Optimization and Renewable Energy Integration for Next-Generation District Cooling Systems

District cooling systems are increasingly viewed as an effective solution to meet rising urban cooling demand while reducing energy use and environmental impacts. This study evaluates three strategies to enhance the energy efficiency and sustainability of district cooling systems. Cooling loads and electricity demands for four representative buildings - office, hotel, retail, and hospital - were simulated. The baseline model represents a conventional district cooling configuration employing water-cooled chillers and thermal energy storage. Building on this foundation, the analysis investigates two key enhancement pathways: (i) improving operational performance through algorithmic control and optimization, and (ii) integrating onsite renewable energy systems to reduce dependence on the electrical grid. Three scenarios were assessed to quantify the energy-saving potential of various combinations of chiller optimization strategies, demand-side management techniques, and onsite renewable generation. Comparative results show that the implementation of a genetic algorithm–based optimization achieves a 5.59% reduction in energy consumption over a 25-year system lifespan. Additionally, installing a 3,530 kWp photovoltaic system further reduces electricity imports by 5.92%, resulting in an overall carbon emission reduction of 3,296 tons per year. Overall, the findings demonstrate the potential of coordinated optimization and renewable energy integration to improve the sustainability of district cooling systems.