An Alternative Approach to PV System Life Cycle Cost Analysis

Solar Energy ◽  
2004 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chris Larsen ◽  
Jennifer Szaro ◽  
William Wilson
Keyword(s):  
Life Cycle ◽  
Life Cycle Cost ◽  
Energy Savings ◽  
Population Sample ◽  
Department Of Energy ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Life Cycle Costs ◽  
Pv System ◽  
Pv Systems ◽  
The Impact

This analysis uses actual installed system costs from available data to better assess and understand the real installed and life cycle costs for small-scale photovoltaic (PV) installations. Most PV systems are sold on the basis of first cost, but in addition to these first costs, system owners must consider operation and maintenance (O&M) costs and down time, as well as energy savings [1]. The challenge in developing realistic life cycle costs is that most databases have only new data available, and only one database — that maintained by the Florida Solar Energy Center (FSEC) — contains performance information along with cost and maintenance data. The goals of this effort are to: 1. Characterize the actual life cycle costs (LCC) of PV systems installed in Florida and tracked since 1998. 2. Develop a benchmark of PV LCC that will aid in prioritizing cost improvement steps and feed into the U.S. Department of Energy and its subcontractors’ efforts to develop a baseline for grid-connected small residential and larger commercial PV system costs. 3. Develop an easy to use and modify LCC model that allows sensitivity analysis and input of new data as it becomes available. The PV system LCC model developed and used here is based on statistical methods, which provide us with a range of expected outcomes. The Monte Carlo technique allows the use of repeated simulation iterations to mimic a population sample. For inputs, the model relies largely on data from FSEC’s performance and maintenance databases, and where appropriate simplifying assumptions are explained. Beyond establishing an LCC baseline, this project considers the sensitivity of the total LCC to various inputs and thereby provides guidance on the question of where to put valuable resources to substantially reduce PV system costs. Further discussion is offered concerning the additional value of this model in determining the impact of various methods of PV system performance tracking.

A Review of PV System Performance and Life-Cycle Costs for the SunSmart Schools Program

Solar Energy ◽  
2006 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kevin Lynn ◽  
Jennifer Szaro ◽  
William Wilson ◽  
Michael Healey
Keyword(s):  
Life Cycle ◽  
Life Cycle Cost ◽  
Performance Ratio ◽  
Life Cycle Costs ◽  
Pv System ◽  
Solar Systems ◽  
Pv Systems ◽  
Florida Department ◽  
Energy Center ◽  
One Year

In January of 2003, the Florida Department of Environmental Protection/Florida Energy Office (DEP/FEO) allocated $600,000 in hardware funds toward the installation of photovoltaic (PV) solar systems on Florida schools. As a result of this program, grid-connected PV systems less than six kilowatts in size were installed on 29 schools in the State of Florida. The Florida Solar Energy Center (FSEC) has monitored these systems for approximately one year of operation. The performance of 28 of these systems was analyzed using standard performance parameters such as the performance ratio, PV array efficiency, inverter efficiency, and PV system efficiency. In addition, a life-cycle cost analysis was conducted using new cost data values and updated market assumptions. These data will serve as a benchmark to compare against future systems with respect to performance vs. installed system cost.

scholarly journals The Technical Challenges Facing the Integration of Small-Scale and Large-scale PV Systems into the Grid: A Critical Review

Electronics ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 8 (12) ◽  
pp. 1443 ◽  
Author(s):  
Abdullah Alshahrani ◽  
Siddig Omer ◽  
Yuehong Su ◽  
Elamin Mohamed ◽  
Saleh Alotaibi
Keyword(s):  
Large Scale ◽  
Distribution Network ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Energy Access ◽  
Solar Pv ◽  
Pv System ◽  
Pv Systems ◽  
Technical Challenges ◽  
Technical Solutions ◽  
The Impact

Decarbonisation, energy security and expanding energy access are the main driving forces behind the worldwide increasing attention in renewable energy. This paper focuses on the solar photovoltaic (PV) technology because, currently, it has the most attention in the energy sector due to the sharp drop in the solar PV system cost, which was one of the main barriers of PV large-scale deployment. Firstly, this paper extensively reviews the technical challenges, potential technical solutions and the research carried out in integrating high shares of small-scale PV systems into the distribution network of the grid in order to give a clearer picture of the impact since most of the PV systems installations were at small scales and connected into the distribution network. The paper reviews the localised technical challenges, grid stability challenges and technical solutions on integrating large-scale PV systems into the transmission network of the grid. In addition, the current practices for managing the variability of large-scale PV systems by the grid operators are discussed. Finally, this paper concludes by summarising the critical technical aspects facing the integration of the PV system depending on their size into the grid, in which it provides a strong point of reference and a useful framework for the researchers planning to exploit this field further on.

