Feasibility analysis of an electricity, cooling and heating microgrid developed for a University Campus in Lisbon, Portugal using Combined Heat, Cooling and Power

In an energy system with notable amount of renewable sources and distributed generation, the concepts of microgrid and district heating networks are useful approaches to segregate utility network into smaller and easily operable clusters. Various authors have suggested supplying energy to a microgrid by means of small Combined Heat, Cooling and Power (CHCP) facilities. This paper presents a feasibility analysis for the deployment of an electricity, cooling and heating microgrid at a University Campus with large energy demand throughout the year. The advantages of using a small CHCP as the main supplying source are looked into and it is explored how this type of facility may encourage the integration of Photovoltaic Energy. The analysis is conducted using the EnergyPLAN software as a tool to assess different scenarios technically and economically; those scenarios include diverse supply system size in order to obtain higher diversification. Finally the results are used to discuss the potential of a new business model that may arise with the concept.