Economic Analysis of Alternative Energy Sources

Design Report

Senior Design Dec07-03

Client Senior Design

Faculty Advisors

Professor Ralph Patterson III

Dr. John W Lamont

Tom Baird

Team Members

Kyle Drees Mitchell Frazier Peter Howard

Abraham Tarbey

REPORT DISCLAIMER NOTICE

DISCLAIMER: This document was developed as a part of the requirements of an electrical and computer engineering course at Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa. This document does not constitute a professional engineering design or a professional land surveying document. Although the information is intended to be accurate, the associated students, faculty, and Iowa State University make no claims, promises, or guarantees about the accuracy, completeness, quality, or adequacy of the information. The user of this document shall ensure that any such use does not violate any laws with regard to professional licensing and certification requirements. This use includes any work resulting from this student-prepared document that is required to be under the responsible charge of a licensed engineer or surveyor. This document is copyrighted by the students who produced this document and the associated faculty advisors. No part may be reproduced without the written permission of the senior design course coordinator.

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Date Submitted

March 30, 2007

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Section 1:

Table of Contents

SECTION 1: ......................................................................................................... II

Table of Contents.......................................................................................................................................... ii

List of Figures ................................................................................................................................................v

List of Tables................................................................................................................................................ vi

List of Tables................................................................................................................................................ vi

List of Definitions ....................................................................................................................................... vii

List of Definitions ....................................................................................................................................... vii

SECTION 1: INTRODUCTORY MATERIAL....................................................... 1

1.1 Executive Summary................................................................................................................................1

1.2 Acknowledgements ................................................................................... Error! Bookmark not defined.

1.3 Problem Statement ..................................................................................................................................2 1.3.1 General Problem ...............................................................................................................................2 1.3.2 Proposed Solution.............................................................................................................................2

1.4 Operating Environment .........................................................................................................................2

1.5 Intended Users and Uses ........................................................................................................................2

1.6 Assumptions and Limitations ................................................................................................................2 1.6.1 Assumptions ................................................................................... Error! Bookmark not defined. 1.6.2 Limitations...................................................................................... Error! Bookmark not defined.

1.7 Expected End Product ...........................................................................................................................3

SECTION 2: APPROACH................................................................................... 5

2.1 Design Objectives ....................................................................................................................................5 2.1.1 Provide a Centralized Resource for Cost of Implementation Information on Alternative Energy Sources .......................................................................................................................................................5 2.1.2 Create an Economic Evaluation Calculator .......................................................................................5 2.1.3 Create a Source Evaluator..................................................................................................................5 2.1.4 Create an Online Guide System.........................................................................................................5

2.2 Functional Requirements........................................................................................................................6 2.2.1 Required Functionality ......................................................................................................................6

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2.2.2 Other Possible Functionality..............................................................................................................7

2.3 Design Constraints...................................................................................................................................7

2.4 Technical Approach Considerations and Results .................................................................................8

2.5 Testing Approach Considerations..........................................................................................................8

2.6 Recommendations Regarding Product Future .....................................................................................9

SECTION 3: DETAILED DESIGN..................................................................... 10

3.1 Alternative Energy System Design.......................................................................................................12 3.1.1 Wind Evaluation ..............................................................................................................................13 3.1.2 Solar Evaluation...............................................................................................................................13 3.1.3 Small-Head Hydro Evaluation.........................................................................................................14 3.1.4 Micro-Turbines Evaluation..............................................................................................................14 3.1.5 Fuel Cells Evaluation.......................................................................................................................14 3.1.6 Petroleum Generation Evaluation ....................................................................................................15

3.2 Energy Storage ......................................................................................................................................15 3.2.1 Necessary Inputs and Component Considerations...........................................................................15

3.2.1.1 User Load.................................................................................................................................15 3.2.1.2 User’s Decision on How to Install AES...................................................................................16 3.2.1.3 Utility Costs .............................................................................................................................16 3.2.1.4 Cost of Utility Lines.................................................................................................................16 3.2.1.5 Transformer Cost .....................................................................................................................16 3.2.1.6 Switchboard Cost .....................................................................................................................16 3.2.1.7 AES Component Installation Cost ...........................................................................................16 3.2.1.8 Inverter Cost.............................................................................................................................17 3.2.1.9 Battery Cost .............................................................................................................................17 3.2.1.10 Charge Controller Cost ..........................................................................................................17 3.2.2.1 Utility as Primary with AES as Secondary ..............................................................................17 3.2.2.2 AES as Primary with Utility as Secondary ..............................................................................18 3.2.2.3 AES as Primary with no Secondary .........................................................................................18 3.2.2.4 Utility as Primary with Storage Solution as Secondary ...........................................................18 3.2.2.5 AES as Primary with Selling Excess back to Utility as Secondary..........................................18 3.2.2.6 Utility and AES as Primary with Utility as Secondary ............................................................18

3.3 Incentives................................................................................................................................................18 3.3.1 Federal Incentives............................................................................................................................19 3.3.2 Iowa Incentives................................................................................................................................19 3.3.3 Company Incentives ........................................................................................................................19

3.4 Output ....................................................................................................................................................20

SECTION 4: ESTIMATED RESOURCES AND SCHEDULES .......................... 22

4.1 Personnel Effort Requirements ............................................................................................................22

4.2 Other Resource Requirements .............................................................................................................22

4.3 Financial Requirements ........................................................................................................................22

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4.4 Project Work Schedule .........................................................................................................................22

4.5 Deliverables Schedule............................................................................................................................22

SECTION 5: CLOSURE MATERIAL ................................................................ 28

5.1 Project Team Information ....................................................................................................................28 5.1.1 Client Information ...........................................................................................................................28 5.1.2 Faculty Advisor Information ...........................................................................................................28 5.1.3 Members Information .....................................................................................................................28

5.2 Closing Summary ..................................................................................................................................29

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List of Figures Figure 3. 1 May07-03 Design Overview .......................................................................... 10 Figure 3. 2 Overview of This Project................................................................................ 11 Figure 3. 3 Economic Analysis Engine Input and Outputs............................................... 11 Figure 3. 4 Inputs of the Alternative Energy Sources Calculator .................................... 12 Figure 3. 5 Power Storage Inputs...................................................................................... 15 Figure 3. 6 Incentives Calculator Inputs ........................................................................... 19 Figure 4. 1 Original Estimated Project Schedule.............................................................. 26 Figure 4. 2 Updated Estimated Project Schedule.............................................................. 26 Figure 4. 3 Project Deliverables Schedule....................................................................... 27

