Economic Analysis and Implementation Strategies for SOFC Systems in Residential Applications

In this study, with measured steady state performance characteristics of a 1.5 kW residential Solid Oxide Fuel Cell (SOFC) system we evaluated the installation of residential SOFC systems for a typical hourly energy use for the entire year through all 16 climate zones in California. We carried out an economic analysis taking into account the dynamic daily and seasonal energy consumption for various climate zones and various current residential time-of-use utility rates. Residential SOFC implementation cases in various climate zones that focus upon 1) reduced energy use, 2) reduced peak demand, 3) utility time-of use rate-structure impacts, and 4) CO2 emission reductions are evaluated. From the customer perspective, this study generates a guideline for the user to make decisions depending upon their electric energy usage profile, utility rate structure and carbon credit, we found that breakeven costs are highly dependent upon the utility rate structures with PG&E structures most favorably encouraging SOFC use.