scholarly journals Truck Platooning on Flexible Pavements in Illinois

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Imad Al-Qadi ◽  
◽  
Egemen Okte ◽  
Aravind Ramakrishnan ◽  
Qingwen Zhou ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Life Cycle ◽  
Service Life ◽  
Fuel Consumption ◽  
Environmental Impacts ◽  
Life Cycle Cost ◽  
Life Cycle Costs ◽  
Second Phase ◽  
Pavement Damage ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Pavement Service Life

Truck platoons have many benefits over traditional truck mobility. Truck platoons have the potential to improve safety and reduce fuel consumption between 5% and 15%, based on platoon configuration. In Illinois, trucks carry more than 50% of freight tonnage and constitute 25% of the traffic on interstates. Therefore, expected fuel savings would be significant for trucks. Deployment of truck platoons within interstate highways may have a direct effect on flexible pavement performance, as the time between consecutive axle loads (i.e., resting time) is expected to decrease significantly. Moreover, platoons could potentially accelerate pavement damage accumulation due to trucks’ channelized position, decreasing pavement service life and increasing maintenance and rehabilitation costs. The main objective of this project was to quantify the effects of truck platoons on pavements and to provide guidelines to control corresponding potential pavement damage. Finite-element models were utilized to quantify the impact of rest period on pavement damage. Recovered and accumulated strains were predicted by fitting exponential functions to the calculated strain profiles. The results suggested that strain accumulation was negligible at a truck spacing greater that 10 ft. A new methodology to control pavement damage due to truck platoons was introduced. The method optimizes trucks’ lateral positions on the pavements, and an increase in pavement service life could be achieved if all platoons follow this optimization method. Life cycle assessment and life cycle cost analysis were conducted for fully autonomous, human-driven, and mixed-traffic regimes. For example, for an analysis period of 45 years, channelized truck platoons could save life cycle costs and environmental impacts by 28% and 21% compared with human-driven trucks, respectively. Furthermore, optimum truck platoon configuration could reduce life cycle costs and environmental impacts by 48% and 36%, respectively, compared with human-driven trucks. In contrast, channelized traffic could increase pavement roughness, increasing fuel consumption by 15%, even though platooning vehicles still benefit from reduction in air drag forces. Given that truck platoons are expected to be connected only in the first phase, no actions are required by the agency. However, in the second phase when truck platoons are also expected to be autonomous, a protocol for driving trends should be established per the recommendation of this study.

An Alternative Approach to PV System Life Cycle Cost Analysis (PV LCC): Phase II

Solar Energy ◽  
2005 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chris Larsen ◽  
Jennifer Szaro ◽  
William Wilson ◽  
Kevin Lynn
Keyword(s):  
Life Cycle ◽  
Life Cycle Cost ◽  
Life Time ◽  
Total System ◽  
Cost Information ◽  
Pv System ◽  
Reliability Data ◽  
Cost Performance ◽  
System Life ◽  
The Impact

This analysis expands the photovoltaic (PV) life cycle cost (LCC) results presented at ASES 2004. That paper presented the model and concept used to develop PV LCC, and it showed the results of the analysis of over one hundred systems monitored by the Florida Solar Energy Center (FSEC). FSEC began tracking cost, performance and reliability data for systems installed in Florida in 1998, with data now available through a web-accessible database. For the majority of the 124 systems, installed cost information was collected as part of the state’s PV rebate and PV for schools programs. Results presented previously [1] indicated that over an assumed 20–30 system life time a PV system will have a positive life cycle cost. That is, a negative total return on investment. These results were based on actual cost, performance, maintenance, and reliability data. In the baseline case, average total system costs over the lifetime were 32.4¢/kWh while electricity savings totaled 3.7¢/kWh netting a life cycle cost of 28.7¢/kWh. While based on actual data from over 100 installed systems — some installed for over 6 years — a number of conservative assumptions also drove the analysis, such as the exclusion of the state’s rebate programs (varying from $2 to $5 per DC Watt) which impacted nearly all of the systems in the analysis. Since the first presentation of these results the PV LCC model has been further developed to incorporate additional performance information and expands the sample of systems incorporated. This paper will thus provide further insight into the relative importance of various up-front and on-going costs to the overall lifetime economics of a system. The paper will also address additional sensitivity analysis performed. Particular attention is paid to inverter mean time between failure (MTBF), the impact of incentives, and basic financial assumptions used in the model such as the discount rate and electricity rates. Various scenarios are considered in asking the question of what is necessary for the system LCC to break-even.

