Energy Systems

When to Trigger

Activate this skill when the user mentions:

• Solar energy, photovoltaic, wind power, hydropower
• Power grid, load balancing, dispatch optimization
• Battery storage, lithium-ion, energy density, cycling
• Energy efficiency, HVAC, building energy modeling
• Techno-economic analysis, LCOE, payback period
• Electric vehicles, charging infrastructure, V2G
• Hydrogen economy, fuel cells, electrolysis

Step-by-Step Methodology

1. Define the energy system scope - Specify system boundaries: single building, microgrid, regional grid, or national scale. Identify energy sources (solar, wind, fossil, nuclear, hydro), storage technologies, and demand profiles. 2. Resource assessment - For solar: analyze irradiance data (GHI, DNI, DHI), calculate capacity factor, account for degradation and soiling. For wind: analyze wind speed distributions (Weibull), compute power curves, assess turbulence intensity. Use TMY (Typical Meteorological Year) data or site-specific measurements. 3. System modeling - Size components: panels/turbines (capacity), inverters, batteries (energy and power), converters. Model energy balance: generation - consumption - storage - curtailment = grid exchange. Use hourly or sub-hourly time resolution. 4. Grid integration - Analyze grid interconnection requirements: voltage, frequency, power factor. Assess variability and ramping impacts. Model dispatch optimization (merit order, economic dispatch, unit commitment). Evaluate ancillary services potential. 5. Storage analysis - Characterize storage technology: energy density (Wh/kg), power density (W/kg), round-trip efficiency, cycle life, calendar life, self-discharge rate. Optimize sizing based on arbitrage value, peak shaving, or reliability requirements. 6. Economic analysis - Calculate LCOE (levelized cost of energy) with discount rate, capital costs, O&M, fuel costs, and lifetime. Compute NPV, IRR, and payback period. Include incentives (ITC, PTC, feed-in tariffs). Conduct sensitivity analysis on key assumptions. 7. Environmental assessment - Calculate avoided CO2 emissions using grid emission factors. Perform lifecycle emissions analysis (cradle-to-gate). Compare with conventional alternatives.

Key Databases and Tools

• NREL (SAM, PVWatts, NSRDB) - Solar and renewable energy tools
• Global Wind Atlas - Wind resource data
• EIA / IEA - Energy statistics and projections
• HOMER Energy - Microgrid optimization
• OpenDSS - Distribution system simulation
• PyPSA - Open-source power system analysis

Output Format

• Resource assessment as tables: annual/monthly capacity factor, energy yield (kWh/kWp).
• System diagram with component sizes, power flows, and energy balance.
• LCOE breakdown: capital, O&M, fuel, financing costs per kWh.
• Economic results as NPV, IRR, payback period with sensitivity tornado chart.
• Time series plots: generation, demand, storage state-of-charge, grid exchange.

Quality Checklist

• [ ] Resource data source and time resolution specified
• [ ] System losses itemized (inverter, wiring, degradation, soiling, curtailment)
• [ ] Discount rate and financial assumptions documented
• [ ] Storage degradation and replacement costs included in economics
• [ ] Grid emission factor source and year specified
• [ ] Sensitivity analysis covers key uncertainties (resource, cost, discount rate)
• [ ] Units consistent (kW vs. kWh, AC vs. DC clearly distinguished)
• [ ] Comparison with alternatives provided for context