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List of Tables Table 4. 1 Original Estimate of Personnel Time Commitment ........................................ 23 Table 4. 2 Updated Estimate of Personnel Time Commitment ........................................ 24 Table 4. 3 Original Estimated Cost of the Project ............................................................ 25 Table 4. 4 Updated Estimated Cost of the Project ............................................................ 25

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List of Definitions Alternate Energy Source (AES) - Energy derived from sources that are renewable or

cause less harm to the environment; such as solar, wind and bioenergy. Fuel Cell - A device that is able to convert chemical energy to electricity without the need

for combustion. Inverter – A device used to convert independent DC power into standard household AC

current. Small Head Hydro - Energy derived from a stream of water with little downward fall. Microturbine - A rotary engine that extracts energy from a flow of combustion gas that

generates electricity for use in homes or commercial establishments, operates similar to a jet engine. They can be fueled by natural gas or some other energy source.

Net Metering – Net metering is a simplified method of metering the energy consumed

and produced at a home or business that has its own renewable energy generator, such as a wind turbine. Under net metering, excess electricity produced by the wind turbine will spin the existing home’s or business’ electricity meter backwards, effectively banking the electricity until it is needed by the customer. This provides the customer with full retail value for all the electricity produced.

Solar Cell –Device that converts solar energy into electricity. Wind Turbine – A device that turns wind energy into electricity.

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Section 1: Introductory Material

The following is a description of the introductory material which contains an executive summary, a problem statement, the steps which will be taken to reach a solution, the assumptions and limitations of the design, and the expected end product.

1.1 Executive Summary

Rising energy costs, unreliability of foreign energy sources, and the increasing amounts of greenhouse gases have generated a competition for finding cleaner renewable energy sources. Fueled by renewed public interest to try to cut down on global warming, this project will help a rural resident or farmer evaluate the applicability of various alternative energy sources as either a supplement to, or a replacement for, their current energy supply. In the May07-03 project, a customer will input information about their needs into website, and the output displayed will contain possible cost effective alternative energy sources depending on their location. To arrive at the cost, an interested client will be requested to input information (data), specifically current utility load and intended mode of operation. This project will build upon the May07-03’s design. The purpose of this project is to build a more accurate and robust Economic Analysis Engine for the previous project. The group contains only Electrical Engineering students with limited programming skills, so the project will be created in Microsoft Excel. Using different spreadsheets, Excel will be used to accurately process the data into an output containing the most economical system available to users and the costs associated with specific system. Additional information from Iowa weather maps, as well as other data collected by project May07-03 will be used in the calculations. The Excel program will act as a mathematical tool to facilitate overall functionality of the project. One aspect of the Economic Analysis Engine will be to evaluate the costs associated with operating each of the alternative energy sources provided by the May07-03 program. The factors used in determining the cost will be acquired from the user and a database located within the Economic Analysis Engine. The database will supply information on costs associated with incorporating the alternative energy sources. It comprises installation and materials costs present in whatever installation method is chosen by the user. It also takes into account what form of alternative energy will be used during the installation, as that will affect the cost of installation.

At its conclusion, the project will combine all the above information and advice an interested party on the best possible alternative energy source, and costs associated with. A disclaimer will be included that cautions users to seek actual professional or

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expert’s advice before embarking on any suggested project. The disclaimer will also mention the fact this is a student based program, and the group is not responsible in case of error.

1.2 Acknowledgements The group would like to thank Dr. Lamont, Professor Patterson, Tom Baird, and Dr. Liu for all of their help and guidance throughout the project.

1.3 Problem Statement This section describes the problem which the project is trying to solve. It also contains a brief explanation of the solution and proposed implementation.

1.3.1 General Problem Increased cost of energy coupled with environmental effects of present energy sources has created awareness into the need for alternative sources of energy. In the project we shall design a one stop source of information. This project will provide an easy way to evaluate the effectiveness, cost and availability of different energy sources.

1.3.2 Proposed Solution An Excel spreadsheet will be created that will be available to the public. Interested parties will be able to input data relating to their present energy use and location, as well as future growth or renovations. The Excel program will carry out a mathematical evaluation of different types of alternative energy sources, and will output to the user the available options for the customer. This project will take information previously gathered from the user, and filtered and organized by May07-03’s Source Feasibility Calculator. An Economic Analysis Engine will search a specifically built database to find the most economical alternative energy source or sources.

1.4 Operating Environment The Excel program will be located on members’ university drives, eventually being stored on a website on one of the university or other servers. The completed design will be run by public access server on a website.

1.5 Intended Users and Uses Citizens who are interested in installing alternative energy sources as a primary, backup, or as a stand alone system will benefit from this project. Usage will be free of charge whereas the advice will not be deemed professional. Users will need to consult professional experts before embarking on the project.

1.6 Assumptions and Limitations The following two sections contain the assumptions and limitations for this project. They are necessary to create a design which can be completed successfully.

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1.6.1 Assumptions The assumptions made for the project are as follows:

• Users will have access to a computer. This design is solely based on use of a computer. User will need basic computer skills.

• User should be able to read and understand English – The Excel spreadsheet will be implemented in English only.

• Program will be used within the state of Iowa. • Values provided will be considered as estimate, fluctuating of equipment

prices makes it hard to predict exact cost of alternative energy source and the payback periods associated with them.

• Information or data from other sources like weather maps, previous groups or even users input will hopefully reflect accurate values.

• It is assumed that the May07-03’s Source Feasibility Calculator will provide required data needed for the Economic Analysis Engine to provide an accurate analysis.

1.6.2 Limitations The limitations for this project are as follows:

• Programming – The team members are not well versed with technical programming.

• The inputs from the user will not be provided directly to us, but rather through the Source Feasibility calculator of the May07-03’s project. The data gathered is limited to what is available on the May07-03’s website in terms of the ability to know exactly what the user wants.

• Non-battery energy storage devices are too specific – Since the design has been limited to only electrical production and the depth of the evaluation has been limited to the load point level, storage technologies other than batteries cannot be feasibly evaluated for use in the Excel spreadsheet. However, they will still be included in the educational component.

