Economic Analysis of Alternative Energy Sources Problem Statement Design for rural Iowa client Evaluate alternative energy sources - Wind - Solar - Petroleum - Fuel Cells - Microturbine - Micro-hydro Evaluate modes of operation Calculations determined by geographical location Provide information - Costs - Payback Period - Manufacturers Will be incorporated as part of webpage Alternative Choices Electric Load Data Utility Supplier Info. If Applicable Wind/Solar Weather Wind Micro-Turbines Property Info Reliability Margin Calculated Needed Load Petroleum Generator Economic Analysis Calculator Solar Fuel Cells Micro-Hydro Incentive WebsitesPrimary Specs/Cost Primary Source Batteries Inverters Secondary Specs/Cost AssumptionsSecondary SourceHydro-Websites Liability OUTPUT DATABASE INPUT Dec Advisors Mr. Tom Baird (ECpE) Dr. John Lamont (ECpE) Prof. Ralph Patterson, III (ECpE) Dr. Greg Smith (ECpE) Client: Senior Design Team Members Kyle Drees EE (Team Leader) Mitchell Frazier EE (Communication Coordinator) Peter Howard EE Abraham Tarbey EE Project Requirements Calculations The input page takes all data from the user. The four main information categories are load, property, rate (shown), and alternative energy selection. Several of the inputs, such as the utility company, implement drop down menus that force the user to choose from a pre-selected list. Since the sheet is not going to be seen by the user, it was not built to be completely user friendly, but to best meet the needs of the calculator. Input Page Output Page Take user inputs Create information database - Scientific data - Manufacturer information - Utilities Easily updatable database Provide information on rebates Account for forecasted increase - Load - Prices Determine optimal system Create user manual The sheet above is the wind speed probability calculator. The sheet above predicts the wind speed probabilities in a specified area by taking known average wind speeds from a database and determining the probability for each speed range. The calculator takes into account height, turbulence, and other environmental factors. The output page supplies the user with the information derived from the system they helped specify. Information on the system’s manufacturer provides any important specifications on the system needed by the user. The expected costs associated with the system are shown both numerically and graphically. A brief analysis of the system is given based on costs and system choice to assist in interpreting the data. Testing Conclusion Creating spreadsheets to verify calculations in more complicated cells Checking against known data from the Iowa Energy Center Attempting all combinations of possible input values to detect irregularities Changing cells individually to be sure that function cell is referencing correctly Ensuring that calculations are not redundant to avoid confusion With rising energy costs and a greater public awareness of environmental issues, more and more people are looking for greener ways to produce electricity. While there are options available, it is not always easy to determine the costs associated with the device or what system would best fit a user’s needs. It is our hope that this project will provide that information for an interested individual living in rural Iowa., and serve as a first step in the acquisition of such a system.