Impact of Energy-Related Properties of Cities on Optimal Urban Energy System Design

Joel Bertilsson (), Lisa Göransson and Filip Johnsson
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Joel Bertilsson: Department of Space, Earth and Environment, Energy Technology, Chalmers University of Technology, 41296 Gothenburg, Sweden
Lisa Göransson: Department of Space, Earth and Environment, Energy Technology, Chalmers University of Technology, 41296 Gothenburg, Sweden
Filip Johnsson: Department of Space, Earth and Environment, Energy Technology, Chalmers University of Technology, 41296 Gothenburg, Sweden

Energies, 2024, vol. 17, issue 15, 1-24

Abstract: This study investigates how differences in energy-related properties of cities influence the composition of a cost-efficient urban energy system, assuming electrification of the transport and industry sectors and zero-emission of CO 2 . These differences are evaluated for two scenarios regarding the capacities of the modeled cities to import electricity. A linear optimization model that encompasses the electricity, heating, industry, and transport sectors, using measured data from six cities in Sweden, is applied. Results show that when strict constraints on electricity imports are enforced, cities with a lower ratio of annual electricity demand for heat encourage the implementation of power-to-heat solutions in the heating sector. This study also reveals that under such stringent electricity import conditions, cities with a high level of flexibility in electricity demand favor a combination of batteries and solar photovoltaics as opposed to biomass-based electricity production. Conversely, when electricity importation is less restricted and biomass prices surpass 20 EUR/MWh, local electricity generation is outcompeted by imports, and large-scale heat pumps working in tandem with thermal energy storage dominate the heating sector in all modeled cities. This assertion holds true when the maximum electricity import capacity is utilized up to 5000 h annually.

Keywords: energy systems modeling; city electrification; smart city; fossil-free energy systems; urban energy systems; district heating; sector coupling (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: 2024
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