• Maintenance costs will not be exact – Since maintenance for alternative energy sources can vary greatly based on who is performing the maintenance and whether they are local or not, it is not feasible to try to calculate accurate estimates.

• It may be very difficult to gauge exact load behavior, so recommendations and values given will not model an exact solution. There will be a little room for error built in, but the solution cannot be expected to be exact.

• The electrical energy production will be considered, limited time constraints will not allow other forms of energy savings such as heat pumps.

1.7 Expected End Product The expected end product is an Excel-based program that will replace the existing Economic Analysis Engine in the May07-03 project. The Economic Analysis Engine will be fairly straight forward to operate. Since the engine is embedded in a website program, there will be no user’s manual, weekly updates or paperwork. The team will

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also create a poster, and a final report wrapping up the project. The actual deliverable will be an Excel file that is ready to incorporate into the May07-03 project.

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Section 2: Approach

The following steps give an overview of the initial guidelines that shall be followed over the course of this project.

2.1 Design Objectives The design objectives summarize the overall goal of the project. They are mainly based on the project’s problem statement and the proposed solution.

2.1.1 Provide a Centralized Resource for Cost of Implementation Information on Alternative Energy Sources

The main concept of the problem statement is to address the lack of a central source of information about the availability and variety of alternative energy sources to the average person. The Excel based calculator created for this project will utilize filtered and organized user input information to provide feasible alternative sources of energy with all the related installed costs, operational costs, and educational components included. In addition, it will highlight some of the important factors that someone wishing to implement an alternative energy source should consider.

2.1.2 Create an Economic Evaluation Calculator Another component of the problem statement is that energy customers need a way to evaluate the economic feasibility of implementing an alternative energy source to supplement or replace their current energy provider or to provide energy for a new load point. This project will create a calculator which can be integrated into the final website started by May07-03 to take information from a user and provide a list of economically feasible energy options based on their needs.

2.1.3 Create a Source Evaluator One previously stated assumption is that May07-03 has designed and completed a form of a Source Feasibility Calculator. The outputs of that calculator will be enough to allow the Economic Analysis Engine to devise an alternative energy source package.

2.1.4 Create an Online Guide System Because the problem statement relates to the average person, it will be necessary to provide the users of the Evaluator with assistance in using the calculator, especially how to input data and understand the output. A help system will be designed as part of the website to explain inputs to users and assist them in finding the necessary information. The previous group has done a good job of providing definitions of terms, and explanations of why the information is required.

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2.2 Functional Requirements The functional requirements of this project will specify how the final Economic Analysis Engine should perform. The calculator will combine filtered and organized user information from the Source Evaluation Calculator with data stored in a database to arrive at an appropriate solution for the user. Practical and reasonable outputs from the Economic Analysis Engine will greatly determine the success of the project.

2.2.1 Required Functionality Success of the project will be evaluated using the following parameters:

• Excel based calculator shall handle simultaneous users – Since the Evaluator will be based on a website, it makes sense that it is be able to handle multiple users at a time. The easiest way of handling this is to have a new program created for each user.

• Information included in database for the Economic Analysis Engine will contain information about wind, solar, small-head hydro, micro turbines, fuel cells, biomass, heat pumps, and energy storage – These are the technologies agreed upon by the faculty advisors and the project team to be important for educating users.

• The Economic Analysis Engine shall return a system recommendation to the user; such recommendation will give the user preliminary background information, as well as advice on where to purchase the recommended solution.

• Calculator will utilize over 12 months of electric utility data – To make an accurate economic evaluation, it is necessary to have a sufficient history of electric usage. This will not only allow for averaging, but will also allow for insight into how changes in seasons affect the usage patterns. It will also allow someone to estimate future loads to check for correct system sizing.

• The only personal information the user shall be required to input is their zip code, as this will ensure the privacy of any user. Privacy is a big concern for many people using the Internet. Because this website is to be user-friendly, only the user’s zip code will be required. The zip code is necessary to look up weather data for use in evaluating source feasibility and output capability. This data is used in the Source Feasibility Calculator, the data is then fed into the Economic Analysis Engine.

• Input validation shall be performed on all dynamic inputs – The data from the Source Feasibility Calculator will be checked for errors, such as negative power requirements. The data is assumed to be pre-checked, but the data will be rechecked as it enters the Economic Analysis Engine.

• The Economic Analysis Engine shall return results promptly – Since the overall website must be user-friendly, the program should avoid situations where users wait for lengthy periods of time.

• Users shall not be required to select which alternative energy sources to evaluate – One goal of this project is to help inform users of alternative energy

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sources which they didn’t realize were feasible, so requiring users to choose would defeat this goal.

• Users shall not be required to install special software – For the purpose of user-friendliness; the Evaluator will based on a website therefore will not require any software other than an operating system and a web browser.

• A database containing the available alternative energy sources will have its data updated regularly.

• Areas of the Evaluator shall include: educational component, online help and links to other advance sites for more information. – These sections will be necessary so as to direct users to information which will facilitate them making informed decision. As with a few other parts, May07-03 has completed these tasks.

• Users could be able to enter multiple load points – To simulate a complex environment, users will be given the capability to enter multiple load points, including proposed new loads for which no previous electrical utility data is available. The system should be robust enough to handle new loads as well as existing loads.

• The output data will advise the customer on how to go about selling extra energy back to the utility company.

2.2.2 Other Possible Functionality The functions in this section are ones which are not essential to project success. If time permits, some or all of them may be implemented.

• Users may choose to evaluate economic implication of a particular alternative energy source irrespective of its feasibility, some users may have a technologies they are interested in, or have a bias against a certain source; users could be given the option to eliminate them from the evaluation calculator. Evaluation will solely depend on user’s choice.

• Users may get several feasible options with associated or related cost. Currently the team is just looking at an Excel based Evaluator that will give a most appropriate, most cost-effective alternative source.

2.3 Design Constraints These constraints specify the limits that will be imposed on the final product. They are based on the assumptions and limitations as outlines in the initial project proposal.

• The entire Evaluator shall be contained in a website; this might limit the amount of space and information contained in the Evaluator. The project shall also conform to ISU space allocation.

