Thesis
Sizing Rooftop PV to Facilitate the Disconnection of Gas from Residential Households : The development of a techno-economic model designed to estimate the financial and environmental viability of converting gas-dependent households into all-electric homes with PV penetration
Honours, Murdoch University
2023
Abstract
This study sought to assess the financial and environmental viability of converting gas-dependant households into all-electric homes with PV-BESS installation. A techno-economic model was developed to work in conjunction with HOMER Pro to predict the viability of converting a gas-dependant household into an all-electric home with PV-BESS installation. This model was used to perform sensitivity analyses to assess the financial and environmental viability of going all-electric on a flat rate and time-of-use electricity tariff. These analyses included: comparing cases with and without pre-existing PV-BESS installations, comparing a case with a high gas demand to a similar case with a significantly lower one, comparing a range of hardware with various energy efficiencies and capital costs selected to replace gas dependant cooking, water and space heating, comparing the viability of going all-electric with a PV-BESS installation vs without, and varying gas price to determine its effect on break-even point. A pre-existing all-electric home was included as a case to compare the performance of homes converted to all-electric with one designed to be all-electric; however, no meaningful comparisons could be made as this home differed too greatly from the other cases in terms of its heating loads. This study found that highly efficient heating appliances that utilise heat pumps greatly promoted the financial and environmental viability of going all-electric. It also found that homes with pre-existing solar or low gas demand show little financial viability of going all-electric. Finally, this study found that for cases without a pre-existing PV-BESS installation, adding one improved the financial and environmental viability of all-electric conversion.
Details
- Title
- Sizing Rooftop PV to Facilitate the Disconnection of Gas from Residential Households
- Authors/Creators
- Michael Davies
- Contributors
- Gloria Rupf (Supervisor)Martin Anda (Supervisor) - Murdoch University, Centre for Water, Energy and Waste
- Awarding Institution
- Murdoch University; Honours
- Identifiers
- 991005606270207891
- Murdoch Affiliation
- School of Engineering and Energy
- Resource Type
- Thesis
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