Fuel Cell Power Model for CHHP 

Economics and Performance An

DeliveriDeliveri

HydrogFocus oApplica

Darlene NovembNREL/PR-5

NREL is a national laboratory of the U.S. Department of Energy, Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, operated by th

This presentation does not contain any proprietary, confidential, or otherwise 
Overview of the Tri-Generation Co

Electricity Power

Natural Gas Heat

Natural Gas

National Renewable Energy Laboratory 2 

Converted to hydrogen onsite 

via steam-methane reforming 
Overview of the Tri-Generation Co

Electricity Power

Natural Gas Heat

Natural Gas Natural Gas

or Biogas Tri-Generati

Fuel Cell

H

ydro

gen

Natural Gas

National Renewable Energy Laboratory 3 

y g

Converted to hydrogen onsite 

via steam-methane reforming 
FCPower Model Background

Built on the “H2A” platform

Need for “common ground” in economic analyses Consensus on reasonable financial assumptions Common economic analysis methodology Common cost assumptions (technology maturity, com

year for costs, etc.)

– Allowed hydrogen researchers to talk to each oth

technology costs

H2A Power Model – Use the same consistent e

analysis basis for a new CHP/CHHP model:

– B ilding Managers (first B

uilding Managers (first

-pass estimates of f el cell C

pass estimates of

f

uel cell C

cost)

– Utilities (impacts of distributed generation)

– DOE/ systems analysts (scenarios for future energy 

National Renewable Energy Laboratory 4 
FCPower Model Objective

Develop a cost analysis tool that will be flexibl

comprehensive enough to realistically analyvari t f t ti l bi d h t d 

ie

ty o

f po

tenti

al combine

d

hea

t an

d powe

hydrogen production scenarios

Approach:Develop an hour Develop an hour

-by

-hour energy analysis mod

hour energy analysis mod

models the response of a stationary fuel ceelectricity, heat, and hydrogen demand prof

Integrate the results of the energy analysis int

discounted cash flow methodology to develstationar

y y s

ystems model 

National Renewable Energy Laboratory 5 
FCPower Model Hourly Energy Analys

New Hourly Energy

Feed

and

Utility 

Prices

Hourly 

Solar

Wind

Profiles

Ye

Financial

Inputs

New Hourly EnergySupply & DemandAnalysis Module

Physical Cost

Electricity

Heat

H d

Ye

CF

An

Property

Data

Cost

Inputs

H

y

drogen

Demand

Profiles

Energy analysis done for 

8,760 h of one year 

H2A model inputs

H2A database

National Renewable Energy Laboratory 6 

User inputs
Technology Selection for Hourly Energ

INPUTS ENERGY CONVERSIONS 

Fuel peak burner

heat sink

Water

Fuel FC SYSTEM + H

2

H

Grid

Sun/Wind

renewables

H2-s

electrolyzer

National Renewable Energy Laboratory 7 

2 
Dispatch Sequence for Electricity Gene

INPUTS ENERGY CONVERSIONS 

Fuel peak burner

heat sink

use minimal fuel 

cell power

use additional 

fuel cell power

Water

Fuel FC SYSTEM + H

2

Water

Fuel FC SYSTEM + H

2

1

2

H

use grid

Grid 

H2-s

electrolyzer

Sun/WindSun/WindSun/Wind Sun/Wind renewables

Grid

3

National Renewable Energy Laboratory 8 

2 
Integration of Demand Profiles, Renewables A

Grid Cost Structure

68

101214

Electricity Demand (kW)Heat Demand (kW)Hydrogen Demand (kW) 6

8

101214

Electricity Demand (kW)Heat Demand (kW)Hydrogen Demand (kW) 8

101214

Electricity Demand (kW)

101214

El t i it D d (kW)

101214

HOURLY DEMANDS

Enter Process Specific(default values will be 

Download or enter hourly dema

024

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 0

246

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24

Hydrogen Demand (kW)

0246

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24

Heat Demand (kW)Hydrogen Demand (kW)

02468

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24

Electricity Demand (kW)Heat Demand (kW)Hydrogen Demand (kW)

02468 Electricity Demand (kW)

Heat Demand (kW)Hydrogen Demand (kW)

Download or enter hourly demaDownload or enter hourly renewEnter grid electricity price profil

Enter equipment capital costsEnter equipment capacity, oper

o

peratin

g costs 

heat sink

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 p g

• Grid electricit

y (hourly)

peak burner

FC SYSTEM + H

2

PRICE SCHEDULES

y ( y)

• Fuel prices• Water price

electrolyzer

H2-FC 

National Renewable Energy Laboratory 9 

Renewables H2-storage
Model Features

• Automated import of load profiles

– Profiles from building models (e.g., EnergyPlus)– Metered prior-year data for the building(s)– Estimated profiles from utility bills and similar buil

• Solar and wind resource data can be import

Solar and wind resource data can be import

– Model algorithm estimates electrical output based 

data and user input

• Detailed grid power purchase structure• Net metering• GHG tables from GREET 1 8 (onsite and up

GHG tables from GREET 1.8 (onsite and up

emissions calculations)

• Financial summary sheet 

National Renewable Energy Laboratory 10 

y
Model Features (cont.)