• Evaluation will be limited to electric power sources– Limited time for the project means the team can only accomplish electric power evaluation in the design.

• With the exception of energy storage and sources, mixed technologies and mixed fuel will not be part of the economic evaluation – Considering the complexity of combining multiple types of alternative energy sources and the time allotted to

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the project, mixed designs will not be considered for economic evaluations. However, mixed energy storages will be required. Allowed designs may have both wind and solar, but a micro turbine will not be able to run on gasses from trash then switch to natural gas when it isn’t available.

• Heat pumps will not be part of the economic evaluation – Because heat pumps may require the consideration of replacing non-electric loads, their discussion will be limited to the educational component of the website.

• The project is a simple Excel based calculator therefore will not include Java applets, Flash, or Shockwave, these types of demonstrations or programs will not be used in anyway. The final user interface will be decided by May07-03 or a future group.

• Area span- The span of operation shall be limited only to the state of Iowa, unless the May07-03 team changes the input data criterion.

• User input data - This program will depend on the accuracy of the data that the user inputs. The more accurate the user input data, the more precise the prediction will be. The solution should be accurate, but allow room for a little error.

• This project is limited to Microsoft Excel because of the limited programming skills of the team members. Other software products will not be considered.

2.4 Technical Approach Considerations and Results Since this project is written using Microsoft Excel, keeping track of all sources of data will be of paramount importance. Data obtained from customers as well that from a database will be utilized to formulate a feasibility analysis and cost evaluation of alternative sources of energy.

• Creation of Database: A database with all types of energy sources shall be created; this will act as the main source of mathematical information for the alternative energy sources calculator.

• Weather and Location Information: To ease the amount of work done on obtaining weather information for wind and solar energies, the data obtained from the inputs from the May07-03 project.

• Types of Sources: For the purposes of practical approach, this project is more inclined towards wind, solar and small head-hydro where applicable. Iowa is relatively sunny and flat therefore ideal for wind generators as well as solar powered energy sources.

• Microsoft Excel: This will be the brains for data storage and calculations; this project shall use this program to store formulas for executing each calculation. Furthermore its simple interface makes it relatively easy to manipulate data especially when doing calculations with Excel.

2.5 Testing Approach Considerations Multiple load-serving scenarios will be used for testing the evaluation calculator by team members. Outputs will be checked against the expected values, and then confirmed using manual calculation. After initial testing, advisors and faculty will be asked to provide the second phase of testing and verification. They may use the

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scenarios created by the design team, or may use their own scenarios. Besides evaluating the functionality, they will be asked to evaluate the Excel program in terms of its usability and completeness using the evaluation form that will be given to the users in the third phase of testing. Finally, the program will be distributed to thirty or more people with an evaluation form to assess the functionality, feasibility of retrieving input information, user-friendliness, and completeness. These people will be selected from family and friends of the designers and advisors; rural residents known by the designers and advisors will also be included. The design team will test the evaluator from a system perspective. The most important aspect of this test will be input/output verification, as well as system stability. Any program with dynamic input need to be tested for errors, incorrect inputs will be tried. This will verify that the evaluator correctly checks inputs and the system will not become unstable processing incorrect data.

2.6 Recommendations Regarding Product Future This project is currently on schedule. So far the team should be able to complete the product on time. Being a semi-continuous project, it is largely dependent on the initial group for information crucial to implementation of the actual calculator. The team plans to spend more time on designing how the calculator will work; at the same time various databases are being created and organized that will go into the evaluator. As far as the future of the project, the team would like to see computer engineers included in the team. More advanced programming software could be utilized if students with more robust programming skills were involved in the project. There were some simplifications, such as tax implications, that were overlooked because of the amount of time that would be required. The project is also limited on the data received, because this project resides inside of a larger project, and has no way to obtain any other data from users. It was difficult to obtain information on many micro turbines, so the project will not be able to effectively choose the most cost effective turbine.

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Section 3: Detailed Design This section will describe the end product design of the project Economic Analysis of Alternative Energy which is a part of the project program to Evaluate Alternative Energy Sources. The main design will use Excel interfaced with the website of the project Program to Evaluate Alternative Energy Sources (May07-03). The design is broken down into five different subparts that feed into and out of the Economic Analysis Engine: May07-03 Input, Alternative Energy Sources, Power Storage, Incentives and Output. The following diagram is the overall flowchart of the project, while the Economic Comparison Calculator is same as Economic Analysis Engine.

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Courtesy of May07-03 Figure 3. 1 May07-03 Design Overview

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Source Type

Operating Cost kw/hr

Maintenance Cost

Est. Source Lifespan

Incentives

Installation Cost

Equipment Cost

Overall Cost

Est. Payback Time

Assumptions

Capacity khw/mo

May07-03 Outputs

Source Type

Operating Cost kw/hr

Maintenance Cost

Est. Source Lifespan

Incentives

Installation Cost

Equipment Cost

Overall Cost

Est. Payback Time

Assumptions

Capacity khw/moCapacity khw/mo

May07-03 OutputsMay07-03 Outputs

Figure 3. 3 E

conomic A

nalysis Engine Input and O

utputs

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To interface the Economic Analysis of Alternative Energy component, adequate inputs are provided by the user as well as by the project of May07-03. Information provided by the users includes zip codes and billing data, which is then fed into the source feasibility calculator provided by May07-03. May07-03 provides adequate weather situations for different zip codes. Since May07-03’s Source Feasible Calculator has eliminated all the impossible climates to operate each different alternative source, the Economic Analysis Engine will be able to take the adequate weather information combined with alternative energy sources and incentives to calculate the best suitable for operation.

Inside the project May07-03, the user’s billing information includes the current utility company, the demand change, current charge, average monthly power consumption, and peak monthly power consumption. Because of the input given by the project May07-03 to the Economic Analysis Engine, the total rated output power in kilowatts is determined.

3.1 Alternative Energy Source Design For adequate analysis of best prices and environment friendly systems, the following alternative energies must be considered: wind, solar, small-head hydro, micro-turbines, fuel cells, diesel, and biomass. The design will compare the listed alternative energy and then produce the best economic output costs for users.

