Economical Feasibility

It is important to point out that, such a project of solar cooling system cannot be achieved if it is roughly compared economically to a conventional system. That’s why an economical analysis must take into consideration other elements than a rough payback time. Please select an answer in the list for each question. If you do not know, let the answer empty.

Energy cost

Country Choose answer ... Austria Denmark France Germany Italy Spain Swiss Country
The costs of water and substituted energy depends on the coutry where the solar cooling and heating installation will be established. Cost of the substituted energy Choose answer ... High cost Medium cost Low cost Cost of the substituted energy
In the majority of cases, the solar system is installed with a back up. The main saving element is mainly done on the energy saved by the solar system. In these conditions, a high level of substituted energy cost is very favorable to a solar cooling project.
The price levels depends on the country where the project will be developed.   Cost of water Choose answer ... High cost Medium cost Low cost No need of water (dry cooler planned) Cost of water
The solar cooling system needs water for dehumidification in the case of a solar DEC or for the cooling tower in the case of an ab/adsorption system. The price levels depends on the country where the project will be developed.  
As an indicative figure, a solar absorption cooling system of nearly 35 kW is using at full load nearly 3 to 5 litres of water/ kWhcold produced in summer.
However, if a dry air cooler is used instead of a cooling tower, water is not requested.

Building owner

Possibility of making important investment at the beginning of the project Choose answer ... Enough to respect condition Investment is not easy to make Not enough to respect condition Don't know Possibility of making important investment at the beginning of the project
A solar system needs a high investments at first. This investment is about 5000-8000€/kWcold for a less than 20kW installation and about 4000-6000€/kWcold for a more than 20kW installation. So the contracting authority have to be able to invest a large amount of money at the beginning of the project. Motivation of the building owner Choose answer ... Very motivated (Ready to take risks to enhance the prestige) Motivated (Mostly wants to protect environment) Not very motivated (Mostly thinks to the energy cost savings) Motivation of the building owner
Without a large environmental approach, the project will be difficult to realize. The decision makers have to see the solar cooling project in a global vision : as an energy producer, as a conventional energy saver but as well as a CO2 emission saver and an environment-friendly device. Importance of the marketing impact Choose answer ... Very important Not very important No impact Importance of the marketing impact
For some particular companies or institutions, the communication and marketing impact for their image can be very interesting.
The solar cooling system is a symbol of the action in favour of a better environment and of an involvement in the reduction of fossil energy consumption. Eligible to national and international grants Choose answer ... Important rate (>50%) Between 20% and 50% Small rate (<20%) Eligible to national and international grants
To be economically suitable, the demonstration systems have to rely on a certain percentage of grants or financial incentive process.
This potential level of grants from national or international programs must be rapidly identified and should appear in the check list. Financial stability of the building owner Choose answer ... Stable enough to invest Stable at the moment Investments are risked Financial stability of the building owner
This requirement is due to the large and commonplace delay between the project achievement and the grant payment.
Since the investment level is already substantially higher than for a conventional equivalent system, the owner has to be financially solid.
In other words, the contracting authority must have a working-capital fund large enough to wait for the grant payments.