Summary The RETScreen International Renewable Energy Project Analysis Software is a unique decision support tool developed with the contribution of numerous experts from government, industry, and academia. The software, provided free-of-charge, can be used world-wide to evaluate the energy production, life-cycle costs and greenhouse gas emission reductions for various types ... of renewable energy technologies (RETs). The software also includes product, cost and weather databases; and a detailed online user manual.
Currently, the software can be used to evaluate the eight renewable energy technologies listed in the menu bar to the left. Upgrades to the existing models and the creation of new technology models are also under development, as described in the "forthcoming" menu bar item.
Each RETScreen renewable energy technology model (e.g. Wind Energy Project, etc.) is developed within an individual Microsoft Excel spreadsheet "Workbook" file. The Workbook file is in-turn composed of a series of worksheets. These worksheets have a common look and follow a standard approach for all technology models.
There are five key worksheets provided with each technology Workbook file. The first is the "Energy Model" worksheet which is used to calculate the annual energy production of the RET project being considered. The second is a sub-worksheet that is specific to the particular RET (e.g. "Equipment Data" worksheet). The third is the "Cost Analysis" worksheet which is used to calculate the total initial, annual and periodic project costs. The fourth is an optional Greenhouse Gas Emission Reduction Analysis ('GHG Analysis') worksheet used to estimate the greenhouse gases reduced by the proposed RET project. The final worksheet is the "Financial Summary" worksheet which is used to prepare the financial analysis for the RET. Numerous financial indicators are provided to help support decisions (e.g. internal rate of return, simple pay back, net present value, etc.). The results are then presented in a simple project cash flows graph for presentation to key decision-makers. The Financial Summary worksheet also allows the user to perform a tax analysis and a Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) type analysis for the individual project.
Name:
RETSCREEN CUSTOMER SUPPORT
Phone:
1-450-652-4621
Fax:
1-450-652-5177
Email:
rets at nrcan.gc.ca
Contact Address:
RETScreen Customer Support
Natural Resources Canada
1615 Lionel-Boulet Blvd., P.O. Box 4800 City:
Varennes
Province or State:
QC
Postal Code:
J3X 1S6
Country:
CANADA
Personnel
TYLER
B.
STEVENS Role:
SERF AUTHOR
Phone:
(301) 614-6898
Fax:
301-614-5268
Email:
Tyler.B.Stevens at nasa.gov
Contact Address:
NASA Goddard Space Flight Center
Global Change Master Directory City:
Greenbelt
Province or State:
MD
Postal Code:
20771
Country:
USA
RETSCREEN CUSTOMER SUPPORT Role:
TECHNICAL CONTACT
Phone:
1-450-652-4621
Fax:
1-450-652-5177
Email:
rets at nrcan.gc.ca
Contact Address:
RETScreen Customer Support
Natural Resources Canada
1615 Lionel-Boulet Blvd., P.O. Box 4800 City:
Varennes
Province or State:
QC
Postal Code:
J3X 1S6
Country:
CANADA
Related URL
Link:
VIEW PROJECT HOME PAGE
Description:
The RETScreen International Renewable Energy Decision Support Centre seeks to
promote the deployment of renewable energy systems by building the capacity of
planners, decision-makers and industry to implement more projects successfully.
The broad aim of the Centre's partners is to foster increased market uptake of
renewable energy technologies (RETs) that reduce the reliance on conventional
energy sources and which help to protect the global environment. The Centre
builds upon the success of the RETScreen International Renewable Energy Project
Analysis Software, which is now being used by more than 21,000 people in 185
countries around the globe and which is growing at 150 new users every week.
The Centre develops enabling tools that allow stakeholders to better analyse
the technical and financial viability of possible projects. These tools make it
easier for people to consider renewable energy projects at the critically
important initial planning stage while significantly reducing the costs of
assessing potential projects. Some of the enabling tools include renewable
energy project analysis software models and manuals; international product and
weather databases; project case studies; and university textbooks. Given the
broad aim of the Centre's partners, the Centre provides these valuable enabling
tools free-of-charge to users around the globe via the Internet and CD-ROM.
The Centre also transfers the knowledge created on a sponsorship or
non-commercial cost-recovery basis via the delivery of distance learning
courses, professional-training seminars and training-of-trainers workshops; and
via an international network of certified RETScreen trainers.
Link:
VIEW RELATED INFORMATION
Description:
The RETScreen International Online User Manual is an integral part of the
software. The online user manual is a help file directly linked to each
RETScreen model Microsoft Excel Workbook file and is designed to facilitate
use of the model as quickly and effectively as possible.
In addition to the RETScreen specific information for each cell in the
software, the online user manual also provides background information for the 8
renewable energy technologies in the software, including photographs of typical
projects, an overview of application markets and a description of RET systems,
(also see e-Textbook).
The user automatically downloads the online user manual help file (Version 2000
and higher) while downloading the RETScreen software. The user can also
download the "Manual in PDF Format" (Version 98) or view the "Manual on the
Web" (Version 98).
Link:
GET SERVICE
>
GET SOFTWARE PACKAGE
Description:
RETScreen International software can be downloaded after registering.
Link:
GET RELATED DATA SET METADATA (DIF)
Description:
This SSE data set is a synthesis of the World Climate Research
Program/Surface Radiation Budget (WCRP/SRB) shortwave data set (Version 1.1),
ISCCP-C1 (International Satellite Cloud Climatology Project) 3-hourly
satellite data, and ISCCP-C2 monthly mean cloud fraction data. ISCCP provides
global coverage of satellite data on an equal-area grid (6596 cells). Each
cell represents an area equal to that of a 2.5 degree latitude/longitude cell
at the equator (approximately 280 square km). Comparison with data from
approximately 500 ground sites suggest that the satellite-derived values are
generally within 10 percent of surface measured values for most regions of the
world. However, there are two notable exceptions.
Link:
GET DATA
Description:
Surface meteorology and Solar Energy (release 4) home page:
data for the RETScreen Renewable Energy Project Analysis Software
Creation and Review Dates
SERF Creation Date:
2003-07-14
SERF Last Revision Date:
2006-03-23
Links
