Oriol Travesset 5/19/2016

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Hi all,
does anyone have experience on including CHP in an optimization simulation?

In my case, I have defined CHP in the Electricity Generation module with heat as a co-product. My problem is that the future heat generation is not known in an optimization scenario so I cannot define the heat demand. As a result the generated heat is wasted.

I would like to use this heat in the demand branches (i.e. replacing domestic fuel in the commercial sector). Does anybody know how to address this problem?

Thanks!

Taylor Binnington 5/21/2016
 

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Hi Oriol,

I'm not sure I understand your comment that you are unable to define heat demand in your scenarios without first knowing the heat generation. Can you describe what you're trying to achieve?

Note that LEAP is a demand-based accounting model, which means that its transformation modules (optimized or not) run in order to generate the fuels required on the demand-side. This is in contrast to a model which defines energy demand by first calculating energy supply, which sounds like what you've described. By definition, fuels which are co-products are not generated to meet any module requirements: they are either consumed if there is a need for them, or they are wasted.

This means that you will need to exogenously define the demand for heat in your scenarios. This demand may or may not be satisfied by heat which is co-produced by CHP (to emphasize - since heat is a co-product, power plants are not dispatched to satisfy heat requirements).

LEAP does not provide a facility for optimizing both the supply and demand of fuels. Its optimization functions are restricted to provide a least-cost solution *at the level of the individual transformation module*, but not for the energy system as a whole.

http://www.energycommunity.org/WebHelpPro/Optimization/OptimizationIntroduction.htm

Hope this helps,

Taylor

Oriol Travesset 5/27/2016
 

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Hi Taylor,

As you said, I was trying to define energy demand (heat or domestic oil) by first calculating energy supply (as heat CHP output variates in my resultant scenarios). Finally I have solved the problem by:
1- In demand branches where oil is used to generate heat I have replaced it by heat.
2- A part of the heat demand is generated by the CHP (depending on the scenario)
3- I have built a new transformation module "Heat Generation" to produce the rest of the heat using oil as feedstock fuel (this oil is imported in my case).

In this way, I can adapt my oil imports depending on the scenario and use all the heat generated by CHP.

Thanks for your help!

Taylor Binnington 5/27/2016
 

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Hi Oriol - sounds like a good solution.

The only comment I would add (though perhaps you were already aware) would be to ensure that your dedicated heat production module appears below your CHP module in LEAP's tree. This will ensure that your heat co-product is used first to meet heat requirements, with the dedicated heat production only running afterwards if necessary.

Best,
Taylor