Socio-Economic Aspects in Satisfying Energy Demands by Different Technologies of Heat and Electricity Generation

Abstract

Results of the research on how different generation plants can satisfy heat demands and at the same time minimise operation costs, carbon dioxide (CO2) emission and consumption of primary energy are presented in the paper. In that sense hierarchical optimization procedure was carried out which enables application of different criteria, i.e. it was possible to set different goal functions. Special attention was put on the CO2 emissions. In order to quantify the social impact of different generation plants, CO2 emission cost was analysed in different scenarios. Moreover, economic analysis was based not only on operation expenditures but also on the capital investments. Different technologies were analysed, biomass-based cogenerations (wastewater sludge), fossil fuel-based cogenerations (in combination with gas engine and gas turbine), heat pumps, electric boilers and fossil fuel boilers. In order to determine optimal generation set-up simulation was carried out for a case of the City of Zagreb, Croatia. The simulation period was one year. It is shown that it is yet possible to achieve significant benefits with appropriate selection of generation mix, particularly in the context of CO2 reduction. Heat pumps together with biomass-based cogeneration technologies have shown the best potential for their utilisation in future energy system.

Keywords

• CO2 emission
• multi-criteria optimisation
• social impact
• techno-economic analysis
• wastewater sludge