Solar and Alternative Energy Modelling
- Maximizes availability and minimizes costs of deploying alternative energy sources
- Improves energy efficiency by modeling scenarios for alternative energy source using an array of graphs
OCC has developed a tool (Soltool) for the Energy Technology Support Unit (now Future Energy Solutions). It analyses the resource availability of, and costs associated with, particular solar technologies at regional level.
Solar technology analysis
The tool generates resource-cost curves for particular solar technologies within scenarios defined by the user. Analysis of resource and costs is an essential step in quantifying the potential for solar power.
To define a scenario, the user selects parameters such as region, year and discount rate, the solar technology of interest and the type of installation. The results provide a broad view of the potential energy available from the chosen technology and the cost of that energy.
The analysis can also be made more specific. By specifying more parameters, the user can examine more narrowly, such as one industrial sector, buildings of a particular construction type or domestic households of a certain size, for a region.
Results and the scenarios can be retrieved later; the scenarios may be retrieved, modified and run at any time, allowing changing conditions to be taken into account
Data via Soltool for planning and research
Users of Soltool will be able to furnish councils and regional utility companies with information which will be an invaluable aid to the latter's planning. The information will also feed into the Department of Business, Innovation and Skills' solar energy programme.
OCC designed this tool's software to enable industry to utilise the latest academic and industrial research into alternative energy technologies.
