The case study of combined cooling heat and power and photovoltaic systems for building customers using HOMER software

Abstract

Combined heat and power (CHP) systems such as microturbines with capacities in the range of tens of kilowatts to hundreds of kilowatts have been employed for many years, mostly in residential, commercial, and industrial buildings. Despite their relatively small individual capacities as compared to centralized conventional utilities, their operation may lead to significant energy efficiency improvements for the electricity and heating of residential and commercial building customers. In addition, modern net-zero energy buildings with such CHP, photovoltaic (PV) systems, and absorption chillers (AbCs) can maximize electrical and thermal energy efficiency as they can reuse wasted heat from CHP systems with AbCs and renewable energy from PV systems. Therefore, the objective of this study is to present a case study that analyzes the impact of combined cooling heat and power (CCHP) of building customers either with or without PV systems in energy-efficient, economical, and environmental aspects. Then, using HOMER software, a computer program for modeling renewable microgrid systems, each case study of residential buildings hosting only CCHP systems in the Atlanta area and office buildings hosting CCHP and PV systems in the area is simulated. Finally, their energy-efficiency improvement and economic sensitivity analysis on investment costs of CCHP and PV systems is presented.