energy-systems

name energy-systems description Analyzes energy systems including renewable energy resource assessment, power grid modeling, battery storage optimization, energy efficiency evaluation, and techno-economic analysis of energy technologies; trigger when users discuss solar, wind, grid integration, energy storage, or power system design. When to Trigger Activate this skill when the user mentions: Solar energy, photovoltaic, wind power, hydropower Power grid, load balancing, dispatch optimization Battery storage, lithium-ion, energy density, cycling Energy efficiency, HVAC, building energy modeling Techno-economic analysis, LCOE, payback period Electric vehicles, charging infrastructure, V2G Hydrogen economy, fuel cells, electrolysis Step-by-Step Methodology Define the energy system scope - Specify system boundaries: single building, microgrid, regional grid, or national scale. Identify energy sources (solar, wind, fossil, nuclear, hydro), storage technologies, and demand profiles. Resource assessment - For solar: analyze irradiance data (GHI, DNI, DHI), calculate capacity factor, account for degradation and soiling. For wind: analyze wind speed distributions (Weibull), compute power curves, assess turbulence intensity. Use TMY (Typical Meteorological Year) data or site-specific measurements. System modeling - Size components: panels/turbines (capacity), inverters, batteries (energy and power), converters. Model energy balance: generation - consumption - storage - curtailment = grid exchange. Use hourly or sub-hourly time resolution. Grid integration - Analyze grid interconnection requirements: voltage, frequency, power factor. Assess variability and ramping impacts. Model dispatch optimization (merit order, economic dispatch, unit commitment). Evaluate ancillary services potential. Storage analysis - Characterize storage technology: energy density (Wh/kg), power density (W/kg), round-trip efficiency, cycle life, calendar life, self-discharge rate. Optimize sizing based on arbitrage value, peak shaving, or reliability requirements. Economic analysis - Calculate LCOE (levelized cost of energy) with discount rate, capital costs, O&M, fuel costs, and lifetime. Compute NPV, IRR, and payback period. Include incentives (ITC, PTC, feed-in tariffs). Conduct sensitivity analysis on key assumptions. Environmental assessment - Calculate avoided CO2 emissions using grid emission factors. Perform lifecycle emissions analysis (cradle-to-gate). Compare with conventional alternatives. Key Databases and Tools NREL (SAM, PVWatts, NSRDB) - Solar and renewable energy tools Global Wind Atlas - Wind resource data EIA / IEA - Energy statistics and projections HOMER Energy - Microgrid optimization OpenDSS - Distribution system simulation PyPSA - Open-source power system analysis Output Format Resource assessment as tables: annual/monthly capacity factor, energy yield (kWh/kWp). System diagram with component sizes, power flows, and energy balance. LCOE breakdown: capital, O&M, fuel, financing costs per kWh. Economic results as NPV, IRR, payback period with sensitivity tornado chart. Time series plots: generation, demand, storage state-of-charge, grid exchange. Quality Checklist Resource data source and time resolution specified System losses itemized (inverter, wiring, degradation, soiling, curtailment) Discount rate and financial assumptions documented Storage degradation and replacement costs included in economics Grid emission factor source and year specified Sensitivity analysis covers key uncertainties (resource, cost, discount rate) Units consistent (kW vs. kWh, AC vs. DC clearly distinguished) Comparison with alternatives provided for context