Improving operation strategies for solar-based distributed energy systems: Matching system design with operation

Chang Huang, Yixian Yan, Rafal Madonski, Qi Zhang and Hui Deng

Energy, 2023, vol. 276, issue C

Abstract: Collaborative optimization of system design and operation is a valid way to boost the integrated performance (economic, energetic, and environmental) improvement of a distributed energy system. However, when developing operation strategies, only the operational performance of the system, such as fuel consumption savings, is usually considered, which makes it challenging to explore the potential benefits of integration. Therefore, this paper analyzes the limitations of conventional operation strategy in terms of integrated performance and accordingly investigates the load adjustment decisions that can improve multi-objective benefits under different scenarios. On this basis, two novel operating strategies (denoted as “theoretical” and “realistic’’) are developed to manage load flexibility. The difference between the two is the idealized requirement in the former to accurately predict solar irradiation and user loads. An off-grid solar-based distributed energy system for a residential building is used as a case study. The obtained simulation results show that the conventional strategy performs well in operation but poorly in terms of matching with system configuration, which results in low equipment utilization and high initial investment. With load flexibility management, the theoretical strategy improves equipment utilization and reduces the SOFC size, resulting in a better match between system design and operation. The results of the proposed theoretical strategy with multiple-objective optimization indicate that the total annual cost and CO2 emissions are reduced by 35.62% and 8.93%, respectively, and the primary energy savings is improved by 3.73%. Considering a more practical case, the proposed realistic strategy has higher reliability in flexible load management, compared to the theoretical strategy at the cost of 5.74%, 4.56%, and 1.73% degradation of those three indicators, respectively. In general, the original results of this research can provide an important reference for the multi-objective collaborative optimization of design and operation in distributed energy systems.

Keywords: Distributed energy system; System design; Operation strategy; Load flexibility; Genetic algorithm (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (4)

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:eee:energy:v:276:y:2023:i:c:s0360544223010046

DOI: 10.1016/j.energy.2023.127610

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