Life-Cycle Costs of Selected Uniformed Health Professions (Phase II: The Impact of Constraints and Policies on the Optimal-Mix-of-Accession Model)

2003 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shayne Brannman ◽  
Eric W. Christensen ◽  
Ronald H. Nickel ◽  
Cori Rattelman ◽  
Richard D. Miller
Keyword(s):  
Life Cycle ◽  
Phase Ii ◽  
Health Professions ◽  
Life Cycle Costs ◽  
Optimal Mix ◽  
The Impact

scholarly journals Expandable Houses: An Explorative Life Cycle Cost Analysis

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (12) ◽  
pp. 6974
Author(s):  
Charlotte Cambier ◽  
Waldo Galle ◽  
Niels De De Temmerman
Keyword(s):  
Life Cycle ◽  
Circular Economy ◽  
Life Cycle Cost ◽  
Lower Cost ◽  
Social Economic ◽  
Life Cycle Costs ◽  
Life Cycle Cost Analysis ◽  
Specific Design ◽  
Dynamic Perspective ◽  
Housing Needs

In addition to the environmental burden of its construction and demolition activities, the Flemish housing market faces a structural affordability challenge. As one possible answer, this research explores the potential of so-called expandable houses, being built increasingly often. Through specific design choices that enable the disassembly and future reuse of individual components and so align with the idea of a circular economy, expandable houses promise to provide ever-changing homes with a smaller impact on the environment and at a lower cost for clients. In this paper, an expandable house suitable for various housing needs is conceived through a scenario-based research-by-design approach and compared to a reference house for Flanders. Subsequently, for both houses the life cycle costs are calculated and compared. The results of this exploration support the proposition that designing expandable houses can be a catalyst for sustainable, circular housing development and that households could benefit from its social, economic and ecological qualities. It requires, however, a dynamic perspective on evaluating their life-cycle impact.

scholarly journals Life Cycle Assessment of Railway Ground-Borne Noise and Vibration Mitigation Methods Using Geosynthetics, Metamaterials and Ground Improvement

2018 ◽  
Vol 10 (10) ◽  
pp. 3753 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sakdirat Kaewunruen ◽  
Victor Martin
Keyword(s):  
Life Cycle ◽  
Life Cycle Cost ◽  
Ground Improvement ◽  
Cycle Performance ◽  
Vibration Mitigation ◽  
Noise And Vibration ◽  
Climate Conditions ◽  
Extreme Climate ◽  
Mitigation Methods ◽  
The Impact

Significant increase in the demand for freight and passenger transports by trains pushes the railway authorities and train companies to increase the speed, the axle load and the number of train carriages/wagons. All of these actions increase ground-borne noise and vibrations that negatively affect people who work, stay, or reside nearby the railway lines. In order to mitigate these phenomena, many techniques have been developed and studied but there is a serious lack of life-cycle information regarding such the methods in order to make a well-informed and sustainable decision. The aim of this study is to evaluate the life-cycle performance of mitigation methods that can enhance sustainability and efficacy in the railway industry. The emphasis of this study is placed on new methods for ground-borne noise and vibration mitigation including metamaterials, geosynthetics, and ground improvement. To benchmark all of these methods, identical baseline assumptions and the life-cycle analysis over 50 years have been adopted where relevant. This study also evaluates and highlights the impact of extreme climate conditions on the life-cycle cost of each method. It is found that the anti-resonator method is the most expensive methods compared with the others whilst the use of geogrids (for subgrade stiffening) is relatively reliable when used in combination with ground improvements. The adverse climate has also played a significant role in all of the methods. However, it was found that sustainable methods, which are less sensitive to extreme climate, are associated with the applications of geosynthetic materials such as geogrids, composites, etc.

