1790 30th St, Suite 100, Boulder, Colorado 80301, USA

http://www.homerenergy.com +1-720-565-4046
Optimizing the Business Case
with the HOMER Software
Who is HOMER?
NREL: 1992-2008
Original developers now at HOMER Energy
5 years of continuous, self-funded growth
107,000 users in 193 countries
0
200
400
600
800
1,000
1,200
2010 2009 2008 2007 2006 2005 2004 2003 2002 2001 2000
New users per month
Western
Europe
23,965
North
America
25,917
Latin America
9,448
Mideast
7,429
Africa
4,753
East Asia
9,008
Oceania
5,434
South Asia
7,340
Eastern
Europe
5,690
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Modeling Challenge
Solar and wind are variable
Needs integration with dispatchable resources







Smaller projects need simpler tools
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Too Many Choices
Hydro
Geothermal
Smart grids
Micro-grids
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What is best?
It depends on:
Resources
Loads
Equipment prices
Equipment performance

A confused mind says No!
HOMER fits the pieces together
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HOMER
Industry standard for hybrid micro-grids

Conventional resources
Renewable resources
Storage
Load Management
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HOMER Analysis Layers
Simulation
Accurate analysis of time varying loads and resources
require an hour-by-hour or minute-by-minute analysis
for entire year
Optimization
Find the least cost solution
Sensitivity Analysis
The data is never good enough.
What if.?
Energy Balance
Simulation
Optimization
Sensitivity Analysis
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Optimal System Design
What makes sense where?
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Valuing Storage
3 broad categories
Reliability
Backup or reserves
Power quality
Frequency control, voltage control, VAR support
Reduces cost
Arbitrage, peak shaving, eliminate curtailments,
prevent inefficient operation of other plants
Most valuable close to load
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Another Microgrid Definition
Grid
Wind
Generator
Controls
Storage
Electric Load
Provided by ZBB Energy Inc.
Solar
Components connected by wires that
are capable of operating on their own
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Military Bases
Developing
Country On-
Grid
Forward
Operating
Bases
Developing
Country Off-
Grid
Fuel
Savings
Reduced
Emissions
Renewable Energy
& Electric Vehicle
Grid Integration
Ecotourism
Campuses
Islands
Mines
Emergency Services
Reliability /Resilience
Microgrid Value Proposition
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Smart Clean Microgrids
Provided by ZBB Energy Inc.
Grid-connected
CHP
Energy access
No existing infrastructure
Island Power
Real utility companies with multiple
diesels
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Renewables Evolution
Entering a new era
Where are the real economics?
How do you create high penetrations?
Hint: do it in stages
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Pot Farmers
& Mad
Scientists
Tax Shelters
Real
Economics
High
Penetrations
Where is this going?
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5M barrels oil/day burned for electricity
$180 billion per year
50-80% reduction possible
$180 billion per year
50-80% reduction possible
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Unsubsidized Economics
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The Coming Train Wreck
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Everybodys been crying Wolf.
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The Coming Utility Finance Death Spiral
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Clean Power Evolution
Large utilities
Security obstacles
Regulatory obstacles
Smaller systems
Liquid fuels from oil
High renewable penetrations
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Conclusion
Diesel fuel displacement is the near term
market with real economics
Isolated utilities are the real trailblazers
Require a lower cost development process
Simpler models
The larger utility market requires regulatory
change
Transition in stages
We live in interesting times
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