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Foundation Size

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Initial cost

Rotor Diameter

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Model #

# of Cells

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# of Arrays

Mounting Locations

Rated Output Power (KW)

Manufacturer

Initial cost

Weight

Cost Per KWH

Emissions

Maintenance Cost

Est. Engine Life

Model #

Rated Output KW

Output VoltageEfficiencyFuel Type

Equipment Cost

WeightSize

Noise

Installation Cost

Maintenance Cost

Est. Engine Life

Model #

Rated Output Power (KW)Output Voltage

Efficiency

Equipment Cost

WeightSize

Installation Cost

Sources for Information

Sources for Information

Maintenance CostEst. Turbine Life

Model #

# of Blades

Rated Output Power (KW)Voltage Output

Survival Rate

Cost Per KWH

Foundation Size

Tower Height

Noise

Manufacturer

Initial cost

Rotor Diameter

Maintenance CostMaintenance CostEst. Turbine LifeEst. Turbine Life

Model #Model #

# of Blades# of Blades

Rated Output Power (KW)Rated Output Power (KW)Voltage OutputVoltage Output

Survival RateSurvival Rate

Cost Per KWHCost Per KWH

Foundation SizeFoundation Size

Tower HeightTower Height

NoiseNoise

ManufacturerManufacturer

Initial costInitial cost

Rotor DiameterRotor Diameter

Maintenance CostMaintenance CostOpen Circuit voltageOpen Circuit voltage

Model #Model #

# of Cells# of Cells

SizeSizeEst. Solar LifeEst. Solar Life

Short Circuit CurrentShort Circuit Current

EfficiencyEfficiency

# of Arrays# of Arrays

Mounting LocationsMounting Locations

Rated Output Power (KW)Rated Output Power (KW)

ManufacturerManufacturer

Initial costInitial cost

WeightWeight

Cost Per KWHCost Per KWH

EmissionsEmissions

Maintenance Cost

Est. Engine LifeEst. Engine Life

Model #Model #

Rated Output KWRated Output KW

Output VoltageOutput VoltageEfficiencyEfficiencyFuel TypeFuel Type

Equipment CostEquipment Cost

WeightWeightSizeSize

NoiseNoise

Installation CostInstallation Cost

Maintenance Cost

Est. Engine Life

Model #

Rated Output Power (KW)Output Voltage

Efficiency

Equipment Cost

WeightSize

Installation Cost

Maintenance Cost

Est. Engine LifeEst. Engine Life

Model #

Rated Output Power (KW)Rated Output Power (KW)Output VoltageOutput Voltage

EfficiencyEfficiency

Equipment CostEquipment Cost

WeightSize

Installation CostInstallation Cost

Sources for Information

Sources for InformationSources for Information

Figure 3. 4 Inputs of the Alternative Energy Sources Calculator

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3.1.1 Wind Evaluation To adequately evaluate the cost wind energy, the following specifications must be considered. A database of different manufactures and models of wind turbines available, will be used to determine the size and feasibility of using wind energy. The database includes several small parts for the Economic Analysis Engine to evaluate. Different costs are driven by the rated output power, which ultimately will determine the needed size of each turbine. The size of each turbine includes tower height and the number of blades, which determines the foundation size. The rated output power is compared with the user’s load to determine the feasibility of the system. The average annual output power is also used to compare with the user’s annual power consumption to verify the significant impact in the system. The wind speed given by the project May07-03 for the user’s specific location is important in determining whether the usage of wind power is necessary. The RPM of the turbine is determined by the wind speed, which will be a factor in determining the possibility of generating the total output power. The cut-in wind speed will determine the slowest possible speed that the wind turbine will start to generate the output power. The rated wind speed is the most efficient speed for the turbine to generate output power. The initial cost and installation of the wind turbine will affect the calculation in the Economic Analysis Engine. The maintenance costs will be the average cost for the estimated turbine lifespan. The cost per KWH is design for the user to compare it with the user’s current rate. Other considerations that may not be involved with the cost which includes the noise, estimated turbine life, and wind speed survival rate. These may just be the trade off of getting the wind turbine. The Economic Analysis Engine is going to take all of the information given to determine the total cost of operating wind power as an alternative energy.

3.1.2 Solar Evaluation To adequately evaluate the cost solar energy, the following specifications must be considered. A database of different manufactures and models of solar cells are used to determine if any solar cells are feasible. The database includes many mini parts for the Economic Analysis Engine to evaluate. Costs are driven by the rated output power, which determines the size for each solar cell. The rated output power is compared with the user’s load to determine the amount the actual solar size need for the user. The Economic Analysis Engine will

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take the size and multiply by the total needed output power to determine the number of arrays and cells. The mounting location should be in most feasible location where the sunlight shines the most and can with stand the weight of the array of the panels. To mount in the best suitable location the user needs to understand the array size and weight of each solar cell. The weight is used to determine a stable location for mounting. Length and width are given in order to determine the mounting area of the solar cells. The open circuit voltage and short circuit will be used to determine the feasibility of different solar cells for the user. This will allow the Economic Analysis Engine to calculate the total output power. The efficiency of each panel is used to determine the most cost effective panel for the user. Fuse rating will be important in determining weather the user is equipped to install the structure. Installation costs and equipment costs make up the total initial cost. This is used in the Economic Analysis Engine to determine the start up cost for the user. The maintenance cost is the cost to maintain the lifespan of solar panels. The cost per KWH is design to help the customer to compare with the current rate to see if the system is feasible. The Economic Analysis Engine will take all of the information given to determine the total cost to operate solar energy as an alternative energy.

3.1.3 Small-Head Hydro Evaluation In Iowa small-head hydropower is very limited because there is not very many constant flow of a small creek or river. The Economic Analysis Engine will refer users to specific websites who are interested in small-head hydropower.

3.1.4 Micro-Turbines Evaluation Micro-turbines are very large turbines used for big loads. Not many people will be able to utilize the usage of micro-turbine in Iowa. The Economic Analysis Engine will provide links to specific websites for the users who are interested in small-head hydropower.

3.1.5 Fuel Cells Evaluation To adequately evaluate the cost fuel cells, the following specifications must be considered. A database of different manufactures and models of fuel cells are available to determine if any fuel cells are feasible. The database includes many mini parts for the Economic Analysis Engine to evaluate. In calculating the costs associated with the fuel cells, a properly sized cell will be chosen based on the load data specified by the user and the fuel type provided by the user. Once the cell has been chosen, the cost of the energy supplied by the cell will be determined in $/kWh. This will be evaluated by using the fuel rate, the output kW, the efficiency, and the cost of the fuel. Additional data will be supplied to the

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user concerning the generator’s size, weight, and engine life. Data will also be collected concerning equipment and installation costs for later use.

