Educational evaluation of renewable energy projects based on RETScreen software

Abstract

In the design of renewable energy projects, a present problem is the techno-economic evaluation of them, regularly different methods and models are used to do it, in this work it is proposed to innovate in the degree of Engineering in Renewable Energies (LIER) of the UNAM in the National School of Superior Studies Juriquilla campus the way to evaluate projects using the software RETScreen. This paper presents a methodology to evaluate a wind energy project in the state of Queretaro Mexico. The project contemplates a wind turbine brand VESTAS V44 - 40m of 600 kW capacity of 40 m height in the state of Querétaro in the center of the country of Mexico. The initial costs of this wind turbine are 1,283 $/kW or 770,000 USD, with a rate of 80 $/kW. The electricity exported to the grid is 1,703 MWh and the income from electricity exports is 136,235.52 USD. With this wind turbine you can save 1,318.2 tCO2 per year or 566,414 liters of unused gasoline.