A New Modeling Approach for Low-Carbon District Energy System Planning

Abolfazl Rezaei, Bahador Samadzadegan, Hadise Rasoulian, Saeed Ranjbar, Soroush Samareh Abolhassani, Azin Sanei and Ursula Eicker
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Abolfazl Rezaei: Canada Excellence Research Chair Next Generation Cities, Gina Cody School of Engineering and Computer Science, Concordia University, Montréal, QC H3G 1M8, Canada
Bahador Samadzadegan: Canada Excellence Research Chair Next Generation Cities, Gina Cody School of Engineering and Computer Science, Concordia University, Montréal, QC H3G 1M8, Canada
Hadise Rasoulian: Canada Excellence Research Chair Next Generation Cities, Gina Cody School of Engineering and Computer Science, Concordia University, Montréal, QC H3G 1M8, Canada
Saeed Ranjbar: Canada Excellence Research Chair Next Generation Cities, Gina Cody School of Engineering and Computer Science, Concordia University, Montréal, QC H3G 1M8, Canada
Soroush Samareh Abolhassani: Canada Excellence Research Chair Next Generation Cities, Gina Cody School of Engineering and Computer Science, Concordia University, Montréal, QC H3G 1M8, Canada
Azin Sanei: Canada Excellence Research Chair Next Generation Cities, Gina Cody School of Engineering and Computer Science, Concordia University, Montréal, QC H3G 1M8, Canada
Ursula Eicker: Canada Excellence Research Chair Next Generation Cities, Gina Cody School of Engineering and Computer Science, Concordia University, Montréal, QC H3G 1M8, Canada

Energies, 2021, vol. 14, issue 5, 1-22

Abstract: Designing district-scale energy systems with renewable energy sources is still a challenge, as it involves modeling of multiple loads and many options to combine energy system components. In the current study, two different energy system scenarios for a district in Montreal/Canada are compared to choose the most cost-effective and energy-efficient energy system scenario for the studied area. In the first scenario, a decentral energy system comprised of ground-source heat pumps provides heating and cooling for each building, while, in the second scenario, a district heating and cooling system with a central heat pump is designed. Firstly, heating and cooling demand are calculated in a completely automated process using an Automatic Urban Building Energy Modeling System approach (AUBEM). Then, the Integrated Simulation Environment Language (INSEL) is used to prepare a model for the energy system. The proposed model provides heat pump capacity and the number of required heat pumps (HP), the number of photovoltaic (PV) panels, and AC electricity generation potential using PV. After designing the energy systems, the piping system, heat losses, and temperature distribution of the centralized scenario are calculated using a MATLAB code. Finally, two scenarios are assessed economically using the Levelized Cost of Energy (LCOE) method. The results show that the central scenario’s total HP electricity consumption is 17% lower than that of the decentral systems and requires less heat pump capacity than the decentral scenario. The LCOE of both scenarios varies from 0.04 to 0.07 CAD/kWh, which is cheaper than the electricity cost in Quebec (0.08 CAD/kWh). A comparison between both scenarios shows that the centralized energy system is cost-beneficial for all buildings and, after applying the discounts, the LCOE of this scenario decreases to 0.04 CAD/kWh.

Keywords: energy system modeling; district heating network; levelized cost of energy; automatic urban building energy modeling (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: 2021
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (4)

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