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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
 

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FAQs
 

Q: How much does HOMER cost?

A.The new HOMER  v2.75 is $99 for a six-month license. Subsequent new versions will also require a fee. The 2.68 version is free!  It will always be available. You just have to register with us to download the software, and you will be prompted to renew it every six months. All you have to do is fill out a renewal survey.

Q. Am I getting a demo version or the real thing?

A. It's the real McCoy. When you download HOMER you get the fully-functioning version.

Q. On what operating system does HOMER run?

A. HOMER runs in all versions of Windows and Windows emulators, like Parallels for the Mac.

Q. Can I create my own components?

A. HOMER allows you to customize all of the components and save those component characterizations for use in  other files. They can also be added to HOMER's built-in libraries for components like batteries, wind turbines, and fuels.

Q. How do I define an electric load that changes seasonally?

A. You can define different load profiles for different seasons. For example, to define one profile for summer and another for winter (in the Northern hemisphere), enter the winter profile for January. HOMER copies that profile through the rest of the year to December. Then use the drop-down box to change the month to April, and enter the summer profile. HOMER then copies that profile through to December. Then switch to October and enter the winter profile again, and HOMER will copy it through to December.

Q. On the component input windows, why is there both a Costs table and a Sizes to Consider table?

A. The Costs table defines the cost of the component, and the Sizes to Consider table defines which sizes HOMER will try as it searches for the optimal system. The sizes in the two tables can coincide, but they don't have to.

Q. Does HOMER account for the effects of temperature on the PV array?

A. No. HOMER simply assumes that the output of the PV array is directly proportional to the amount of solar radiation striking the PV array. You can set the PV derating factor to something less than 100% in order to account in a very simple way for reduced output at high temperatures. But the derating factor applies equally to every hour of the year.

Q. Can I tell HOMER not to run the diesel during the night?

A. Yes, the Generator Inputs window has a tab where you can set its operating schedule.

Q. Can I export HOMER results into a report?

A. Yes.  HOMER can create an Inputs Summary Report and a Simulation Report for any system.  You can also export Excel-readable tabular sensitivity or optimization results by clicking the Export button at the top-right corner of the table. You can also export any graph by right-clicking on it and either copying it to the clipboard to saving it to a file.

To send us a question, please contact us.

 

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What people are saying about HOMER:

Best hourly assessment tool for hybrid renewable electric generation systems in the world – bar none.

Dr. Jan F. Kreider
Building Systems Program, University of Colorado, USA
 
HOMER ENERGY  •  720-565-4046  •  info@homerenergy.com  •  885 Arapahoe Avenue, Boulder, CO 80302, USA