Optimal design method and benefits research for a regional integrated energy system.

Regional integrated energy systems (RIES) have garnered increased attention because they highly utilize renewable energy, comprehensive efficiency, and flexible operation. However, the current research on RIESs is mainly based on burning natural gas and supplemented by renewable energy, which will consumes much primary energy and generates corresponding carbon emissions. Therefore, a RIES contained various renewable energy sources and station energy sharing was constructed in this paper. Both the collaborative optimization model, which considered the operating parameters and system configuration, and the hierarchical optimization model, which optimizes the equipment configuration at the upper layer and the operational parameters at the underlayer, were constructed, respectively. Taking a multi-function low-carbon park as an example, the isolated integrated energy system (IIES) and RIES performances were explored. Finally, the operation cost, carbon emission, and interactive power in the separated production system, IIES and RIES were analyzed and discussed from a long-short time scale perspective. The results showed that the carbon emission, interactive power, and energy supply cost of the RIES's unit area are 7.62 kg/m2, 10.07 kWh/m2, and 40.55 CNY/m2, respectively. Long time scale perspective (Years or months), RIESs could significantly reduce carbon emissions and interactive power. However, on a short time scale viewpoint (Hours), the system's instantaneous energy conservation and carbon reduction effect was general; meanwhile, the maximum grid-connected power in IIES and RIES was 2617.7 and 2712.0 kW, respectively. • A RIES is constructed integrating various renewable energy sources and energy sharing between stations. • Collaborative and hierarchical optimization is used to solve the complex RIES optimization problem. • Carbon emission and interactive power of the unit area for the RIES are 7.62 kg/m2 and 10.07 kWh/m2. • The maximum grid-connected power of IIES and RIES is 2617.7 and 2712.0 kW, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]