DOMES: A general optimization method for the integrated design of energy conversion, storage and networks in multi-energy systems

A realistic pursuit of decarbonization targets requires planning and designing new configurations of “multi-energy systems” to identify the optimal number, type, location and size of the energy conversion and storage units and their interconnections with the end users of different forms of energy. The common approach in the literature is to treat the optimization problem of energy conversion and storage separately from that of energy networks, and the few attempts to address the two problems simultaneously have led to oversimplifications due to the very large number of decision variables involved. To fill this gap, this study introduces “DOMES” (Design Of Multi-Energy Systems), a general optimization method for the integrated synthesis, design and operation of a multi-energy system in its entirety. With the goal of minimizing costs and reducing carbon emissions, DOMES can simultaneously find the location, type, size and operation of the energy conversion and storage units, as well as t...