Economic- environmental optimization of heat pump-assisted distributed renewable energy systems for building applications

The growing emphasis on energy efficiency and carbon emission reduction has positioned integrated distributed energy systems (DES) as a pivotal solution for multi-building applications. This study develops and tests a comprehensive optimization model designed to evaluate the economic and environmental performance of DES. The model integrates critical components, including natural gas turbines, photovoltaic panels, heat pumps, and energy storage systems, to address electrical, thermal, and cooling energy demands. A Pareto Frontier Analysis is employed to balance the dual objectives of minimizing operational costs and reducing carbon emissions. The model is tested under various scenarios to assess the impact of carbon tax rates, natural gas prices, and energy demand profiles. Results demonstrate that DES can achieve significant cost reductions compared to grid dependency, with potential savings of $1913 for office buildings and $3144 for commercial buildings. Sensitivity analyses identify economic thresholds, such as carbon tax rates above $0.061/kg for office buildings and $0.052/kg for commercial buildings, and natural gas prices below $0.37/m³ and $0.40/m³, respectively, to ensure cost-effective operations. Testing further confirms that the integration of energy storage enhances DES performance by stabilizing costs during peak demand periods. By presenting a novel optimization framework, this research provides actionable insights into improving the sustainability and economic viability of distributed energy systems in the context of multi-building energy management.