Towards Optimal Sustainable Energy Systems in Nordic Municipalities

Robert Fischer, Erik Elfgren and Andrea Toffolo
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Robert Fischer: Energy Engineering, Luleå University of Technology, SE-97187 Lulea, Sweden
Erik Elfgren: Energy Engineering, Luleå University of Technology, SE-97187 Lulea, Sweden
Andrea Toffolo: Energy Engineering, Luleå University of Technology, SE-97187 Lulea, Sweden

Energies, 2020, vol. 13, issue 2, 1-23

Abstract: Municipal energy systems in the northern regions of Finland, Norway, and Sweden face multiple challenges: large-scale industries, cold climate, and a high share of electric heating characterize energy consumption and cause significant peak electricity demand. Local authorities are committed in contributing to national goals on CO 2 emission reductions by improving energy efficiency and investing in local renewable electricity generation, while considering their own objectives for economic development, increased energy self-sufficiency, and affordable energy costs. This paper formulates a multi-objective optimization problem about these goals that is solved by interfacing the energy systems simulation tool EnergyPLAN with a multi-objective evolutionary algorithm implemented in Matlab. A sensitivity analysis on some key economic parameters is also performed. In this way, optimal alternatives are identified for the integrated electricity and heating sectors and valuable insights are offered to decision-makers in local authorities. Piteå (Norrbotten, Sweden) is used as a case study that is representative of Nordic municipalities, and results show that CO 2 emissions can be reduced by 60% without a considerable increase in total costs and that peak electricity import can be reduced by a maximum of 38%.

Keywords: municipal energy system; multi-objective optimization; renewable energy sources; EnergyPLAN (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q Q0 Q4 Q40 Q41 Q42 Q43 Q47 Q48 Q49 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (8)

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