Quantifying the contribution of individual technologies in integrated urban energy systems - A system value approach

Integrated urban energy systems satisfy energy demands in a cost-effective manner by efficiently combining diverse technologies and energy saving strategies. However, the contribution of an individual technology within a complex system is difficult to quantify. This study introduces a generalized "system value" approach to quantify the contribution of an individual design decision towards improving the system design (e.g., achieving a lower cost design). It measures the contribution of an individual technology to the whole system in the range between two benchmarks that respectively represent complete exclusion of the technology and the optimal penetration level. The method is based on a technology-rich Mixed Integer Linear Programming (MILP) model for optimal design of urban energy systems. The model considers multi-energy supply technologies, networks, storage technologies and various energy saving strategies. A stochastic formulation is further developed to quantify uncertainties of the system value. The system values of nine kinds of energy supply technologies and three categories of energy-saving strategies are quantified via a case study, which illustrates the variation in the system values for individual technologies with different levels of penetration, and multi-energy supply technologies can have a large impact in integrated systems.