New features on the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) REopt Lite tool allow facility managers to create more detailed energy analysis of renewable energy and energy storage, according to NREL.
REopt Lite is the free, publicly available web version of NREL's REopt "techno-economic decision support model" for renewable energy optimization and integration. It is designed to help managers evaluate the way grid-connected photovoltaics, wind, and battery storage would work at their sites.
One new feature of REopt Lite is the ability to model rate tariffs from the Utility Rate Database, as well as custom electricity rates with energy and demand charges that can vary by time of day and time of year. This feature allows managers to analyze across a portfolio that might include international facilities or to hash out potential future impacts of different rates.
A second new feature is a critical load builder, which managers can use to create a list of critical equipment, along with their wattages, quantities, and hours of operation.
Naomi Millán is senior editor of Building Operating Management.
