Improvements in building end-use efficiency have significantly reduced the energy intensity of new buildings, but diminishing returns make it a challenge to build very-low energy buildings cost-effectively. A largely untapped efficiency strategy is to improve the efficiency of power distribution within buildings. Direct current (DC) distribution with modern power electronics has the potential to eliminate much of the power conversion loss in alternating current (AC) building distribution networks that include photovoltaics and DC end uses. Previous literature suggests up to 15 percent energy savings from DC power distribution in very energy efficient buildings with onsite generation and battery storage. This paper extends prior energy modeling of DC versus AC distribution in buildings, to consider the cost of implementing DC systems on a life-cycle basis. We present a techno-economic analysis framework that evaluates the cost-effectiveness of DC systems in U.S. commercial buildings, based on commercially available products for various PV and battery storage capacities. We use Monte Carlo simulation to account for uncertainty and variability in the cost inputs, and compute the payback period (PBP) and lifecycle cost (LCC) savings of DC versus AC distribution systems. We also conduct a sensitivity analysis to evaluate how future efficiency improvements in power converters and changes in electricity tariffs may affect LCC savings. This analysis shows that DC systems can be cost-effective in all scenarios that include large capacities of battery storage and onsite solar, whereas for systems without storage, DC distribution is generally not cost-effective due to lower energy bill savings.
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