Multi-objective Design and Optimization for Supply Chain of Modular Methanol Productions

The integration of renewable energy sources into the methanol production process is recognized as a viable approach to mitigate carbon emissions and promote renewable energy utilization. This study, centered on a modular methanol production system driven by renewable energy, is a multi-objective model encompassing economic and environmental objectives that is established to optimize methanol production sites and supply chain networks under different objectives. In order to balance economic and environmental goals, an optimal compromise point is set, considering both objectives equally important. Results indicate that under the scenario of minimizing total annual costs, the cost is 7.05×108 USD. Under the scenario of minimizing total environmental impact, the cost is 7.74×108 USD. At the optimal compromise point, the annual total operating cost is 7.07×108 USD. The system's environmental impact is equivalent to approximately 1.77×105 t of methanol produced by coal gasification technology. In terms of economic objectives, capital costs and electricity expenses during the production process dominate, while the environmental impact is primarily attributed to production processes. The main approach to reducing environmental impact is by altering production site distribution to minimize transportation-related environmental effects.