Clean Energy Technology Economics And Emissions Model
Tech ID: 17349 / UC Case 2004-042-0
Abstract
Intensive research efforts in the field of clean energy technologies, such as fuel cells, are primarily focused on solving technical issues to commercialization. As these technology challenges are resolved, analytical tools will be needed to understand the economic viability and environmental impact of using these emerging energy technologies in different applications.
To address the need for these analytical tools, researchers at the University of California, Berkeley have developed a software model for assessing the economics and emissions from different fuel and end-use energy solutions. This clean energy technology economics and emission model (CETEEM) integrates MATLAB, Simulink and Excel tools into an easy-to-use, powerful analysis solution.
Applications
The current release of CETEEM is focused on the scenario of using PEM fuel cell systems powered by hydrogen produced with natural gas reformers.
The software can be readily modified in future versions to also characterize other energy technologies and fueling combinations. These additional assessments could include solar PV and wind power generating systems as well as other fuel cell technologies and distributed generation applications.
Other potential applications include: market assessment modeling of real-time energy sales, carbon offset planning for energy technology and fuel substitutions, and pollutant tradeoff simulating for the reduction of PM, CO2, SOx, and NOx from various distributed generation substitutions.
Advantages
Simulates the variable-load efficiency of distributed electricity generating systems;
Estimates the economic implications of combined heat and power generation;
Characterizes up to 10 individual energy systems at a given location, or 10 "proxy groups" of any number of similar energy systems;
Calculates the costs of electricity, fuel costs, and operating efficiencies for individual energy subsystems and for the overall electricity generating system;
Models varying operational strategies, including load-following and partial load-following operation, as well as excess "grid supply" operation;
Analyzes system economics in response to hour-by-hour variations in electricity purchase prices and sales prices (or net-metering "credit" rates);
Characterizes energy system operating efficiencies under varying system operating conditions;
Calculates fuel upstream and system operating emissions (including criteria pollutants and greenhouse gases) divided into approximate "in-basin" and "out-of-basin" components;
Allows for specification and sensitivity analysis of a number of key economic input variables such as natural gas purchase prices, hours of operation per year, and system capital, installation, operation and maintenance costs, as well as capital cost recovery factors and financing arrangements;
Analyzes the case of a hydrogen "energy station" where excess hydrogen is produced, compressed, stored, and then sold to fuel vehicles;
Other Information
Categorized As
Related cases
2004-042-0
Keywords
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Contact
Michael Cohen / mcohen@berkeley.edu / tel: View Phone Number. Please reference Tech ID #17349.
