"There is no book like this out there. Chris Burk is the ultimate guru in this field. His models are light and nimble, yet powerful." ~Dr. Leah Ellis, CEO, Sublime Systems Inc.
| Contents |
Part 1: Spreadsheet development
Spreadsheet models quickly become unmanageable without solid spreadsheet development practices. Drawing from conventional software engineering and using concrete examples, Part 1 teaches best practices that lay the foundation for Part 2.
Part 2: Techno-economic modeling
Part 2 presents a structured approach to developing clear, modular, and user-friendly techno-economic models. It introduces each major component in turn—including process modeling, equipment sizing, cost estimation, and economic evaluation—supported by examples and templates available with the book’s online content.
Part 3: Techno-economic analysis
The point of building a techno-economic model is to use it, and that’s the focus of Part 3. It begins with practical methods for visualizing results and running sensitivity analyses, such as tornado diagrams, and then shows how these tools can be applied to evaluate economic viability, quantify and interpret uncertainty, guide R&D, and support clear communication among stakeholders.
Part 4: Case studies
The final two chapters present case studies that demonstrate the practical application of techno-economic modeling. Each includes an overview of the process, a walkthrough of the model’s construction, and a critical review of the methodologies used. The first explores a bottom-up model for producing a dry biomass product, while the second examines a top-down model for hydrogen production via PEM electrolysis. Downloadable versions of both models are included with the book’s online companion content.