Carbon neutral energy systems: Optimal integration of energy systems with CO2 abatement pathways

Abstract

Reducing emissions requires transitioning towards decarbonized systems through avoiding, processing, or offsetting. Decisions on system design are associated with high costs which can be reduced at the planning stage through optimization. The temporal variations in power demand and renewable energy supply significantly impact the design of a low-emissions energy system. Effective decision-making must consider such impact in a comprehensive framework that accounts for the potential synergies between different options. This work presents a mixed integer linear programming model that considers the impacts of energy supply and demand dynamics to optimize the design and operation of an integrated energy system while adhering to a set emissions limit. The model integrates renewable power with CO₂ capture, utilization, and sequestration by considering H₂ production and storage. The case study showed including negative emissions technologies and CO₂ capture and processing with renewable energy allows achieving net zero emissions power.