REopt Screenings Help Universities Assess Feasibility of PV and Battery Storage
NREL compared the business as usual case with two alternate scenarios where a university could install additional PV, or PV and batteries. Illustration by NREL
| Technologies Evaluated | Business as Usual | Add PV | Add PV and Battery Storage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Additional PV Size | n/a | 3 MW | 3 MW |
| Battery Size | n/a | n/a | 0.58 MW:3.2 MWh |
| Total Cost | n/a | $5.6 million | $7.8 million |
| Annual Energy Costs | $487,000 | $269,000 ($218,000 savings) | $292,000 ($195,000 savings) |
| Annual Demand Costs | $679,000 | $652,000 ($28,000 savings) | $522,000 ($157,000 savings) |
| Life Cycle Cost | $29.0 million | $27.1 million | $25.6 million |
| Net Present Value | n/a | $1.9 million | $3.4 million |
In support of the U.S. Department of Energy’s SunShot initiative, NREL conducted solar photovoltaic (PV) screenings for 15 universities seeking to go solar. Using the REopt® model, NREL provided an initial techno-economic assessment of PV and storage feasibility at the selected universities.
NREL provided each university with customized results, including the cost-effectiveness of PV and storage, recommended system size and cost, and estimated life cycle cost savings. The universities are using NREL’s results to move forward with solar and storage implementation.
NREL's Climate Neutral Research Campuses website has resources on developing and implementing climate action plans.
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