3.1.6 Petroleum Generation Evaluation To adequately evaluate the cost of petroleum generation, the following specifications must be considered. A database of different manufactures and models of petroleum generators are available to determine if any petroleum generations are feasible. The database includes several small parts for the Economic Analysis Engine to evaluate. In calculating the costs associated with the petroleum generators, the load and fuel data will be provided by the user. Once the generator has been chosen, the cost of the energy the generator is supplying will be calculated in $/kWh. This will be determined by using the fuel rate, the output kW, the efficiency, and the cost of the fuel. Additional data will be supplied to the user concerning the generator’s size, weight, engine life, noise and emissions. Data will also be recorded concerning equipment and installation costs for later use.

3.2 Energy Storage To adequately evaluate the overall reliability of the system, the following specifications must be considered. Wind will not produce adequate power when the wind speed is not constant or when there is no wind. Solar will not produce adequate power when the sky is cloudy or sunlight is shining. Even small-head hydro will not produce adequate power to serve the users when there is not a constant stream of water, so back up power must be considered. Batteries will be the main source of backup power for a customer who wants to be independent of the power company, while grid ties is for any customer who want alternative energy and do not want to be totally dependent with alternative energy.

3.2.1 Necessary Inputs and Component Considerations The program user has several options concerning how they would like their AES system to be connected in conjunction with their utility service. In order to determine which option would be best for the user, there are several criteria present in each solution that need to be taken into account.

Batteries

Grid Ties

Batteries

Grid Ties

Batteries

Grid Ties

Figure 3. 5 Power Storage Inputs

3.2.1.1 User Load One such criterion that will need to be analyzed is the user’s load. This is in order to compare costs associated with the AES systems being recommended by the SFC.

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This is because the costs are different for the various energy capabilities associated with each of the AES systems. This is crucial to the Economic Analysis Engine in order to determine the size of the AES that will need to be implemented.

3.2.1.2 User’s Decision on How to Install AES It is necessary for the Economic Analysis Engine to receive information from the user concerning which option he/she would like to implement in order to install their new system. This will determine what option will be used and consider the variables associated with it.

3.2.1.3 Utility Costs Another criterion is the user’s energy cost if they are supplied by their utility service. This piece of data is necessary in order to determine savings and comparable AES costs if a new system is implemented.

3.2.1.4 Cost of Utility Lines Depending on the user’s current situation, additional utility lines may need to be run to the user’s intended location. If this is the case, the costs associated with the purchase and installation of the lines by the utility company will need to be considered.

3.2.1.5 Transformer Cost It is likely that the user’s electrical system will not run at the same voltage as the closest utility lines or the new AES system. If this is the case, a transformer will need to be installed to facilitate the change in voltage between the sources and the load.

3.2.1.6 Switchboard Cost In the cases involving both and AES and a utility system, a switchboard will need to be installed in order to facilitate smooth interface. There are two types of switchboards that will need to be considered. There is an automatic switchboard that will switch between the utility and the AES whenever certain conditions are met that do not require the direct help of an individual. The other is a manual switchboard that will require an individual to facilitate use by a manual switch.

3.2.1.7 AES Component Installation Cost For the systems using some form of AES or having a secondary option there will invariably be some form of installation cost associated with it. This consideration

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will be based on information available at the time from whichever company is recommended to perform the installation.

3.2.1.8 Inverter Cost A converter will be needed in almost all cases in order to convert dc power generated by the AES into ac power at a frequency of 60Hz that can be used by the load. There are two types of inverters that are applicable to this project. One is a stand alone inverter that will only convert dc power to ac power; the other is a grid-tied inverter that will also adjust the frequency slightly in order to match what is supplied by the utility. Another important feature of the grid-tied inverter is its ability to shut off the power supplied by the AES in the event of an outage. While the stand alone has fewer advantages, it is being considered due to its significantly lower cost.

3.2.1.9 Battery Cost Several AES solutions will include a battery storage option that will allow excess energy to be stored for use during a time when the AES is unable to supply enough energy. This is essential for any system that will utilize wind or solar power.

3.2.1.10 Charge Controller Cost The charge controller is necessary for any AES system in order to control the flow of excess power. In the event that the load is being fully supplied, the charge controller will reroute the energy being supplied to a battery for storage. If the battery is full, the controller will either reroute the power back to the utility, or into a dump resistor.

3.2.2 Energy Storage Solutions

Each solution contains both a primary and a secondary means of supplying energy. The primary system will be the main source of energy and will always consist of a utility or AES system. The secondary system will supply energy in conjunction with the primary or as a backup to the primary. The different options available to create these systems are listed below:

3.2.2.1 Utility as Primary with AES as Secondary With this option, the user relies primarily on their current utility service, and uses the AES system to carry excess load only when necessary. In order to implement this system, utility lines, transformers, switchboards, inverters, batteries, and charge controllers will be needed.

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3.2.2.2 AES as Primary with Utility as Secondary In this system, the user relies completely on the AES system, but is capable of using energy from the utility company whenever necessary. To use this system, utility lines, transformers, switchboards, inverters, batteries, and charge controllers will be needed.

3.2.2.3 AES as Primary with no Secondary If this scenario were to be implemented, the user would run only on the AES system with nothing to back it up. This system will require transformers, inverters, batteries, and charge controllers.

3.2.2.4 Utility as Primary with Storage Solution as Secondary This solution provides the user with the utility service as the primary, and some form of energy storage mechanism as a backup. This option will require utility lines, transformers, switchboards, inverters, batteries, and charge controllers.

3.2.2.5 AES as Primary with Selling Excess back to Utility as Secondary

In this scenario, the user runs completely on the AES, but is still connected with the utility service. This solution will require utility lines, transformers, switchboards, inverters, batteries, and charge controllers.

3.2.2.6 Utility and AES as Primary with Utility as Secondary Where AES system does not supply enough energy to carry the entire load, extra power will be supplied by the utility service. Utility lines, transformers, switchboards, inverters, batteries, and charge controllers will be needed in this system.

