Thermal–economic analysis of a hybrid photovoltaic thermal (PVT) active solar distillation system: Role of carbon credit

• Thermal - economic analysis of hybrid (PVT) active solar distillation system has been carried out.
• Effect of fixed cost, maintenance cost, Government subsidy, interest rate on production cost has been predicted.
• Effect of carbon credit earned on the production cost of distillate and payback period has been estimated.

In this paper, thermal and economic evaluation of a hybrid (PVT) active solar distillation system incorporating the effect of subsidy, tax benefit, inflation, and maintenance costs is presented for the climatic condition of New Delhi (India). The analysis is based on annualized costing and for the expected life spans of 15 and 30 years. Further CO2 emission/mitigation and revenue earned due to carbon credit are taken into account as per norms of Kyoto Protocol for India. Energy production factor (EPF) and life cycle conversion efficiency (LCCE) are found to be 5.9% and 14.5%, respectively, for expected life of 30 years. The energy and distillate production costs are found to be Rs. 0.85/kWh and Rs. 0.75/L, respectively, accounting the carbon credit earned. The cost payback period is estimated to be 4.2 years, if the distillate is sold out at the rate of Rs. 6.0/L in the local market.