Optimization of complex energy systems

According to the common practice different energy systems are analyzed separately, without taking into consideration their mutual dependence. The goal of this paper is to illustrate the modeling and optimization of complex systems, i.e. multiple-energy carrier systems, by using the energy hub methodology. A multiple-energy carrier system consists of different energy infrastructures and serves various types of energy demands, such as electricity, heat etc. The energy hub concept is thus implemented in the formulation of the economic dispatch problem for a complex energy system. Moreover, the paper contains a linear optimal power flow formulation of a complex system with multiple energy hubs interconnected with the power grid. The analysis will be conducted over simply structured systems with the aim of illustrating the idea of integrated modeling and the comparison of the system's operating points obtained by separate and integrated optimization. (author)