3.3 Incentives Several incentives available from federal government, state of Iowa and utility companies are geared towards encouraging the development, installation and adoption of alternative energy sources. This project shall provide information, tips or links to sites which elaborate more on tax credits, tax exempts or even low interest loans for residential, commercial and agricultural customers who are interested in purchasing and installing alternative sources or those merely taking energy efficient measures.

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Sta

te

Fede

ral

Com

pany

Figure 3. 6 Incentives Calculator Inputs

3.3.1 Federal Incentives Federal financial incentives are available to promote renewable energy and energy efficiency. In this project, the incentives are designed geared primarily toward for residents, small businesses, and other smaller scale users rather than those funding opportunities for research & development, outreach, or inter-governmental programs. The funding from the Federal Government is going be included in the Economic Analysis Engine to find the total payback time.

3.3.2 Iowa Incentives

Iowa has legislation that exempts from state sales tax the total cost of buying equipments and all materials used to manufacture, install or construct renewable energy systems for wind, solar and other sources. This exemption does not apply to equipment used to construct a plant to manufacture renewable energy parts and systems. However it provides credit for energy generated and sold by eligible wind and renewable energy facilities. Users who are willing to use alternative sources such as wind and solar, will get sale tax exempt. The Economic Analysis will take this into consideration and give the user the possibility of getting part of their money back.

3.3.3 Company Incentives

Companies manufacturing equipments used in alternative energy generation, in conjunction with certain banks offer low-interest loan for residential, commercial and agricultural customers who purchase and install wind and solar equipment.

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3.4 Output The economic Analysis engine will analytically combine different inputs depending on what the user needs. Output shall then be a most feasible and economical alternative source of energy that meets users load configuration. The following outline will be contained in every feasible output.

• Overall Cost: This will provide monetary cost associated with that particular source. Total cost gives the user a clear picture of how much money needed to carry on with the project; furthermore it saves users the agony of adding up costs associated with different parts of the project.

• Output Capacity: Is the energy output in KWH per month. Appropriate alternative source should provide sufficient energy to cover users need. In this project capacity is a measure of how much energy will be generated in a month.

• Source type: Source type is a result of feasibility analysis, this part basically gives the most appropriate source of energy that the user should install to get a reasonable compared to all other sources.

• Equipment Cost: This section provides a breakdown on the cost of each piece of equipment that goes into the project. This section is very important for those users who might have knowledge of where to buy cheaper parts. It partly explains how the overall cost of the project was arrived at.

• Installation Cost: Represents the cost the cost of installing that particular source of energy; calculation of this part of the project will be based on current labor rate of hiring a professional to install the project.

• Operating cost: This gives the cost of operating the suggested source of energy; values will be given as a cost of generating 1KWH using alternative energy source. User will be able to compare the cost of alternative KWH to that of existing utility.

• Maintenance Cost: Will be the expected cost of maintaining the system in optimum output capacity, the cost mainly comprises money used for occasional repair or servicing.

• Estimated Lifespan: Lifespan is a measure of the average length of time where the source or expected to remain in use. Most users would rather invest their money in a project that would remain useful for a longer period of time. This information is very crucial to anyone who is interested in alternative sources of energy.

• Pay-back time: For a project to be sensible from economic point of view, it should recover the cost of investment within a reasonable period of time. Users will most likely invest in alternative source if they expect a return on their investment within a short time. Majority of the sources in this project have long estimated pay-back time.

• Incentives: Several incentives available from federal government, state of Iowa and utility companies are geared towards encouraging the development, installation and adoption of alternative energy sources. In this project information will be provided on how to access sites which elaborate more on tax credits, tax exemptions or even low interest loans for residential,

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commercial and agricultural customers who are interested in purchasing and installing alternative sources energy or just taking energy efficient measures.

• Assumptions: Projects output depends on the accuracy of the information provided by the user. Calculation is primarily based on user’s energy needs.

• Disclaimer: The purpose of this part is to ensure that the user understands that the program was not created by professionals. The designers expect users to seek authorized professional advice before undertaking any project.

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Section 4: Estimated Resources and Schedules This section details the costs, materials, and estimated amount of labor that will be involved in this project. With the exception of the product deliverables schedule, this data is subject to change, as it is only an estimate of what will be achieved in the future.

4.1 Personnel Effort Requirements The original estimates of effort the group would need to be put into the project by each member is shown in Table 4.1. Since that time, more work has been completed on the project, and better estimates of how long it will take to accomplish the various phases have been developed. From these better estimates, Table 4.1 has since been edited into the one shown in Table 4.2. During the research phase, most of the tasks will be divided up and each part will be primarily handled by one individual, with the others providing support, should the burden on that member become too great. During the implementation phase, the group will work much more closely, but each individual will still have some individual effort to add. All members will be kept up-to-date on each individual’s aspect of the project at the weekly meetings, and all resources used will be put onto the website to provide access for the entire group.

4.2 Other Resource Requirements For this project, there are few tangible parts or materials required to complete this project. Customer statements from their utility company will be needed in the project testing phase for data. Also, computers with proper software will be needed in order to conduct research and analysis, and perform computations on the findings. These are available in the Senior Design Lab of the Coover computer lab located in the ALC. A server will also be required in order for the spreadsheet to be available online.

4.3 Financial Requirements Included are the estimated costs for materials and labor, with labor calculated at $10.50 per hour. Table 4.3 displays the original estimates of the costs associated with this project. This table has since been updated to the one shown in Table 4.4 due to the change labor cost due to the personnel effort requirements.

4.4 Project Work Schedule The original anticipated work schedule for this project, which outlines how long each major task should take, is included in Figure 4.1. A more updated version of this schedule is shown in Figure 4.2.

4.5 Deliverables Schedule A schedule for the items that must be delivered to the client is included in Figure 4.2. The dates are supplied by the client and are not subject to change.

