Feasibility of fuel cell-based CHP systems applied to public buildings

Simulates various scenarios of fuel cell-based, micro-gas turbine-based, internal combustion engine-based combined heat and power(CHP) system and conventional system for energy supply to five types of public buildings located in five different climate zones in China. Adopts three indexes of operating cost reduction rate, carbon emission reduction rate and payback period to evaluate the economy and environment of each scenario. Compares the project life cycle cost and levelized cost of electricity for each system in the hotel buildings located in each climate zone. Conducts a sensitivity analysis on the payback period of fuel cell-based CHP systems by two parameters of the capital cost and fuel cost. The results show that the technology has strong investment attractiveness when the initial cost is reduced by 50%.