Cost and performance goal methodology for active solar-cooling systems

Technical Report · Mon Feb 01 04:00:00 EST 1982

OSTI ID:5289862

Warren, M L; Wahlig, M

Economic and thermal performance analyses of typical residential and commercial active solar cooling systems are used to determine cost goals for systems to be installed between the years 1986 and 2000. Market studies indicate a relationship between market penetration (percent of market captured) and payback period for heating, ventilating, and air conditioning systems. Using reasonable values for fuel escalation and inflation rates, the payback period is related to the expected real return on investment. Postulating commercial introduction of solar cooling systems in 1986 with the market share increasing to 20% by the year 2000, payback and return on investment goals for cooling systems as a function of year of purchase are established. Using the results of systems analysis of representative 3 ton solar residential cooling/heating systems and 25 ton commercial solar cooling systems for four different cities (Ft. Worth, Phoenix, Miami, and Washington, DC), the return on investment goals are used to calculate the 20 year present value of energy savings of the solar energy systems. To be cost-effective, the incremental solar system cost must be equal to or less than the present value of the energy savings. This establishes the link between incremental solar system cost and the return on investment goal and determines the system cost goals as a function of year of purchase. In turn, the cost goals are broken down to the subsystem level. Methods for achieving these cost goals over time, based on projected solar cooling system and subsystem costs, are explored in detail.

• Research Organization: Lawrence Berkeley Lab., CA (USA)
• DOE Contract Number: W-7405-ENG-48
• OSTI ID: 5289862
• Report Number(s): LBL-12753; ON: DE82009842
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

14 SOLAR ENERGY
140300* -- Solar Energy-- Economic
Industrial
& Business Aspects
140901 -- Solar Thermal Utilization-- Space Heating & Cooling
AIR CONDITIONERS
ARIZONA
BUILDINGS
COST
ECONOMIC ANALYSIS
ECONOMICS
ENERGY CONSERVATION
ENERGY CONSUMPTION
ENERGY SYSTEMS
EQUIPMENT
FEDERAL REGION IV
FEDERAL REGION IX
FEDERAL REGION VI
FLORIDA
FORECASTING
INFLATION
MARKETING RESEARCH
NORTH AMERICA
PAYBACK PERIOD
PERFORMANCE
PRODUCTION
SOLAR AIR CONDITIONERS
SOLAR COOLING SYSTEMS
SOLAR EQUIPMENT
SPACE HVAC SYSTEMS
TEXAS
USA
WASHINGTON DC