HOMER Pro V3.7 User Manual

HOMER® Pro Version 3.7
User Manual
© All rights reserved.
August 2016
HOMER® Energy
1790 30th St Suite 100
Boulder CO 80301 USA
[phone]
www.homerenergy.com
HOMER® Pro V3.7 User Manual
© 2016 Homer Energy
All rights reserved.

Table of Contents
1. Welcome to HOMER ............................................................................................................... 9
1.1 Solving Problems with HOMER .................................................................................. 10
1.2 The HOMER Knowledgebase ...................................................................................... 11
1.3 Tour ..................................................................................................................................... 11
1.4 Add-on Modules .............................................................................................................. 12
1.4.1 Biomass Module ...................................................................................................... 12
1.4.2 Hydro Module ........................................................................................................... 14
1.4.3 Combined Heat and Power Module .................................................................. 15
1.4.4 Advanced Load Module ........................................................................................ 17
1.4.5 Advanced Grid Module .......................................................................................... 18
1.4.6 Hydrogen Module ................................................................................................... 20
1.4.7 Advanced Storage Module .................................................................................. 22
1.4.8 Multi-Year Module .................................................................................................. 24
1.5 Free Trial License ........................................................................................................... 25
1.6 Navigating HOMER ......................................................................................................... 26
2. Design View ............................................................................................................................ 26
2.1 Loads Tab .......................................................................................................................... 27
2.1.1 Adding a Load to the Model ................................................................................ 27
2.1.2 Load Profile Menu ................................................................................................... 31
2.1.3 Electric Load ............................................................................................................. 34
2.1.4 Thermal Load ........................................................................................................... 35
2.1.5 Deferrable Load ....................................................................................................... 35
2.1.6 Hydrogen Load ........................................................................................................ 37
2.2 Components Tab ............................................................................................................. 37
2.2.1 Generator .................................................................................................................. 38
Cost Curve Example .......................................................................................................... 39
2.2.2 Photovoltaic Panels (PV) ...................................................................................... 46
2.2.3 Wind Turbine ............................................................................................................ 49
2.2.4 Storage ....................................................................................................................... 53
2.2.5 Converter ................................................................................................................... 68
2.2.6 Boiler ........................................................................................................................... 71
2.2.7 Hydro........................................................................................................................... 72
2.2.8 Hydrokinetic ............................................................................................................. 74
2.2.9 Thermal Load Controller ...................................................................................... 76
2.2.10 Grid ............................................................................................................................ 78
2.2.11 Hydrogen Tank ..................................................................................................... 94
2.2.12 Electrolyzer ............................................................................................................. 95
2.2.13 Reformer ................................................................................................................. 96
2.2.14 Controller ................................................................................................................ 98
HOMER® Pro V3.7 User Manual
© 2016 Homer Energy
All rights reserved.

2.3 Resources Tab ............................................................................................................... 116
2.3.1 Solar GHI Resource ............................................................................................. 116
2.3.2 Solar DNI Resource ............................................................................................. 119
2.3.3 Temperature Resource ....................................................................................... 121
2.3.4 Wind Resource ....................................................................................................... 124
2.3.5 Hydro Resource ..................................................................................................... 129
2.3.6 Fuels .......................................................................................................................... 131
2.3.7 Hydrokinetic Resource ........................................................................................ 132
2.3.8 Biomass Resource ................................................................................................ 134
2.4 Project Tab ...................................................................................................................... 137
2.4.1 Economics ............................................................................................................... 137
2.4.3 Constraints .............................................................................................................. 138
2.4.4 Emissions ................................................................................................................. 139
2.4.5 Optimization ........................................................................................................... 141
2.5 System Tab ..................................................................................................................... 146
2.5.1 Input Summary Report ...................................................................................... 146
2.5.2 Search Space ......................................................................................................... 147
2.5.3 Sensitivity Inputs ................................................................................................. 147
2.5.4 Estimate ................................................................................................................... 147
2.5.5 Multi-Year Inputs .................................................................................................. 147
2.6 Calculate Button ........................................................................................................... 149
3. Results View .......................................................................................................................... 150
3.1 Simulation Results ....................................................................................................... 150
3.1.1 Cost Summary Outputs...................................................................................... 152
3.1.2 Cash Flow Outputs ............................................................................................... 155
3.1.3 Electrical Outputs ................................................................................................. 158
3.1.4 Emissions Outputs ............................................................................................... 159
3.1.5 PV Outputs .............................................................................................................. 160
3.1.6 Wind Turbine Outputs ......................................................................................... 160
3.1.7 Generator Outputs ............................................................................................... 161
3.1.8 Fuel Summary ....................................................................................................... 162
3.1.9 Battery Outputs..................................................................................................... 163
3.1.10 Grid Outputs ........................................................................................................ 164
3.1.11 Converter Outputs ............................................................................................. 165
3.1.12 Thermal Outputs ................................................................................................ 166
3.1.13 Thermal Load Controller Outputs ................................................................ 166
3.1.14 Boiler Outputs ..................................................................................................... 167
3.1.15 Hydro Outputs ..................................................................................................... 167
3.1.16 Hydrokinetic Outputs ........................................................................................ 168
3.1.17 Hydrogen Outputs ............................................................................................. 169
3.1.18 Hydrogen Tank Outputs .................................................................................. 169
HOMER® Pro V3.7 User Manual
© 2016 Homer Energy
All rights reserved.

