CBA OF OPERATING
PHOTOVOLTAIC SYSTEM IN
PITTSBURGH
Gyorgyi Cicas ; Jose L. Aguirre; Po-Hsin Lin
CBA FINAL PROJECT 2002
Abstract
•Objective and Motivation
•Introduction
•Description of the Model
•Results
•Conclusions and Future Plans
Gyorgyi Cicas ; Jose L. Aguirre; Po-Hsin Lin
CBA FINAL PROJECT 2002
Objective & Motivation
•Monetary Cost
•Efficiency
•Availability
•Feasibility
•Environmental Impacts
•CMU Solar House 2002
Gyorgyi Cicas ; Jose L. Aguirre; Po-Hsin Lin
CBA FINAL PROJECT 2002
Renewable Energy
Data from the U.S.
•Renewable energy 8% out of total energy
•Solar Energy 1%
Reference: Web Site: http://www.eia.doe.gov/emeu/ Main Products of the Office of Energy Markets and End
Use: Annual energy review: renewable energy section 10.5
Gyorgyi Cicas ; Jose L. Aguirre; Po-Hsin Lin
CBA FINAL PROJECT 2002
CMU Solar House 2002
Gyorgyi Cicas ; Jose L. Aguirre; Po-Hsin Lin
CBA FINAL PROJECT 2002
BP (conventional)
PV System
120V
Combiner Boxes
Charge
Controller
Batteries
DC
AC
INV
Switch
PV System
Key components
•Conventional Solar panels has
36 cells (photovoltaic cells)
•Self regulating panels
•DC-inverter-AC
Gyorgyi Cicas ; Jose L. Aguirre; Po-Hsin Lin
CBA FINAL PROJECT 2002
Cost Benefit Analysis
Comparison
PV System For a Typical House In Pittsburgh
•
House covered 100% by PV System
•
Hybrid covering the months with highest sun
irradiation and House With Classical Grid-Based
System
Gyorgyi Cicas ; Jose L. Aguirre; Po-Hsin Lin
CBA FINAL PROJECT 2002
Maximum Sun Irradiation Factor (energy) KWh/ m2
For the Northeast of the U.S. is 6 KWh/m2
Web Site: http://www.eia.doe.gov/emeu/
Gyorgyi Cicas ; Jose L. Aguirre; Po-Hsin Lin
CBA FINAL PROJECT 2002
Description of Model
Electricity Consumption
Data
Geographical
Factors
Yearly
Consumption of
Avg. Household
Selection Solar
Technology
Characteristics of
the Solar Panel
(inefficiencies, Max. Capacity)
[KWh/yr]
Monthly & Daily
Consumption in the Months
of High Solar Irradiation
(choice of 3 and 5)
[Watts]
Requirement of Energy considering the Solar Insolation Factor for the
Region [Watts]
Additional Factor from PV Panels (heating vs efficiency)
Total No. of Panels from Total Requirement of electricity (Watts) /
Net Production per panel (Total Area of Solar Irradiation)
Gyorgyi Cicas ; Jose L. Aguirre; Po-Hsin Lin
CBA FINAL PROJECT 2002
Factors for Cost Estimates
Cost of Panels [ $ / panel]
Cost of Batteries [ $ /
Battery]
Additional Installation
Costs
No. of Panels ~ 44
No. of Batteries ~ 40% of No.
of Panels
Approximate Cost of Panels
$ 22,000 USD
Total Cost of Batteries $
8,500 USD
Wiring, rack for modules,
connection devices, labor work
and transportation
~ $ 500 USD
~ $ 12,345 USD
Total Investment Cost $ 42, 850 USD
Year 2002
Additional Costs
Additional Cost for Electricity from Grid $ 525 ~ $ 430 USD / yr
(with no change in consumption behavior from average household in the U.S.) Compare to the $1,000 USD of yearly spending
for future O&M Activities:
Replacement of Batteries Bank every 4 Years
Cleaning Activities of Panel Array ~ $ 80 USD / Year
Replacement of the whole PV System (solar panels, connectors, wiring, batteries, etc.) every 20 years
Gyorgyi Cicas ; Jose L. Aguirre; Po-Hsin Lin
CBA FINAL PROJECT 2002
Case PV covers only in Months
with major Sun Irradiation
Two Variations:
• 3 Months with highest Sun Irradiation (June, July, August)
• 5 Months (May, June, July, August, September)
Assumptions for Future Improvements in Technology
• 20 and 40 yr period : Improved efficiency of panels, capacity of Peak Watts
per panel, $ per panel and per battery decreases
Purchase cost, Install.
Maint.
