Cost Effectiveness of Concentrating Photovoltaic-Thermal (PVT) Systems Vs Side-by-Side Systems for Two Intermediate Applications

摘要

Hour-by-hour simulations of the performance of three solar energy systems - concentrating photovoltaic-thermal (PVT), flat panel photovoltaic with conventional thermal (FPPV/CT) system, and flat panel photovoltaic with solar thermal (FPPV/ST) system - have been conducted. These computer simulations were conducted for two application - a hospital and a meat packing company for three locations. Life-cycle-cost analyses were then conducted for array sizes ranging from 31 kW/sub p/ to 936 kW/sub p/. The three systems were compared to each other by computing the ratio of the annual cost of each system to the annual cost of conventional energy. It is concluded that, of the three systems analyzed: (1) PVT potentially has the highest break-even costs with conventional energy; (2) the cost effectiveness of PVT vs FPPV/CT is very strongly dependent on the ratio of direct normal to total solar availability; and (3) at $1/W/sub p/ ($84 m exp 2 ) for flat panel PV modules and $120/m exp 2 for solar thermal collectors, PVT collectors can cost up to about $195/m exp 2 for breakeven with FPPV/ST. (ERA citation 06:019994)