Download RETScreen Software Online User Manual

RETScreen® Solar Air Heating Project Model
Fuel conversion efficiency
(Custom analysis)
The user enters the fuel conversion efficiency for the selected fuel type. The fuel conversion
efficiency is the efficiency of energy conversion from primary heat potential to actual power
plant output. This value is used to calculate, for each fuel type, the aggregate GHG emission
factor and therefore is only relevant for fuel types which actually produce greenhouse gases (i.e.
with non-zero CO2, CH4 and N2O emission factors).
For example, a typical coal-fired power plant could have a fuel conversion efficiency of 35%,
which indicates that 35% of the heat content of the coal is transformed into electricity fed to the
grid.
Units are given as a percentage of primary heat potential (gigajoules of heat) to actual power
plant output (gigajoules of electricity). Fuel types which emit no GHGs (e.g., solar) have a default
value of 100%.
Fuel conversion efficiency
(Standard analysis)
The model provides the fuel conversion efficiency for the selected fuel type. The fuel conversion
efficiency is the efficiency of energy conversion from primary heat potential to actual power
plant output. This value is used to calculate, for each fuel type, the aggregate GHG emission
factor and therefore is only relevant for fuel types which actually produce greenhouse gases (i.e.
with non-zero CO2, CH4 and N2O emission factors).
For example, a typical coal-fired power plant could have a fuel conversion efficiency of 35%,
which indicates that 35% of the heat content of the coal is transformed into electricity fed to the
grid.
Units are given as a percentage of primary heat potential (gigajoules of heat) to actual power
plant output (gigajoules of electricity). Fuel types which emit no GHGs (e.g., solar) have a
default value of 100%.
The default values provided by the model are given in Default Emission Factors and Conversion
Efficiencies table.
Transmission and distribution losses
The user enters the transmission and distribution (T & D) losses (%) of the base case electricity
system, which includes all energy losses between the power plant and the end-user. This value
will vary based on the voltage of transport lines, the distance from the site of energy production
to the point of use, peak energy demands, ambient temperature and electricity theft. In addition, T
& D system type (e.g. AC vs. DC) and quality may also influence losses. The model calculates
the weighted average of the T & D losses of the global electricity mix on the bottom row of the
table.
SAH.69