[$]
cost, [$] cost, [$]
0
41,245
1,600
0
1
0
0
80
2
0
0
80
3
0
0
80
4
8,500
0
80
5
0
0
80
48
1,035
0
80
49
0
0
80
50
0
0
80
Total cost of usage of grid connected PV system
Time, [year]
Gyorgyi Cicas ; Jose L. Aguirre; Po-Hsin Lin
Total cost,
[2002yr $]
43,479
714
714
714
9,214
714
1,750
714
714
$165,453.65
Total cost,
[nom. $]
43,479
750
788
827
11,200
912
18,199
7,802
8,192
$500,905.85
CBA FINAL PROJECT 2002
Case 2 PV covers only in Months
with major Sun Irradiation
Solar System
1
2
3
4
40
41
42
43
44
45
46
47
48
49
50
Year
Cost of
Use
Maintenance
2002
2003
2004
2005
2041
2042
2043
2044
2045
2046
2047
2048
2049
2050
2051
-$42,845
$0
$0
-$8,500
-$15,866
$0
$0
$0
-$971
$0
$0
$0
-$971
$0
$0
$0
-$80
-$80
-$80
$0
-$80
-$80
-$80
-$80
-$80
-$80
-$80
-$80
-$80
-$80
Classic System
Total
Cost
Cost of
Classic
System
Final Total
Cost
Nominal
Values
NPV
-$42,845
-$80
-$80
-$8,580
-$15,866
-$80
-$80
-$80
-$1,051
-$80
-$80
-$80
-$1,051
-$80
-$80
-$131,945
-$503
-$503
-$503
-$503
-$503
-$503
-$503
-$503
-$503
-$503
-$503
-$503
-$503
-$503
-$503
-$25,162.50
-$43,348
-$583
-$583
-$9,083
-$16,370
-$583
-$583
-$583
-$1,555
-$583
-$583
-$583
-$1,555
-$583
-$583
-$157,108
-$45,412
-$640
-$671
-$10,940
-$105,162
-$3,925
-$4,112
-$4,308
-$12,029
-$4,728
-$4,953
-$5,189
-$14,489
-$5,694
-$5,965
-$439,479
Benefit of Cost /
using solar Benefit
$454
$454
$454
$454
$454
$454
$454
$454
$454
$454
$454
$454
$454
$454
$454
$22,678.00
-$96
-$1
-$1
-$20
-$36
-$1
-$1
-$1
-$3
-$1
-$1
-$1
-$3
-$1
-$1
-6.9277494
Cost of
KWh
[$/KWh]
$5.026
$0.068
$0.068
$1.053
$1.898
$0.068
$0.068
$0.068
$0.180
$0.068
$0.068
$0.068
$0.180
$0.068
$0.068
-$0.364
The actual average cost of Electricity from the Grid ~ $ 0.10 / KWh
Gyorgyi Cicas ; Jose L. Aguirre; Po-Hsin Lin
CBA FINAL PROJECT 2002
Conclusions and Further Estimations – I.
Estimated cost of electricity produced by the grid
connected PV system ~ 38¢/kWh
Data from studies: 25¢/kWh – 50¢/kWh
Conventional power plant: 11¢/kWh
Gyorgyi Cicas ; Jose L. Aguirre; Po-Hsin Lin
CBA FINAL PROJECT 2002
Conclusions and Further Estimations – II.
Benefits?
• Increased siting flexibility
• Decreased installation lead time
• Installations cause fewer disruptions
• Improved aesthetics
• Increased reliability
• Portability
• Progressive "green" image
Gyorgyi Cicas ; Jose L. Aguirre; Po-Hsin Lin
CBA FINAL PROJECT 2002
Conclusions and Further Estimations – III.
Progressive "green" image
“Low environmental impact—they are quiet and nonpolluting (no
greenhouse gas emissions).”
/Federal Energy Management Program/
• We can avoid the environmental impacts (e.g. GHG
emission) of the estimated yearly 2,500 - 3,600 kWh
electricity production
• Is this significant compared to the environmental
impacts of the PV system?
Gyorgyi Cicas ; Jose L. Aguirre; Po-Hsin Lin
CBA FINAL PROJECT 2002
Conclusions and Further Estimations –IV.
How to make it feasible?
• Net metering
• Renewable Energy Pilot Program
• 10% federal tax credit and accelerated depreciation
on the PV system
• Continuous technology improvement
Gyorgyi Cicas ; Jose L. Aguirre; Po-Hsin Lin
CBA FINAL PROJECT 2002
Further Information
http://www.eren.doe.gov/sunlab
http://www.sandia.gov/pv
http://www.arc.cmu.edu/carnegie_team
http://www1.sedo.energy.wa.gov.au/renewable.asp
http://www.trfund.com/sdf
http://www.bccf.org
http://www.sustainable.energy.sa.gov.au/pages/advisory/renewables/types/sol
ar/technologies
http://www.solarpaces.org/resources/technologies.html
http://www.solarserver.de/solarmagazin
Gyorgyi Cicas ; Jose L. Aguirre; Po-Hsin Lin
CBA FINAL PROJECT 2002