Work

Optimization Study on Integrated Energy Mutual Aid–Response Considering Multi-Energy Flow Carbon Responsibility Allocation

Year: 2026

Type: article

Abstract: Improving the sustainability of regional integrated energy systems requires carbon signals that reflect the coupled use of electricity, cooling, and heating. In this paper, we propose a multi-energy flow responsibility factor construction method that accounts for carbon responsibility allocation on both the source and demand sides, and employ it as a low-carbon signal within a multi-regional collaborative optimization framework for mutual aid and response. First, a dynamic weighting mechanism based on real-time electricity–heat (cooling) supply–demand matching is established to enable fine-grained allocation of carbon responsibility among the three energy flows. Subsequently, a joint capacity configuration and operational optimization model is developed by integrating low-carbon demand response (LCDR) with carbon trading. The proposed approach is then validated using measured data from the Higashida area of Kitakyushu, Japan, to investigate the low-carbon response benefits under two operating scenarios: independent operation and mutual aid operation across multiple systems. The results demonstrate that the proposed method effectively shifts loads toward low-carbon periods and enhances local photovoltaic utilization. Specifically, compared with interconnected operation without LCDR (Case 1), the proposed LCDR method reduces carbon emissions by 1.4%. Furthermore, compared with independent operation with LCDR (Case 3), the proposed multi-regional interconnection strategy reduces external power purchases by 18.2% and lowers total operational costs by 4.1%. Although this interconnected strategy leads to a moderate 5.5% increase in local carbon emissions due to higher local natural gas consumption, it represents a rational trade-off that significantly enhances system economic viability and energy autonomy, achieving the greatest overall benefit.

Source: Sustainability

DOI: 10.3390/su182111002