Investigation of the Down-Scaling Effects on the Low Swirl Burner and its Application to Microturbines

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alex Frank ◽  
Peter Therkelsen ◽  
Miguel Sierra Aznar ◽  
Vi H. Rapp ◽  
Robert K. Cheng ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Power Systems ◽  
Power Plants ◽  
Energy Savings ◽  
The United States ◽  
Primary Energy ◽  
Department Of Energy ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
United States Department ◽  
Scaling Effects ◽  
Swirl Burner

About 75% of the electric power generated by centralized power plants feeds the energy needs from the residential and commercial sectors. These power plants waste about 67% of primary energy as heat emitting 2 billion tons of CO2 per year in the process (∼ 38% of total US CO2 generated per year) [1]. A study conducted by the United States Department of Energy indicated that developing small-scale combined heat and power systems to serve the commercial and residential sectors could have a significant impact on both energy savings and CO2 emissions. However, systems of this scale historically suffer from low efficiencies for a variety of reasons. From a combustion perspective, at these small scales, few systems can achieve the balance between low emissions and high efficiencies due in part to the increasing sensitivity of the system to hydrodynamic and heat transfer effects. Addressing the hydrodynamic impact, the effects of downscaling on the flowfield evolution were studied on the low swirl burner (LSB) to understand if it could be adapted to systems at smaller scales. Utilizing particle image velocimetry (PIV), three different swirlers were studied ranging from 12 mm to 25.4 mm representing an output range of less than 1 kW to over 23 kW. Results have shown that the small-scale burners tested exhibited similar flowfield characteristics to their larger-scale counterparts in the non-reacting cases studied. Utilizing this data, as a proof of concept, a 14 mm diameter LSB with an output of 3.33 kW was developed for use in microturbine operating on a recuperated Brayton cycle. Emissions results from this burner proved the feasibility of the system at sufficiently lean mixtures. Furthermore, integration of the newly developed LSB into a can style combustor for a microturbine application was successfully completed and comfortably meet the stringent emissions targets. While the analysis of the non-reacting cases was successful, the reacting cases were less conclusive and further investigation is required to gain an understanding of the flowfield evolution which is the subject of future work.

scholarly journals Least Cost Analysis of Energy Efficiency Upgrades for Ontario Using Trnsys

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Amir Fereidouni Kondri
Keyword(s):  
Life Cycle ◽  
Energy Consumption ◽  
Cost Analysis ◽  
Energy Efficient ◽  
Life Cycle Cost ◽  
Net Present Value ◽  
Hot Water ◽  
Life Cycle Costs ◽  
Residential Housing ◽  
Domestic Hot Water

This report presents the methodology for determining least cost energy efficient upgrade solutions in new residential housing using brute force sequential search (BFSS) method for integration into the reference house to reduce energy consumption while minimizing the net present value (NPV) of life cycle costs. The results showed that, based on the life cycle cost analysis of 30 years, the optimal upgrades resulted in the average of 19.25% (case 1), 31% (case 2a), and 21% (case 2b) reduction in annual energy consumption. Economic conditions affect the sequencing of the upgrades. In this respect the preferred upgrades to be performed in order are; domestic hot water heating, above grade wall insulation, cooling systems, ceiling insulation, floor insulation, heat recovery ventilator, basement slab insulation and below grade wall insulation. When the gas commodity pricing becomes high, the more energy efficient upgrades for domestic hot water (DHW) get selected at a cost premium.

Performance Evaluation of Seismic Force–Resisting Systems for Low-Rise Steel Buildings in Canada

2015 ◽  
Vol 31 (4) ◽  
pp. 1969-1990 ◽  
Author(s):  
T. Y. Yang ◽  
M. Murphy
Keyword(s):  
Life Cycle ◽  
Life Cycle Cost ◽  
Seismic Damage ◽  
Maintenance Cost ◽  
Life Cycle Costs ◽  
Finite Element Models ◽  
Steel Buildings ◽  
Material Usage ◽  
Seismic Force ◽  
Seismic System

Steel is one of the most popular seismic force–resisting systems (SFRS) in use worldwide. In Canada, several SFRS have been prequalified for use in the national and provincial building codes. The design of each SFRS has been covered comprehensively in literature. However, no guidance has been provided in selecting the optimum system for a project. In this paper, a prototype building located in Vancouver, Canada, was designed nine times to utilize each of the prequalified SFRS. Detailed seismic hazard and finite element models were developed for each system. The performance in terms of initial construction and life-cycle cost was used to rank each SFRS. The result of this analysis shows that the eccentrically braced configuration has the lowest material usage and life cycle maintenance cost; it is therefore the most economic system in this study. The presented methodology is transparent and can be easily adopted by engineers to select the most economic seismic system for projects with different configurations and geometries than those given in this research. Furthermore, this system introduces a metric with which to estimate the life-cycle costs of a structure taking into account seismic damage over the service life.

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