Novel approaches to exergy and economy based enhanced environmental analyses for energy systems

In this study, novel approaches to exergy and economy based enhanced environmental analyses for energy systems are explained. The methods are named as "exergoenvironment" (EXEN) and "exergoenviroeconomic" (EXENEC). These two analyses are also performed to the three conventional (fuel-oil, coal, natural gas) and two renewable (solar PV, wind turbine) energy options based electricity generation systems used for a building heating to show the reliability of the analyses. The EXEN analysis gives information relating to CO2 emission over time considering exergetic point of view. According to the EXEN results, greenhouse gas management can be achieved and CO2 reduction procedures can be prepared. On the other hand, EXENEC analysis presents the released CO2 price exergetically in a given period of time, while its unit is created to be $/time. EXENEC analysis can be helpful for the economic management of the greenhouse gases. Among the conventional energy options, the natural gas is the best choice, when the exergy based environmental & economical situations are considered. But, wind turbine energy option, which is one of the renewable energy options, is the best exergoenvironmental and exergoenviroeconomic choice among the all energy options. Because, the EXEN and EXENEC results are found minimum for this energy option to be 60 kg CO2/month and 0.87 $/month, respectively. So, these methods can be applied to the various energy options effectively, and the methods are useful for policy makers, researchers, decision makers and investors due to the enhanced methods' comprehensive environmental and exergetic approaches. © 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved