Economic Analysis of Renewable Energy Production with Photovoltaic and Solar Thermic Systems for Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises
Abstract
The economic benefits that photovoltaic and solar thermal renewable energy (RE) producers offer under Germany’s current legislative conditions (EEG 2014) have been investigated for two cases involving small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). The energy demands of the case SMEs are very distinct in volume, type, and profile. With the aid of a simulation, the direct consumption of the expected RE generation and the resulting energy exchange with the grid have been calculated. The results have been analyzed from an economic standpoint using economic indicators and the LCCA (life-cycle cost analysis) method. For the two cases, the results are presented with their indicator values and the designs of the PV and solar thermal systems.
Keywords
Renewable energy, small and medium-sized enterprises, simulation, cost analysis, life-cycle cost analysis