Energy-Saving Evaluation of SOFC Cogeneration Systems With Solar Cell and Battery

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the maximum energy-saving potential of residential energy supply systems consisting of a solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) cogeneration system (CGS) combined with a solar cell (SC) and a battery (BT), compared with a reference system (RS). This study applies an optimization theory into an operational planning problem to measure actual energy demands over the course of 1 year. Eight different types of energy supply system were compared with each other by changing the components of the SOFC-CGS, SC, BT, and RS. Meaningful numerical results are obtained, indicating the maximum potential energy savings.