COST EVALUATION OF TECHNOLOGIES FOR SPACE HEATING, COOLING AND DOMESTIC HOT WATER FOR MULTIFAMILY APARTMENTS IN R. N. MACEDONIA

Abstract

In the residential sector in R. Macedonia, most of the existing buildings are energy inefficient with high heating energy consumption, fossil fuels and direct use of electrical energy as a heating source. A lack of information and high Capital Expenditures (CAPEX) are identified as main reasons for the low attractiveness of district heating (wherever available) and heat pumps respectively. Therefore, the aim of this paper is through techno–economic assessment of different heat sources and technologies to provide well–founded answers that would create a good basis for future decisions in this sector. As the key performance is used Levelized Cost of Energy (LCOE) considering climate and economic conditions in R. Macedonia. The analysis is conducted for a reference heating area of 70m2 with specific heating energy consumption of 70 kWh/m2a, cooling energy 20 kWh/m2a and 30 kWh/m2a for domestic hot water (DHW). The considered technologies are heat pump air–water and air–air, electric boiler, natural gas boiler, wood pellet boiler and district heating. Sensitivity analysis is performed to assess the extend to which the change in investment, electricity and fuel prices affect the LCOE and economic viability. Results indicate that district heating has lowest LCOE, followed by system with air conditioners.