Author(s)

Akito Ozawa^*, Yoshikuni Yoshida

Department of Environment Systems, Graduate School of Frontier Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan.

Improving energy efficiency in the residential sector is a pressing issue in Japan. This study examines the economic and environmental impacts of introducing the following distributed energy resources: photovoltaics (PV), a fuel cell, and a battery. We estimate electricity and hot water demand profiles of a household by using simulated living activities. Electric power from a residential PV system is also calculated from the observed solar radiation. By using mixed integer programming, we perform a cost minimization operating simulation of a residential PV, fuel cell, and battery. The result suggests that we can create a net-zero energy house by installing both a PV system and a fuel cell into one house. On the other hand, using a battery with a fuel cell increases the household energy cost, and has few effects on CO₂ emission reduction.

Household, PV, Fuel Cell, Battery, Mixed Integer Programming

Ozawa, A. and Yoshida, Y. (2015) Economic and Environmental Effects of Installing Distributed Energy Resources into a Household. Low Carbon Economy, 6, 41-50. doi: 10.4236/lce.2015.62006.