Abstract
This study investigates the economic viability of
small-scale, multi-generation systems (combined heat and
power (CHP), combined cooling, heating, and power
(CCHP)), along with conventional heating and cooling
systems combining sixteen heating/cooling energy
generation systems (H/C-EGSs). The Energy Performance of
Buildings Directive (EBPD) comparative framework
methodology is followed. The local cost-optimal solution
for an office building, in Helsinki, Finland is
determined for each H/C-EGS as well as the global
cost-optimum. The suggested energy efficiency measures
get 144 building combinations, and alongside the
H/C-EGSs, altogether 2304 cases. The results show that
the global cost-optimum belongs to the ground source heat
pump with free ground cooling. The investigated
biomass-based CHPs are economically viable only with high
overall efficiency and low power-to-heat ratio due to
both low investment and operational costs. The
biomass-based CCHPs do not have economic or environmental
benefits over the biomass-based CHPs due to the
significant increase entailed of both investment and
operational costs. The fossil fuel-based CHPs with high
operational costs are the worst solutions economically
and environmentally. Extending the cost optimal solutions
by a photovoltaic panels system yields the net
zero-energy office building with minimum life-cycle costs
as well.
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 94-108 |
Journal | Applied Energy |
Volume | 152 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - 2015 |
MoE publication type | A1 Journal article-refereed |
Keywords
- EPBD recast
- life-cycle cost
- biomass
- combined heating and power (CHP)
- combined cooling heating and power (CCHP)
- zero-energy office building