Optimising urban energy systems: Simultaneous system sizing, operation and district heating network layout

The model was used on a case study consisting of eleven residential buildings and one commercial building for various design scenarios (available technologies, network layout limitations, operating constraints). Design results (capacities, network layouts) and operational results (energy supply breakdowns) are presented. The results show that district heating can deliver emissions savings of 23% over a standard solution for the same cost. The optimal number of heating network links increases as more stringent carbon emissions targets are implemented. Limits on possible network routes have significant impacts on the optimal technology capacities and on operational schedules. Also, commonly neglected constraints on CHP operation cause noticeably more reliance on district heating networks.