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How much electricity can we save by using direct current circuits in homes? Understanding the potential for electricity savings and assessing feasibility of a transition towards DC powered buildings

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  • Glasgo, Brock
  • Azevedo, Inês Lima
  • Hendrickson, Chris

Abstract

Advances in semiconductor-based power electronics and growing direct current loads in buildings have led researchers to reconsider whether buildings should be wired with DC circuits to reduce power conversions and facilitate a transition to efficient DC appliances. The feasibility, energy savings, and economics of such systems have been assessed and proven in data centers and commercial buildings, but the outcomes are still uncertain for the residential sector.

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  • Glasgo, Brock & Azevedo, Inês Lima & Hendrickson, Chris, 2016. "How much electricity can we save by using direct current circuits in homes? Understanding the potential for electricity savings and assessing feasibility of a transition towards DC powered buildings," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 180(C), pages 66-75.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:appene:v:180:y:2016:i:c:p:66-75
    DOI: 10.1016/j.apenergy.2016.07.036
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    1. Gerber, Daniel L. & Liou, Richard & Brown, Richard, 2019. "Energy-saving opportunities of direct-DC loads in buildings," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 248(C), pages 274-287.
    2. Castillo-Calzadilla, T. & Cuesta, M.A. & Olivares-Rodriguez, C. & Macarulla, A.M. & Legarda, J. & Borges, C.E., 2022. "Is it feasible a massive deployment of low voltage direct current microgrids renewable-based? A technical and social sight," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 161(C).
    3. Saeed Habibi & Ramin Rahimi & Mehdi Ferdowsi & Pourya Shamsi, 2021. "DC Bus Voltage Selection for a Grid-Connected Low-Voltage DC Residential Nanogrid Using Real Data with Modified Load Profiles," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(21), pages 1-19, October.
    4. Avpreet Othee & James Cale & Arthur Santos & Stephen Frank & Daniel Zimmerle & Omkar Ghatpande & Gerald Duggan & Daniel Gerber, 2023. "A Modeling Toolkit for Comparing AC and DC Electrical Distribution Efficiency in Buildings," Energies, MDPI, vol. 16(7), pages 1-46, March.
    5. Hasan Erteza Gelani & Faizan Dastgeer & Sayyad Ahmad Ali Shah & Faisal Saeed & Muhammad Hassan Yousuf & Hafiz Muhammad Waqas Afzal & Abdullah Bilal & Md. Shahariar Chowdhury & Kuaanan Techato & Sittip, 2022. "Comparative Efficiency and Sensitivity Analysis of AC and DC Power Distribution Paradigms for Residential Localities," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(13), pages 1-52, July.
    6. Hasan Erteza Gelani & Faizan Dastgeer & Mashood Nasir & Sidra Khan & Josep M. Guerrero, 2021. "AC vs. DC Distribution Efficiency: Are We on the Right Path?," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(13), pages 1-26, July.
    7. Keteng Jiang & Haibo Li & Xi Ye & Yi Lei & Keng-Weng Lao & Shuqing Zhang & Xianfa Hu, 2022. "Energy Efficiency Evaluation and Revenue Distribution of DC Power Distribution Systems in Nearly Zero Energy Buildings," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(15), pages 1-23, August.
    8. Mageswaran Rengasamy & Sivasankar Gangatharan & Rajvikram Madurai Elavarasan & Lucian Mihet-Popa, 2020. "The Motivation for Incorporation of Microgrid Technology in Rooftop Solar Photovoltaic Deployment to Enhance Energy Economics," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(24), pages 1-27, December.
    9. Patrik Ollas & Torbjörn Thiringer & Mattias Persson & Caroline Markusson, 2023. "Energy Loss Savings Using Direct Current Distribution in a Residential Building with Solar Photovoltaic and Battery Storage," Energies, MDPI, vol. 16(3), pages 1-21, January.
    10. Gerber, Daniel L. & Vossos, Vagelis & Feng, Wei & Marnay, Chris & Nordman, Bruce & Brown, Richard, 2018. "A simulation-based efficiency comparison of AC and DC power distribution networks in commercial buildings," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 210(C), pages 1167-1187.
