US Department of Energy Revolving Loan Fund: Analysis of Potential Applications Supporting Integrated Community Energy Systems

摘要

This study identifies and evaluates several potential applications for a US Department of Energy (DOE) Revolving Loan Fund (RLF) to promote district heating and cooling (DHC) and grid-connected integrated community energy systems (GC-ICES). Project loans from the $10-million RLF now under consideration would tentatively have a maximum size of $300,000 and would be repayable over three to five years on a monthly ''mortgage payment'' basis at below-market interest rates. Monthly payments on outstanding loans would generate constant inflows of cash, which, under effective cash-management practices, could keep government costs of the RLF to a minimum. Public-sector and nonprofit organizations would be eligible to use the RLF. Also eligible would be private-sector firms developing projects in conjunction with public or nonprofit organizations, as well as corporate users of DHC systems and GC-ICES. On the basis of this research, it is concluded that several effective uses would be immediately available for the revolving loan fund, if and when it is implemented. (ERA citation 11:009122)