TY - GEN
T1 - The feasibility of an environmentally friendly microgrid
AU - McIntyre, K. C.
AU - Clancey-Rivera, C.
AU - Tobin, M. C.
AU - Erickson, M. D.
AU - Zhang, X.
AU - Karady, G. G.
PY - 2010
Y1 - 2010
N2 - Establishing the local feasibility of using distributed generation sources (a micro-grid) is the focus of this project, where an 81-house neighborhood in Chandler, Arizona was chosen to serve as the model. An in-depth analysis of the current energy and water use of the neighborhood and its associated cost to the consumer, along with an evaluation of the capacity of the existing infrastructure, was completed in order to compare it to a simulated model of a micro grid providing the same amount of energy by using photovoltaic cells, fuel cells and micro turbines. Analyzing the Net Present Cost of different configurations of distributed generation sources shows that micro turbines and fuel cells, while having a smaller carbon foot print, are not economically feasible, whereas using photovoltaic cells while maintaining a connection to the existing grid increases the cost by only $.023/kWh while reducing the CO2, SOX, and NOX emissions.
AB - Establishing the local feasibility of using distributed generation sources (a micro-grid) is the focus of this project, where an 81-house neighborhood in Chandler, Arizona was chosen to serve as the model. An in-depth analysis of the current energy and water use of the neighborhood and its associated cost to the consumer, along with an evaluation of the capacity of the existing infrastructure, was completed in order to compare it to a simulated model of a micro grid providing the same amount of energy by using photovoltaic cells, fuel cells and micro turbines. Analyzing the Net Present Cost of different configurations of distributed generation sources shows that micro turbines and fuel cells, while having a smaller carbon foot print, are not economically feasible, whereas using photovoltaic cells while maintaining a connection to the existing grid increases the cost by only $.023/kWh while reducing the CO2, SOX, and NOX emissions.
KW - Distributed generation
KW - Fuel cells
KW - Gas turbines
KW - Renewable energy
KW - Solar energy resource
KW - Wind energy resource
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=78650039771&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=78650039771&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1109/NAPS.2010.5619973
DO - 10.1109/NAPS.2010.5619973
M3 - Conference contribution
AN - SCOPUS:78650039771
SN - 9781424480463
T3 - North American Power Symposium 2010, NAPS 2010
BT - North American Power Symposium 2010, NAPS 2010
T2 - North American Power Symposium 2010, NAPS 2010
Y2 - 26 September 2010 through 28 September 2010
ER -