System Advisor Model, SAM 2011.12.2: General Description

Date: 2/29/2012

This document, System Advisor Model, SAM 2011.12.2: General Description, describes the capabilities of NREL's System Advisor Model (SAM), software that models the cost and performance of renewable energy systems. Project developers, policymakers, equipment manufacturers, and researchers use graphs and tables of SAM results to help evaluate finance, technology, and incentive options for renewable energy projects. SAM simulates the performance of solar, wind, geothermal, biomass, and conventional power systems. The financial model can represent financing structures for projects that either buy and sell electricity at retail rates (residential and commercial) or sell electricity at a price determined in a power purchase agreement. SAM is available as a free download.

This information was last updated on April 10, 2012