The current global perspective in energy production strongly favors the development, implementation, and transition to low carbon emission sources. As more companies and governments make carbon reduction and sustainability goals, the financial reality and viability of this transition becomes a major factor. One of the biggest challenges when it comes to emerging clean energy production systems is scaling and pricing them accurately. Several of these potential technologies have relatively low technology readiness levels (TRL), which further adds to the challenges of creating accurate cost estimates. Sources in literature cite different capital costs available for these energy systems. This paper discusses the methods used to calculate the capital cost associated with a variety of system types, including six energy storage technologies, renewable electricity production using a photovoltaic field, and fossil fuel with carbon capture. The analysis includes a brief assessment of the implementation of these technologies, discusses available literature, and gives a high-level overview of the model and methods used for the design and cost calculations of these facilities. The findings are used in the design of a net-zero carbon emission microgrid based on historic operational data of a 25 MW peak load, with a baseload of 10MW in the winter and 15 MW in the summer. Costs of technologies discussed in this paper and their implementation can be applied for future designs and initial feed studies for similar small-scale grid applications. Findings showed operating scenarios favoring a photovoltaic field with storage over fossil fuel sources with carbon capture.