Comprehensive financial analysis for entire sys

– Analysis of economic incentives – Separate depreciation schedules for each subsys

– Debt and equity financing– Construction period and startup analysis

– Detailed fixed-operating-cost calculations

• Labor• Overhead• P t t di Proper

ty 

taxes an

d insurance

• Rent• Permitting and licensing

• Maintenance costs Maintenance costs

– Detailed variable-cost calculations

• Waste treatment and disposal costs• Production based tax incentives

National Renewable Energy Laboratory 11 

Production based tax incentives

• Operator profit and royalties
Getting Started – PFD (Configuring the 

INPUTS SELECT ENERGY SUBSYSTEMS & RUN OPTIONS 

Click Process Flow Diagram

1

FuelFuel burner

heat sink 

Flow Diagram

button 

1

Title worksheet 

Grid

Water

FC SYSTEM + H2

electrolyzer

Grid

Sun PV

y

Wind Turbines

The model opens in the Title

worksheet. Click the button to proceed to the Process Flow Diagram worksheet. 

• Select Subsystems by clicking checkboxes on the “PFD” 

tab

• Select

H Storage if modeling a tri

-generation system

2 

• Select

H

2 Storage if modeling

a tri

-generation system

• Note: Fuel Cell System is always selected.

National Renewable Energy Laboratory 12 
FCPower Model Input Sheet – Central Locatio

Input and Navigation

Buttons that co

and export ocalculations

– Use the “To

import hour

Links to capita

equipment ssh t ee

t

s

Incentives, de

and fixed op

Variable operat

incl ding link incl

uding link 

electricity pr

National Renewable Energy Laboratory 13 
Methane Sources in the Sacrame

• About 5.5 M

electricit

y co

generated frdigester met

National Renewable Energy Laboratory 14 
Economic Evaluation of Fuel Cell Insta

Dairy

Hypothetical facility profile:1,000 cows housed in a free-stall barnBiogas system:

• Manure collection

• Plug-flow anaerobic digester• Biogas collection and purification• Di t t ges

ter was

te press separa

tor

• Windrow composting of solids

• Field application of water Field application of water

• Molten carbonate fuel cell for electricity heat production

National Renewable Energy Laboratory 15 

• Electricity not used onsite is fed to t
Energy & Material Values

Units V

Methane production Btu CH4/day/ cow (kWh 

CH4/day/cow)

4

Electricity production (assuming 45% average electrical efficiency for fuel cell)

kWh/day/cow ~

Usable heat production (assuming 75% total efficiency for fuel cell)

kWh/day/cow ~

Finished compost Cubic yards/year/ cow 3Electricity required for digesteroperation

kWh/cow/day ~

Heat required for operation of kWh/cow/day ~chillers (for milk) and heating of the digester*0.014 tons chilling per cow per day per hour of milking

National Renewable Energy Laboratory 16 

Sources: Martin, John H. Jr. A Comparison of Dairy Cattle Manure Managem

Without Anaerobic Digestion and Biogas Utilization, EPA AgSTAR Program, 

EPA AgSTAR Handbook, Second Edition.
Cost Values

Units Value 

cow f

Digester system installed $K = [563*(number of cows) + 1,170cost 678,064]/103Post-digestion solids separation system

% of total project capital cost ($K)

6.9 (98

Hydrogen sulfide removal Hydrogen sulfide removal % of total % of total project capital cost project capital cost 4 5* (6

($K)

4.5* (6

Utility hookup % of total project capital cost 

($K)

7.9 (11

MCFC uninstalled cost $/kW ($K), 300 kW system** 2,500 Federal tax incentive $K 324CA SGIP using renewable CA SGIP using renewable $K $4 50/W for FC > 30kW 1 350

fuel

$K, $4.50/W for FC > 30kW

using renewable fuel

1,350

*High end of cost range assumed for fuel cell purity requirements** 250 kW system would be required for 6kWh/day/cow average production.

National Renewable Energy Laboratory 17 

Sources: Martin, John H. Jr. A Comparison of Dairy Cattle Manure Managem

Without Anaerobic Digestion and Biogas Utilization, EPA AgSTAR Program, 

EPA AgSTAR Handbook, Second Edition.
Analysis Results for 1,000 Cow D

1,000 cow dairy Electricity (kWh/y) Heat (kWUsed onsite Used onsite 367 920 367,920 367 920 367,920Sold 1,810,190Total 2 178 110 2,178,110 367 920 367,920

Overall system efficiency is 54% based on he

Utilization of available heat is only 26% Utilization of available heat is only 26%.

National Renewable Energy Laboratory 18 
Analysis Results for 1,000 Cow D

Annualized costs

Capital costs 

CHHP System Annualized Costs

Capital costs Decommissionin

g costs 

Fixed O&M Feedstock costs 

Oth t i l t Other raw material costs B

yproduct credits 

Other variable costs (includin

g utilities) 

Total 

For comparison, purchase of natural gas for chillers wo

$13 444/year $13,444/year.

National Renewable Energy Laboratory 19 
GHG Emissions Comparison

GHG Emissions Comparison

100,000.00

50,000.00

ester CH4

-50,000.00

0.00

Base Case (w/o digester) g

CO2eq/mmBtu

Digester with Fuel Cell (

CO2eq/mmBtu)

mmBtu Dige

-100,000.00

,

g CO2eq/m

-150,000.00

GHG Emissions from manure management GHG Emissions from biogas recoveryGHG Emissions from bio

gp g as 

processin

g avoided emissions - electricit

y gener

avoided emissions - heat utilization

Data Source: CARB, Detailed California-Modified GREET Pathway for Liquefied Natural 

Digester BioGas, CARB Stationary Source Division, Version 2.0, September 23, 2009.

National Renewable Energy Laboratory 20 
Thank You

Contact Information:Darlene steward@nrel gov Darlene.steward@nrel.gov

National Renewable Energy Laboratory 21