Abstract:
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. 
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