Role of On-Site Generation in Carbon Emissions and Utility Bill Savings under Different Electric Grid Scenarios

Energy-efficient and sustainable technologies are necessary to lower energy and carbon footprints. Many technologies are being pursued to meet the increasing energy demand in buildings. An attractive option is efficient utilization of available energy resources, including renewables, to support curr...

Full description

Bibliographic Details
Main Author: Praveen Cheekatamarla
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2022-05-01
Series:Energies
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/15/10/3477
_version_ 1797500262771851264
author Praveen Cheekatamarla
author_facet Praveen Cheekatamarla
author_sort Praveen Cheekatamarla
collection DOAJ
description Energy-efficient and sustainable technologies are necessary to lower energy and carbon footprints. Many technologies are being pursued to meet the increasing energy demand in buildings. An attractive option is efficient utilization of available energy resources, including renewables, to support current and future building energy needs while targeting grid resiliency, energy, and environmental security at an affordable cost via on-site cogeneration-based approaches. This must include energy-efficient technologies with lower greenhouse gas emissions and optimized cost, performance, and reliability. This paper presents the economic and environmental benefits associated with power technologies such as thermionics and solid oxide fuel cells. Hybrid configurations consisting of heat pumps, power systems, and renewable photovoltaics in cogeneration and trigeneration modes of operation are presented. The role of such technologies in lowering CO<sub>2</sub> emissions while improving energy resiliency and serving the needs of underprivileged communities is discussed. The key barriers of affordability and potential solutions for large-scale implementation of these promising technologies are reviewed. Case studies demonstrating the influence of power rating, electrical efficiency, design configuration, carbon dioxide intensity of the grid, and fuel on annual greenhouse gas emissions are presented for residential and commercial buildings.
first_indexed 2024-03-10T03:59:23Z
format Article
id doaj.art-d39b539f90a84cbc99e4aeff1ec84436
institution Directory Open Access Journal
issn 1996-1073
language English
last_indexed 2024-03-10T03:59:23Z
publishDate 2022-05-01
publisher MDPI AG
record_format Article
series Energies
spelling doaj.art-d39b539f90a84cbc99e4aeff1ec844362023-11-23T10:48:36ZengMDPI AGEnergies1996-10732022-05-011510347710.3390/en15103477Role of On-Site Generation in Carbon Emissions and Utility Bill Savings under Different Electric Grid ScenariosPraveen Cheekatamarla0Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Building and Transportation Sciences Division, 1 Bethel Valley Road, Oak Ridge, TN 37830, USAEnergy-efficient and sustainable technologies are necessary to lower energy and carbon footprints. Many technologies are being pursued to meet the increasing energy demand in buildings. An attractive option is efficient utilization of available energy resources, including renewables, to support current and future building energy needs while targeting grid resiliency, energy, and environmental security at an affordable cost via on-site cogeneration-based approaches. This must include energy-efficient technologies with lower greenhouse gas emissions and optimized cost, performance, and reliability. This paper presents the economic and environmental benefits associated with power technologies such as thermionics and solid oxide fuel cells. Hybrid configurations consisting of heat pumps, power systems, and renewable photovoltaics in cogeneration and trigeneration modes of operation are presented. The role of such technologies in lowering CO<sub>2</sub> emissions while improving energy resiliency and serving the needs of underprivileged communities is discussed. The key barriers of affordability and potential solutions for large-scale implementation of these promising technologies are reviewed. Case studies demonstrating the influence of power rating, electrical efficiency, design configuration, carbon dioxide intensity of the grid, and fuel on annual greenhouse gas emissions are presented for residential and commercial buildings.https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/15/10/3477hybrid power generationcarbon footprintheat pumpsbuildingselectrical efficiencyenergy storage
spellingShingle Praveen Cheekatamarla
Role of On-Site Generation in Carbon Emissions and Utility Bill Savings under Different Electric Grid Scenarios
Energies
hybrid power generation
carbon footprint
heat pumps
buildings
electrical efficiency
energy storage
title Role of On-Site Generation in Carbon Emissions and Utility Bill Savings under Different Electric Grid Scenarios
title_full Role of On-Site Generation in Carbon Emissions and Utility Bill Savings under Different Electric Grid Scenarios
title_fullStr Role of On-Site Generation in Carbon Emissions and Utility Bill Savings under Different Electric Grid Scenarios
title_full_unstemmed Role of On-Site Generation in Carbon Emissions and Utility Bill Savings under Different Electric Grid Scenarios
title_short Role of On-Site Generation in Carbon Emissions and Utility Bill Savings under Different Electric Grid Scenarios
title_sort role of on site generation in carbon emissions and utility bill savings under different electric grid scenarios
topic hybrid power generation
carbon footprint
heat pumps
buildings
electrical efficiency
energy storage
url https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/15/10/3477
work_keys_str_mv AT praveencheekatamarla roleofonsitegenerationincarbonemissionsandutilitybillsavingsunderdifferentelectricgridscenarios