Application of Industrial Symbiosis principles to the management of utility networks

Abstract

Utility exchanges between different plants have shown to produce large energy savings, extending the potential advantages of Energy/Process Integration through Industrial Symbiosis principles. Systematic approaches to determine such exchanges in industrial networks have been already proposed, although some of them are only applicable to specific situations and some others introduce the figure of a central authority. However, assuming such a figure in non-cooperative situations may restrict the economic benefit of some companies involved, thus discouraging their participation and preventing eventual agreements. The aim of this work is to develop an optimization model that allows analyzing the different symbiosis alternatives in different conflicting situations, even without the presence of any authority. Scenarios inspired by Game Theory have been considered. The problem has been modelled using a Mixed Integer Linear Programming (MILP) formulation and its capacities are illustrated through a particular case from the literature. Results show that the method allows establishing utility exchanges between different plants, which can improve the energetic, economic and environmental efficiency of all of them, as well as the whole set. Considering cooperative scenarios may allow determining solutions producing total energy savings and cost reductions, but without taking the specific interests of individual companies into account. On the other hand, considering non-cooperative scenarios ensures desirable outcomes from the eventual agreements for each company. Furthermore, the model is able to identify the economic barriers of the companies for participating, thus, being a useful and applicable tool that may improve decision-making support for managing utility networks in such situations.