Computer Applications in

Energy Systems

ES 811

adeelwaqas@ces.nust.edu.pk

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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

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• 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 http://www.retscreen.net/ang/d_t_info.php
 Working with RETSCREEN
RETSCREEN is an Excel Based free software which can be
downloaded from www.retscreen.com

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