Modeling and optimization of polygeneration energy systems

The forecasted shortage of fossil fuels and the ever-increasing effect of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions on global warming and environmental stability are two international problems with major technical, economic and political implications in the 21st century. Therefore, it is urgent to restructure present energy production and utilization systems in order to ensure that fossil fuels are used with high efficiency and low to zero emissions. Polygeneration energy systems combine power generation and chemical fuel synthesis in a single plant (producing both electricity and fuels) and thus provide a promising alternative pathway towards achieving sustainable and flexible economic development. Mixed-Integer programming (MIP) is useful in constructing long-term decision models that are suitable for investment planning and design of polygeneration infrastructure systems. This paper presents a model for the investment planning of a polygeneration energy system and a case study addressing a system for production of methanol and electricity in China during the period from 2010 to 2035. It contains five different feedstocks and twelve polygeneration technologies.