Integrate is an optimization model for planning of local energy systems where different energy carriers and technologies are considered simultaneously. The model gives the user a graphical overview of a given energy system (e.g. municipality, city, suburb) with respect to costs, environmental consequences and use of local energy resources. The current version can optimize the construction of infrastructure for most relevant energy carriers; electricity, district heating, cooling, gas, waste and biomass, including conversions between these. It is not limited to continuous transport like lines, cables and pipes, but can also include discrete transport by ship, road or rail.
The main task of the model is to optimize investments in infrastructure over a planning horizon of several decades to bring available energy to the end user in such quantities and in such form that the end users demand is covered in the economically and environmentally best way possible. As part of the investment analysis, however, the model also optimizes diurnal operation for different periods of the year for each alternative system design. This operational module can be run independently from the investment module. Mathematically, the model uses a combination of linear programming (LP), mixed integer programming (MIP) and dynamic programming (DP).
Model Overview
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Further Links
B H Bakken, H I Skjeldbred, O Wolfgang, “eTransport: Investment planning in energy supply systems with multiple energy carriers, Energy, Volume 32, Issue 9, September 2007, pages 1676-1689, https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0360544207000175
