Energy Scheduling and Low-carbon and Water Conservation Optimization for Electricity-Heat-Cooling-Gas Multi-Region Integrated Energy System

As global demand for green and clean energy grows, integrated energy systems (IESs) capable of integrating renewable energy sources such as photovoltaics and wind power are considered as a key approach to solve the energy crisis. These systems can significantly improve energy efficiency and reduce the use of fossil fuels. This article proposes an energy dispatch and low-carbon optimization method for a multi-region electricity-heat-cooling-gas IES. The method considers traditional energy flows such as electricity and natural gas, while further introducing cooling and heating loads, energy storage technologies (e.g., battery storage and thermal storage), and demand response strategies to more comprehensively simulate the operational characteristics and interactions of energy systems across different regions. Through multi-region collaborative optimal scheduling, the IES achieves energy complementarity and balance between regions, and can flexibly respond to changes in different load demands, thereby enhancing the reliability and resilience of the system. Simulation results show that the proposed method not only improves energy utilization but also significantly reduces operating costs and carbon emissions. Especially with the integration of renewable energy sources, it effectively reduces greenhouse gas emissions, contributing to global environmental protection and sustainable development goals. In addition, by incorporating efficient water management strategies into the multi-region IES, the system further supports environmental protection through reduced water consumption, aligning with both energy and water conservation goals.