A Study on Integration Opportunities of Renewable Energy Sources to District Cooling Systems

This study conducts a techno-economic evaluation of four scenarios that combine renewable energy technologies with a District Cooling Systems (DCS) to explore potential energy and cost savings. First, the cooling load and electricity consumption of buildings connected to the DCS were simulated using eQUEST. A benchmark scenario was then established using a self-developed Genetic Algorithm optimization code in MATLAB. The study further examines the effects of varying key parameters related to a Thermal Energy Storage (TES) tank, a Photovoltaic (PV) system, and a Biomass fired Combined Heat and Power (CHP) plant with an Absorption Chiller (ABC). This analysis was conducted using a combination of Helioscope software and mathematical modelling. Finally, the four scenarios were compared in terms of energy use, carbon emissions, and economic viability. Key findings indicate that incorporating a TES tank enables load shifting, resulting in a 12.64% increase in Net Present Value (NPV). The integration of PV systems within the district leads to a 4.5% reduction in overall energy consumption and a 4.47% decrease in annual carbon emissions. Implementing a 1 MWe Biomass fired CHP plant with an ABC achieves 25.9% energy savings and an 11.85% reduction in carbon emissions.