    11. Mageswaran Rengasamy & Sivasankar Gangatharan & Rajvikram Madurai Elavarasan & Lucian Mihet-Popa, 2021. "Incorporation of Microgrid Technology Solutions to Reduce Power Loss in a Distribution Network with Elimination of Inefficient Power Conversion Strategies," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(24), pages 1-25, December.
    12. Liu, Xueying & Madlener, Reinhard, 2021. "Economic Benefits of Direct Current Technology for Private Households and Peer-to-Peer Trading in Germany," FCN Working Papers 7/2021, E.ON Energy Research Center, Future Energy Consumer Needs and Behavior (FCN).
    13. Jing Kang & Bin Hao & Yutong Li & Hui Lin & Zhifeng Xue, 2022. "The Application and Development of LVDC Buildings in China," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(19), pages 1-14, September.
    14. Meshari Alshammari & Maeve Duffy, 2021. "Feasibility Analysis of a DC Distribution System for a 6 kW Photovoltaic Installation in Ireland," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(19), pages 1-17, October.
    15. Piao, Longjian & de Vries, Laurens & de Weerdt, Mathijs & Yorke-Smith, Neil, 2021. "Electricity markets for DC distribution systems: Locational pricing trumps wholesale pricing," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 214(C).
    16. Meshari Alshammari & Maeve Duffy, 2022. "Review of Single-Phase Bidirectional Inverter Topologies for Renewable Energy Systems with DC Distribution," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(18), pages 1-23, September.
    17. Vagelis Vossos & Daniel L. Gerber & Melanie Gaillet-Tournier & Bruce Nordman & Richard Brown & Willy Bernal Heredia & Omkar Ghatpande & Avijit Saha & Gabe Arnold & Stephen M. Frank, 2022. "Adoption Pathways for DC Power Distribution in Buildings," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(3), pages 1-23, January.
    18. Chai, Merlin & Bonthapalle, Dastagiri Reddy & Sobrayen, Lingeshwaren & Panda, Sanjib K. & Wu, Die & Chen, XiaoQing, 2018. "Alternating current and direct current-based electrical systems for marine vessels with electric propulsion drives," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 231(C), pages 747-756.
    19. Vossos, Vagelis & Gerber, Daniel & Bennani, Youness & Brown, Richard & Marnay, Chris, 2018. "Techno-economic analysis of DC power distribution in commercial buildings," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 230(C), pages 663-678.
    20. Fantauzzi, M. & Lauria, D. & Mottola, F. & Scalfati, A., 2017. "Sizing energy storage systems in DC networks: A general methodology based upon power losses minimization," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 187(C), pages 862-872.
    21. Eskander, Monica M. & Silva, Carlos A., 2023. "Techno-economic and environmental comparative analysis for DC microgrids in households: Portuguese and French household case study," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 349(C).
    22. Settino, Jessica & Sant, Tonio & Micallef, Christopher & Farrugia, Mario & Spiteri Staines, Cyril & Licari, John & Micallef, Alexander, 2018. "Overview of solar technologies for electricity, heating and cooling production," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 90(C), pages 892-909.
    23. Van den Broeck, Giel & Stuyts, Jeroen & Driesen, Johan, 2018. "A critical review of power quality standards and definitions applied to DC microgrids," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 229(C), pages 281-288.
    24. Sergio Gómez Melgar & Antonio Sánchez Cordero & Marta Videras Rodríguez & José Manuel Andújar Márquez, 2020. "Matching Energy Consumption and Photovoltaic Production in a Retrofitted Dwelling in Subtropical Climate without a Backup System," Energies, MDPI, vol. 13(22), pages 1-27, November.
    25. Spiliotis, Konstantinos & Gonçalves, Juliana E. & Saelens, Dirk & Baert, Kris & Driesen, Johan, 2020. "Electrical system architectures for building-integrated photovoltaics: A comparative analysis using a modelling framework in Modelica," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 261(C).

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