3.1.19 Electrolyzer Outputs ......................................................................................... 169
3.1.20 Reformer Outputs .............................................................................................. 170
3.1.21 Time Series Outputs ......................................................................................... 170
3.1.22 Report Summarizing the Simulation Results .......................................... 171
3.1.23 Copy Simulation Results to the Clipboard ................................................ 171
3.1.24 Multi-Year Outputs ............................................................................................ 173
3.2 Optimization Results ................................................................................................... 175
3.2.1 Tabular View ........................................................................................................... 176
3.2.2 Graphical View ....................................................................................................... 178
3.3 Sensitivity Results ........................................................................................................ 183
3.3.1 Why Would I Do a Sensitivity Analysis? ...................................................... 184
3.3.2 Adding Sensitivity Values .................................................................................. 185
4. Library View .......................................................................................................................... 186
4.1 Components Library .................................................................................................... 187
4.1.1 Storage ..................................................................................................................... 187
For more information ...................................................................................................... 202
4.1.2 Generator ................................................................................................................ 203
4.1.3 Photovoltaic (PV) .................................................................................................. 205
4.1.4 Wind Turbine .......................................................................................................... 206
4.1.5 Boiler ......................................................................................................................... 208
4.1.6 Converter ................................................................................................................. 208
4.1.7 Hydroelectric .......................................................................................................... 209
4.1.8 Thermal Load Controller .................................................................................... 211
4.1.9 Hydrokinetic ........................................................................................................... 213
4.1.10 Reformer ............................................................................................................... 214
4.1.11 Electrolyzer ........................................................................................................... 216
4.1.12 Hydrogen Tank ................................................................................................... 217
4.2 Resources Library ......................................................................................................... 219
4.2.1 Create a New Fuel ................................................................................................ 219
4.3 Grid Library ..................................................................................................................... 220
4.4 Simulation Parameters Library................................................................................ 220
5. HOMER's Calculations ........................................................................................................ 221
5.1 How HOMER Calculates the PV Array Power Output ...................................... 221
5.2 Beacon Power Smart Energy 25 Flywheel .......................................................... 222
5.3 How HOMER Calculates Emissions ......................................................................... 222
5.4 How HOMER Calculates the Hydro Power Output ............................................ 224
5.5 How HOMER Calculates Clearness Index ............................................................ 224
5.6 How HOMER Calculates the Maximum Battery Charge Power .................... 227
5.7 How HOMER Calculates the Maximum Battery Discharge Power .............. 228
5.8 How HOMER Calculates the PV Cell Temperature ........................................... 229
5.9 How HOMER Calculates the Radiation Incident on the PV Array ............... 232
HOMER® Pro V3.7 User Manual
© 2016 Homer Energy
All rights reserved.

5.10 How HOMER Calculates Wind Turbine Power Output .................................. 237
5.11 Operation of a Co-fired Generator ...................................................................... 240
5.12 How HOMER Creates the Generator Efficiency Curve ................................. 242
5.13 Kinetic Battery Model ............................................................................................... 245
5.14 Modified Kinetic Battery Model ............................................................................. 247
5.15 Generating Synthetic Load Data .......................................................................... 252
5.16 Generating Synthetic Solar Data ......................................................................... 255
5.17 Generating Synthetic Wind Data ......................................................................... 256
5.18 Unit Conversions ........................................................................................................ 259
6. Finding Data to Run HOMER ........................................................................................... 260
6.1 US Grid Emissions Factors ........................................................................................ 263
6.2 Published Solar Data ................................................................................................... 265
6.3 Wind Data Histograms ............................................................................................... 282
6.4 Wind Data Parameters ............................................................................................... 283
6.5 References ...................................................................................................................... 292
6.6 Recommended Reading ............................................................................................. 293
7. Glossary .................................................................................................................................. 294
7.1 English-Spanish Glossary .......................................................................................... 294
7.2 Absolute State of Charge .......................................................................................... 310
7.3 AC Primary Load Served ............................................................................................ 310
7.4 Altitude ............................................................................................................................. 310
7.5 Anemometer Height .................................................................................................... 312
7.6 Annualized Cost ............................................................................................................ 313
7.7 Autocorrelation .............................................................................................................. 316
7.8 Available Head ............................................................................................................... 319
7.9 Battery Bank Autonomy ............................................................................................ 319
7.10 Battery Bank Life ....................................................................................................... 319
7.11 Battery Charge Efficiency ....................................................................................... 320
7.12 Battery Discharge Efficiency .................................................................................. 321
7.13 Battery Energy Cost .................................................................................................. 321
7.14 Battery Float Life........................................................................................................ 322
7.15 Battery Maximum Charge Rate ............................................................................ 322
7.16 Battery Minimum State Of Charge ...................................................................... 323
7.17 Battery Roundtrip Efficiency .................................................................................. 323
7.18 Battery Throughput ................................................................................................... 324
7.19 Battery Wear Cost ..................................................................................................... 324
7.20 Biogas ............................................................................................................................. 325
7.21 Biomass Carbon Content ........................................................................................ 325
7.22 Biomass Gasification Ratio ..................................................................................... 326
7.23 Biomass Resource Cost ........................................................................................... 326
For more information ...................................................................................................... 326
HOMER® Pro V3.7 User Manual
© 2016 Homer Energy
All rights reserved.