Open Access

ARTICLE

Regional Renewable Energy Optimization Based on Economic Benefits and Carbon Emissions

by Cun Wei¹, Yunpeng Zhao^2,*, Mingyang Cong¹, Zhigang Zhou^1,*, Jingzan Yan³, Ruixin Wang¹, Zhuoyang Li¹, Jing Liu¹

1 School of Architecture, Harbin Institute of Technology, Key Laboratory of Cold Region Urban and Rural Human Settlement Environment Science and Technology, Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, Harbin, China
2 Heilongjiang Institute of Construction Technology, Harbin, China
3 Qingdao Sino-German Ecopark Real Estate Co., Ltd., Qingdao, China

* Corresponding Authors: Yunpeng Zhao. Email: ; Zhigang Zhou. Email:

Energy Engineering 2023, 120(6), 1465-1484. https://doi.org/10.32604/ee.2023.026337

Received 30 August 2022; Accepted 09 November 2022; Issue published 03 April 2023

Abstract

With increasing renewable energy utilization, the industry needs an accurate tool to select and size renewable energy equipment and evaluate the corresponding renewable energy plans. This study aims to bring new insights into sustainable and energy-efficient urban planning by developing a practical method for optimizing the production of renewable energy and carbon emission in urban areas. First, we provide a detailed formulation to calculate the renewable energy demand based on total energy demand. Second, we construct a dual-objective optimization model that represents the life cycle cost and carbon emission of renewable energy systems, after which we apply the differential evolution algorithm to solve the optimization result. Finally, we conduct a case study in Qingdao, China, to demonstrate the effectiveness of this optimization model. Compared to the baseline design, the proposed model reduced annual costs and annual carbon emissions by 14.39% and 72.65%, respectively. These results revealed that dual-objective optimization is an effective method to optimize economic benefits and reduce carbon emissions. Overall, this study will assist energy planners in evaluating the impacts of urban renewable energy projects on the economy and carbon emissions during the planning stage.

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Keywords

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