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Estimated Amount of Personnel Time Commitment per Task

Kyle

Drees Mitchell Frazier

Peter Howard

Abraham Tarbey

Problem Definition Problem Definition Completion 6 6 6 6 End-User(s) and End-Use(s) Identification 4 4 4 4 Constraint Identification 4 4 4 4 Technology Considerations and Selection Identification of Possible Technologies 2 2 2 2 Identification of Selection Criteria 8 5 5 5 Technology Research 30 30 34 35 Technology Selection 20 16 20 20 End-Product Design Identification of Design Requirements 5 5 4 4 Design Process 16 14 16 16 Documentation of Design 5 6 5 5 End- Product Prototype Implementation Identification of Prototype Limitations and Substitutions 8 6 9 9 Implementation of Prototype End Product 5 4 4 4 End-Product Testing Test Planning 4 4 4 4 Test Development 9 7 8 6 Test Execution 12 12 12 12 Test Evaluation 4 2 2 2 Documentation of Testing 2 2 4 4 End-Product Documentation Development of End-User Documentation 4 4 4 4 Development of Maintenance and Support Documentation 2 2 3 3 End-Product Demonstration Demonstration Planning 5 5 5 5 Faculty Advisors Demonstration 1 1 1 1 Client Demonstration 1 1 1 1 Industrial review Panel Demonstration 1 1 1 1 Project Reporting Project Plan Development 9 9 9 9 Project Poster Development 8 8 8 8 Design Report Development 8 8 8 8 Final Report Development 8 8 8 8 Weekly E-mail Reporting (First Semester) 8 18 8 8 Weekly E-mail Reporting (Second Semester) 8 18 8 8 Total Time Commitment. 207 212 207 206

Table 4. 1 Original Estimate of Personnel Time Commitment

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Estimated Amount of Personnel Time Commitment per Task

Kyle

Drees Mitchell Frazier

Peter Howard

Abraham Tarbey

Problem Definition Problem Definition Completion 6 6 6 6 End-User(s) and End-Use(s) Identification 4 4 4 4 Constraint Identification 4 4 4 4 Technoloogy Considerations and Selection Identification of Possible Technoligies 2 2 2 2 Identification of Selection Criteria 8 5 5 5 Technology Research 30 30 34 35 Technology Selection 4 5 5 5 End-Product Design Identification of Design Requirements 5 5 4 4 Design Process 25 20 20 20 Documentation of Design 5 6 5 5 End- Product Prototype Implementation Identification of Prototype Limitations and Substitutions 8 6 9 9 Implementation of Prototype End Product 5 4 4 4 End-Product Testing Test Planning 6 5 4 4 Test Development 9 7 8 6 Test Execution 12 12 12 12 Test Evaluation 4 2 2 2 Documentation of Testing 2 2 4 4 End-Product Documentation Development of End-User Documentation 4 4 4 4 Development of Maintenance and Support Documentation 2 2 3 3 End-Product Demonstration Demonstration Planning 5 5 5 5 Faculty Advisors Demonstration 1 1 1 1 Client Demonstration 1 1 1 1 Industrial review Panel Demonstration 1 1 1 1 Project Reporting Project Plan Development 11 12 11 9 Project Poster Development 8 8 8 8 Design Report Development 15 15 15 15 Final Report Development 8 8 8 8 Weekly E-mail Reporting (First Semester) 8 18 8 8 Weekly E-mail Reporting (Second Semester) 8 18 8 8 Total Time Commitment.: 211 218 205 202

Table 4. 2 Updated Estimate of Personnel Time Commitment

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Estimated Total Project

Cost Materials: Poster $75.00 Printing/Publishing $20.00 Total Materials Cost: $95.00 Employee Labor: Kyle Drees $2,173.50 Mitchell Frazier $2,226.00 Peter Howard $2,173.50 Abraham Tarbey $2,163.00 Total Materials Cost: $8,736.00 Total Estimated Cost: $8,831.00

Table 4. 3 Original Estimated Cost of the Project

Estimated Total Project Cost

Materials: Poster $ 75.00 Printing/Publishing $ 20.00 Total Materials Cost: $ 95.00 Employee Labor: Kyle Drees $2,215.50 Mitchell Frazier $2,289.00 Peter Howard $2,152.50 Abraham Tarbey $2,121.00 Total Employee Labor: $8,778.00 Total Estimated Cost: $8,968.00

Table 4. 4 Updated Estimated Cost of the Project

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Figure 4. 1 Original Estimated Project Schedule

Figure 4. 2 Updated Estimated Project Schedule

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Figure 4. 3 Project Deliverables Schedule

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Section 5: Closure Material This section details the contact information for the team along with the closing summary.

5.1 Project Team Information The contact information is further grouped and detailed in the sections that follow.

5.1.1 Client Information Senior Design

5.1.2 Faculty Advisor Information Dr. John Lamont 324 Town Hall Ames, IA 50011 515-294-3600 jwlamont@iastate.edu Prof. Ralph Patterson III 326 Town Hall Ames, IA 50011 515-294-2428 repiii@iastate.edu Mr. Tom Baird 1111 Coover Hall Ames, IA 50011 515-294-7678 tbaird@iastate.edu

5.1.3 Members Information Kyle T. Drees Major: Electrical Engineering 1106 Friley Stange Ames, IA 50012 Phone: 515-572-5234 Email: ktdrees@iastate.edu Mitchell L. Frazier Major: Electrical Engineering 4720 Mortensen Rd apt#309 Ames, IA 50014 Phone: 319-461-9793 Email: gadgets@iastate.edu

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Peter T. Howard Major: Electrical Engineering 1312 Walton Dr. Unit 202 Ames, IA 50014 Phone: 515-480-5849 Email: phoward@iastate.edu Abraham K. Tarbey Major: Electrical Engineering 5417 Aurora Ave. Apt 148 Des Moines, IA 50010 Phone: 515-255-4078 Email: tarbey@iastate.edu

5.2 Closing Summary

There is a rising public interest in alternative energy sources, which is one of the main reasons this project was created. There are many reasons that people may want to look into alternative energy sources, such as to help reduce global warming, decrease their dependence on foreign energy, or to create a backup from the normal utility system. Many customers would look into alternative energy sources, but do not know what type of alternatives to look into, or the prices of these systems themselves. Using the data collected, and the spreadsheet this group is creating, a customer would just need to input a few bits of data, and this spreadsheet will provide the best possible suggestion based on the data. The spreadsheet will compare only the different types of systems applicable to them. The system will estimate the startup and maintenance costs, as well as the available rebates, tax incentives, and other available information leaving the customer only to decide if it is worth it for them to install their new system.