Cost and performance goals for commercial active solar absorption cooling systems

Journal Article · Wed May 01 04:00:00 EDT 1985 · J. Sol. Energy Eng.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1115/1.3267666· OSTI ID:5281557

Warren, M L; Wahlig, M

Economic and thermal performance analysis is used to determine cost goals for typical commercial active solar cooling systems to be installed between the years 1986 and 2000. Market penetration for heating, ventilating, and air conditioning systems depends on payback period, which is related to the expected return on investment. Postulating a market share for solar cooling systems increasing to 20 percent by the year 2000, payback and return on investment goals as a function of year of purchase are established. The incremental solar system cost goals must be equal to or less than the 20-year percent value of future energy savings, based on thermal performance analysis, at the desired return on investment. The methodology is applied to determine the allowable incremental solar system cost for commercial-scale, 25-ton absorption cooling systems based on the thermal performance predicted by recent simulation analysis. Methods for achieving these cost goals and expected solar cooling system costs will be discussed.

• Research Organization: Lawrence Berkeley Laboratory, University of California, Berkeley, Calif.
• OSTI ID: 5281557
• Journal Information: J. Sol. Energy Eng.; (United States), Journal Name: J. Sol. Energy Eng.; (United States) Vol. 107:2; ISSN JSEED
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

14 SOLAR ENERGY
140901* -- Solar Thermal Utilization-- Space Heating & Cooling
ABSORPTION
COMPETITION
COST ESTIMATION
ECONOMIC ANALYSIS
ECONOMICS
EFFICIENCY
ENERGY SYSTEMS
EQUIPMENT
INVESTMENT
MARKET
MARKETING RESEARCH
PAYBACK PERIOD
PERFORMANCE
SIMULATION
SOLAR COOLING SYSTEMS
SOLAR EQUIPMENT
SPACE HVAC SYSTEMS
THERMAL EFFICIENCY