Computer Applications in
Energy Systems
ES 811
adeelwaqas@[Link]
1
Using RETSCREEN
Why RETSCREEN???
Fossil fuel based energy industry relies on exploration and proven
reserves for discovery and economic support of energy markets
While the renewable energy sector depends upon the assessment of
resources for planning and selling their energy production technology.
System designers and installers use the simpler tools for sizing whereas
scientists and engineers use more involved simulation tools for
optimization.
Even though numerous software tools available, but sometimes difficult
to assess the adequacy for specific tasks for example the accuracy
requirement for a pre-feasibility analysis, system design, optimization
and R&D
3
• The RETScreen International Clean Energy Decision Support Centre seeks to
build the capacity of planners, decision-makers and industry to implement
renewable energy, cogeneration and energy efficiency projects.
• The objective of RETScreen are:
Developing decision-making tools (i.e. RETScreen Software) that reduce the
cost of pre-feasibility studies;
Disseminating knowledge to help people make better decisions; and
Training people to better analyse the technical and financial viability of possible
projects.
Clean Energy Technology Models in RETSCREEN
The RETScreen Software can be used to evaluate industrial, commercial, institutional,
community, residential and utility applications for the following technologies
Photovoltaic Project Model
On-grid (central-grid and isolated-grid PV systems);
Off-grid (stand-alone (PV-battery) and hybrid (PV-battery-genset) systems);
Water pumping applications (PV-pump systems).
Solar Air Heating Project Model
Ventilation air heating and process air heating applications of transpired-
plate solar collectors, from small residential to larger commercial/industrial
scale ventilation systems
Air-drying processes for various crops.
Clean Energy Technology Models in RETSCREEN
Solar Water Heating Project Model
Domestic hot water; industrial process heat and swimming pools (indoor
and outdoor), ranging in size from small residential systems to large scale
commercial, institutional and industrial systems.
Wind Energy Project Model
For central-grid and isolated-grid connected projects, ranging in size from
large-scale multi-turbine wind farms to small-scale single-turbine wind-diesel
hybrid systems.
Small Hydro Project Model
For central-grid and isolated-grid connected projects, ranging in size from
multi-turbine small and mini hydro installations to single-turbine micro hydro
systems.
Viability of SWH in different areas of Pakistan
Collector area price
120
100
80
Solar Water Heating system
60
40
Price in PKR
20
Gas Consumption (MMBTU)
30
0
25
20
15 Amount of Gas saved by using
Multan
10 Quetta solar water heating system
5 Islamabad
0
100
Solar fraction (%)
80
60
Fraction of load met by SWH
Multan
40
Islamabad
20 Quetta
0 2 4 6 8 10 12 14 16 18 20
Collector Area (m2)
Viability of SWH in different areas of Pakistan
Multan Islamabad Quetta
12
11
10
8
Pay Back in years
0
-25% -20% -15% -10% -5% 0% 5% 10% 15% 20% 25%
Change of Natural Gas Price
Journal Articles/Publication Based on RETSCREEN Analysis
No: Title of Publication Published year
1 Study of economic viability of photovoltaic electric power for 2013
Quetta – Pakistan.
2 Financial measures Serbia should offer for solar water heating 2012
systems.
3 Environmental, technical and financial feasibility study of solar 2012
power plants by RETScreen, according to the targeting of energy
subsidies in Iran.
4 Life cycle environmental impact assessment of a solar water heater. 2012
5 Design Needs of A Solar PV System For Winton – Queensland ,. 2012
6 Potential and viability of grid-connected solar PV system in Bangladesh. 2012
7 Modeling Impact of Solar Radiation on Site Selection for Solar PV 2011
Power Plants In India.
Journal Articles/Publication Based on RETSCREEN Analysis
The costs and benefits of large-scale solar photovoltaic power
8 2011
production in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.
Solar water heating initiative in Oman energy saving and carbon
9 2011
credits
The feasibility of renewable energies at an off-grid community in
10 2009
Canada
11 Prospects of wind farm development in Algeria. Desalination, 2009
Performance of commercially available solar and heat pump
12 2008
water heaters.
13 Cost of solar energy generated using PV panels. 2007
Training Material Available
Training course material available on website
Clean energy project analysis
Energy efficiency
Heating / Cooling
Power
Combined heat & power (Cogeneration)
Legal aspects of energy projects
e-Textbook
Case studies / Templates
Figures & graphs
Please visit [Link]
Working with RETSCREEN
RETSCREEN is an Excel Based free software which can be
downloaded from [Link]
Click the
language of
your choice
Down able Training material available at the website
Material to be
down loaded
How to use the Start up page
Macros should be activated
from this tab
Initially when we start the
RETSCREEN by clicking
the Icon MACROS in MS
excel are inactive we
have to activate them
Working with RETSCREEN
The user enters data into "shaded" worksheet cells.
All other cells that do not require input data are protected to prevent the user
from mistakenly deleting a formula or reference cell
The RETScreen Cell Color Coding chart presents the color coding for
input and output cells.
White box Model out put Calculated by the model
Yellow box User input Required to run the model
User input for reference purpose only
Grey box Not needed to run the model
How to use the Start up page
After enabling
macros the main
RETSCREEN sheet
looks like this
How to use the Start up page
Grey boxes are optional
to be filled
In project types user
decide which project
he/she is interested
User Decide for
which sector it is
intended to do
How to use the Start up page
Method 1 is simple
one while method 2
is detailed
Select the Appropriate
language, currency and
unit
How to use the Start up page
How to use the Start up page
Base Case Vs Proposed Case
Base Case
Base case refers to the existing situation that u want to replace
Proposed Case
Proposed case refers to the changes that you are going to make
in base case
Emission Analysis
“Financial Analysis”
RETSCREEN -AIT - Energy efficiency-RETSCREEN -AIT - Energy efficiency - RETSCREEN -AIT - Energy efficiency -
Financial parameters
Financial viability 23
Reference material in RETSCREEN built in help