Sizing consumer renewable energy systems and their benefits: a review of existing tools
Awareness of the opportunity for consumer renewables energy systems has reached every corner of the globe and adoption rates are soaring in some places – every 90 seconds a US home installs a solar system1. Such consumer solutions are critical to accelerating decarbonisation but they also raise opportunities for consumers to capture greater financial benefits. Yet, how to estimate the right size and associated benefits of a system combining solar PV, storage, EV charging, heat pumps, water heaters and other electrified energy services is complicated.
We decided to explore how existing online calculators and software tools make it easy for the consumer to estimate the size of a system combining different components and the financial profile (benefits) of integrated solutions – on-site, on-road, on-grid.
The good news is we found that a wealth of calculators are available online. Furthermore, we found most online calculators are customer-friendly:
In the UK, Energy Savings Trust’s Solar Energy Calculator is an example of a solar PV calculator with easy-to-use features. The user can input their postcode to initiate the sizing and financial payback estimates. The calculator is intuitive and interactive with visuals of the site, rooftop tilts and pre-established criteria based on the most common housing stock features of the location.
Technology calculators with similar features exist in most regions/countries around the world. In Nigeria for example, Simba Service allows customers to calculate the recommended solar installation based on appliances used.
Most technology providers also provide guidance and tools for new customers to assess their potential solution. However, for specific technologies that require detailed inputs on power consumption, they do recommend getting in contact to best estimate their solution. CiEnergy for example shares step by step guidance on how to calculate the size of a heat pump based on existing consumption.
For software tools, we found that the array of choices is impressive -we identified 66. They can be downloaded easily but do require a basic understanding of technologies and energy planning. Out of the 66 tools identified we selected a sample to trial based on:
- Availability
- Accessibility
- Proven record of modelling 100% renewable energy systems
- Large user base
HOMER and iHoga were considered easiest to trial given their user-friendly platforms and technical, economical and emissions analysis that helps identify optimal system characteristics. HOMER is suited to business use and non-experts, it gives a view on payback, return on investment and internal rate of return. iHoga is a hybrid system optimization software for planning and monitoring electrical and thermal energy systems, better suited to energy planning experts.
None of the tools we identified online currently provide a fully optimised view of an integrated consumer renewable system that features optimised solar PV, storage, EV, heat pump in a way that it reacts to grid signals. Consequently, consumers still need more help to get reliable estimates for adopting consumer renewable energy systems. We recommend that:
Developers of calculators and tools evolve their offerings so that they help consumers to estimate systems that integrate the site, road and grid. Most tools only focus on one of these, however increasingly consumers are joining them up. Developers should consider how AI can help in this endeavour
Consumers who have limited time and knowledge should use the simple tools available as an entry point to decide whether to get quotes and/or help with more sophisticated estimates
One Stop Shops (consumer advisory services) should point consumers towards the existence of different calculators and tools to help them understand the options and benefits of adopting renewable energy systems
It is critical for energy advisors, technology suppliers and civil society to help consumers navigate renewable energy solutions they can adopt and be best informed about the cost, financial and emissions reductions benefits these can provide within their specific configurations. More transparent information will accelerate the uptake of decarbonised solutions needed in the market. Better data and calculations at the consumer level can also help improve integrated energy system planning at regional and national levels - let’s make it happen!
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