electricity expense of users. This research uses the contract capacity of an actual industrial user of 7.5 MW as a research case, and simulates a PV/BESS techno-economic scheme through the HOMER Grid software. Under the condition that the electricity demand is met and the PV power generation is fully used, the aim is to find the most economical PV/BESS capacity allocation and optimal contract capacity scheme. According to the load demand and the electricity price, the analysis shows that the PV system capacity is 8.25 MWp, the BESS capacity is 1.25 MW/3.195 MWh, and the contract capacity can be reduced to 6 MW. The benefits for the economical solution are compared as follows: 20-year project benefit, levelized cost of energy (LCOE), the net present cost (NPC), the internal rate of return (IRR), the return on investment (ROI), discounted payback, total electricity savings, renewable fraction (RF), and the excess electricity fraction. Finally, the sensitivity analysis of the global horizontal irradiation, electricity price, key component cost, and real interest rate will be carried out with the most economical solution by analyzing the impacts and evaluating the economic evaluation indicators. The analysis method of this research can be applied to other utility users to program the economic benefit evaluation of PV/BESS, especially an example for Taiwan’s electricity prices at low levels in the world.

scholarly journals Cost optimal investment in energy efficiency measures and energy supply system in a neighbourhood in Norway

2021 ◽  
Vol 246 ◽  
pp. 05005
Author(s):  
Harald Taxt Walnum ◽  
Marius Bagle ◽  
Åse Lekang Sørensen ◽  
Selamawit Mamo Fufa
Keyword(s):  
Energy Efficiency ◽  
Cost Effectiveness ◽  
Energy Supply ◽  
Ghg Emissions ◽  
Optimal Investment ◽  
Supply System ◽  
Energy Supply System ◽  
Energy Efficiency Measures ◽  
Efficiency Measures ◽  
The Cost

Building renovation is a key measure to reduce energy consumption and Greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, and ease the transition to a fully renewable energy system. This paper applies the IEA EBC Annex 75 methodology for investigating the cost optimal and environmental trade-off between investment in energy efficiency measures on the building envelope and energy supply, on a residential neighbourhood in Norway. Combination of different energy efficiency measures and energy supply systems are investigated with an optimal investment model. The cost and environmental impact of the combinations are evaluated. An important outcome is that within the evaluated combinations, the choice of energy supply system has little impact on the cost effectiveness of the energy efficiency measures. However, it has a significant impact on the GHG emissions. The results also highlight the importance of performing energy efficiency measures in coordination with other renovating measures, both regarding cost effectiveness and environmental impact. The results will not give a finite answer to what is the best solution but serves at a useful set of inputs for overall evaluations.

A Study on Building Energy Efficiency and Low-Carbon Building

2012 ◽  
Vol 512-515 ◽  
pp. 2848-2853
Author(s):  
Wang Li
Keyword(s):  
Energy Efficiency ◽  
Carbon Emissions ◽  
Building Energy ◽  
Building Construction ◽  
Building Energy Efficiency ◽  
Low Carbon ◽  
Carbon Reduction ◽  
Energy Efficiency Measures ◽  
Efficiency Measures ◽  
Resource Shortage

Resource shortage and people’s concern about carbon emissions will greatly influence building energy efficiency. Building energy efficiency is the basis for achieving carbon reduction and it should develop into low-carbon building. After introducing the concept of low-carbon buildings, this paper analyzes the important role technology plays in low-carbon building development and proposes several energy-efficiency measures concerning new building construction, old building transformation and low carbon lifestyle. The paper aims to be of help in promoting the development of low-carbon buildings.

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