Hybrid power energy system optimization by exergoeconomic and environmental models for an enhanced policy and sustainable management of exergy resources

Abstract

Recent attention to global warming has increased interest in sustainable technology. The current issues are the reduction of emissions and cost. Innovative hybrid systems that combine fossil fuel and renewable energy sources need to be developed. The optimization of these systems is essential to ensure the continuity of load supply and to decrease the cost of energy production. This work presented a novel optimisation method for exergy resource distribution within hybrid power systems based on exergoeconomic and environmental performance. Three optimization models were proposed: the first one focuses on minimizing exergy input, the second one considers the minimization of the production cost and the last model aims to minimize the CO2 emissions. Tunisia was selected as a case study. The findings demonstrate that using model 1 results in gains in natural gas consumption, production costs, and CO2 emissions of 75 kWhex/kWhex, 0.015 €/kWhex, and 0.12 kg CO2/kWhex, respectively. Furthermore, when model 2 is used, these gains amount to 49 kWhex/kWhex, 0.035 €/kWhex, and 0.159 kg CO2/kWhex. And finally, when model 3 is used, there will be 2.49 kWhex/kWhex, 0.015 €/kWhex, and 0.168 kg CO2/kWhex. It is concluded that the second model is more suitable for the resources strategy in Tunisia; it affords a minimum cost with a moderated exergy input and CO2 emissions.