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PhD Thesis - Energy Systems Research Unit - University of Strathclyde

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and power requirement. Sensitivity analysis may then be undertaken, using<br />

factorial design to highlight any interaction effects which may occur between<br />

the different parameters that affect the cost analysis. Although this program<br />

provides a good economic analysis <strong>of</strong> proposed biomass or waste powered<br />

generating plant, it does not have the capability to consider the use <strong>of</strong> heat or<br />

electricity storage. Although the in-depth temporal analysis required <strong>of</strong> a<br />

system which includes intermittent supplies is not required when considering<br />

biomass and waste systems on their own, it is important to consider harvesting<br />

times and production schedules to allow the appropriate sizing <strong>of</strong> storage<br />

facilities and gasification, pyrolysis or fermentation plant.<br />

Although not designed for the evaluation <strong>of</strong> bi<strong>of</strong>uel use, another package exists<br />

which allows the preliminary evaluation <strong>of</strong> combined heat and power (CHP)<br />

schemes, running on natural gas, for hospitals and hotels [21]. This program<br />

uses building type, floor area, and degree-day information to generate typical<br />

half-hourly demand pr<strong>of</strong>iles for heat and electricity for a year. Basic technical<br />

and tariff information is then used to give the recommended size <strong>of</strong> plant and the<br />

payback period. This program provides the temporal analysis necessary for the<br />

consideration <strong>of</strong> both electricity and heat demands, but does not allow for the<br />

possibility <strong>of</strong> electricity or heat storage or for an analysis <strong>of</strong> the relationship<br />

between the two demand types. Both <strong>of</strong> these factors are important in the design<br />

<strong>of</strong> larger scale integrated energy systems.<br />

3.4 Conclusions<br />

There are many different packages available that allow the evaluation <strong>of</strong> various<br />

aspects <strong>of</strong> sustainable energy system design, however, none deal with all the<br />

aspects required to make up an integrated energy supply system, capable <strong>of</strong><br />

supplying all the needs <strong>of</strong> a given area, for electricity, heat, hot water and<br />

transport. There are, however, many important issues that arise from the<br />

evaluation <strong>of</strong> these different models that must be taken into account when<br />

considering the design <strong>of</strong> a decision support framework capable <strong>of</strong> dealing with<br />

all the technologies discussed in Chapter 2.<br />

74

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