Fuel poverty and low carbon emissions: a comparative study of the feasibility of the hybrid renewable energy systems incorporating combined heat and power technology

doi:10.1007/s11708-021-0748-x

Front. Energy

2022, Vol. 16

Issue (2) : 336-356 https://doi.org/10.1007/s11708-021-0748-x

RESEARCH ARTICLE

Fuel poverty and low carbon emissions: a comparative study of the feasibility of the hybrid renewable energy systems incorporating combined heat and power technology

Dorota RZETELSKA, Madeleine COMBRINCK(

)

Department of Mechanical and Construction Engineering, Faculty of Engineering and Environment, Northumbria University, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, NE1 8ST, UK

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Abstract

Fuel poverty is most prevalent in North East England with 14.4% of fuel poor households in Newcastle upon Tyne. The aim of this paper was to identify a grid connected renewable energy system coupled with natural gas reciprocating combined heat and power unit, that is cost-effective and technically feasible with a potential to generate a profit from selling energy excess to the grid to help alleviate fuel poverty. The system was also aimed at low carbon emissions. Fourteen models were designed and optimized with the aid of the HOMER Pro software. Models were compared with respect to their economic, technical, and environmental performance. A solution was proposed where restrictions were placed on the size of renewable energy components. This configuration consists of 150 kW CHP, 300 kW PV cells, and 30 kW wind turbines. The renewable fraction is 5.10% and the system yields a carbon saving of 7.9% in comparison with conventional systems. The initial capital investment is $1.24 million which enables the system to have grid sales of 582689 kWh/a. A conservative calculation determined that 40% of the sales can be used to reduce the energy cost of fuel poor households by $706 per annum. This solution has the potential to eliminate fuel poverty at the site analyzed.

Keywords greenhouse gas control low carbon target grid connected renewable fraction fuel poverty combined heat and power HOMER Pro

Corresponding Author(s): Madeleine COMBRINCK

About author:

Tongcan Cui and Yizhe Hou contributed equally to this work.

Online First Date: 13 July 2021 Issue Date: 25 May 2022

Cite this article:

Dorota RZETELSKA,Madeleine COMBRINCK. Fuel poverty and low carbon emissions: a comparative study of the feasibility of the hybrid renewable energy systems incorporating combined heat and power technology[J]. Front. Energy, 2022, 16(2): 336-356.

URL:

https://academic.hep.com.cn/fie/EN/10.1007/s11708-021-0748-x
https://academic.hep.com.cn/fie/EN/Y2022/V16/I2/336

Fig.1 Stanhope Street housing estate in Newcastle upon Tyne as presented in HOMER Pro.

Tab.1 Proposed models with respect to the design components and the renewable energy technologies

Fig.2 Architecture of HOMER Pro designs representing Models 1 to 8 with the components indicated in Table 1.

Tab.2 Details of the resolved models indicating fixed and calculated values

Fig.3 Annual profile of daily average radiation with the Clearness Index.

Fig.4 Monthly average wind speed.

Tab.3 Models with unrestricted renewable energy technologies; the size of renewable energy components in proposed models with respect to the models’ architecture

Tab.4 Models with unrestricted renewable energy technologies: Economic variables

Fig.5 Economic parameters for models with unrestricted renewable energy technologies comparing.

Tab.5 Models with restricted renewable energy technologies: economic variables

Fig.6 Economic parameters for models with restricted renewable energy technologies comparing.

Tab.6 Models with unrestricted renewables: grid sales with respect to model architecture

Fig.7 Grid sales comparison for models with unrestricted renewables comparing.

Tab.7 Models with restricted renewables: grid sales with respect to model architecture

Fig.8 Comparison of grid sales for models with restricted renewables.

Tab.8 Models with unrestricted renewable energy technologies: renewable fraction and CO₂ emissions

Fig.9 Renewable fraction and carbon dioxide emissions for models with unrestricted renewable energy technologies.

Tab.9 Models with restricted renewable energy technologies: renewable fraction and CO₂ emissions

Fig.10 (a) Renewable fraction and (b) CO₂ emissions for models with restricted renewable energy technologies.

Tab.10 Models with the best overall performance

Fig.11 Comparison of grid sales.

Fig.12 Comparison of economic parameters.

Fig.13 Comparison of (a) renewable fraction and (b) CO₂ emissions.

Tab.11 Carbon saving with respect to conventional power system in the proposed models

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