Smart multi-carrier energy system: Optimised energy management and investment analysis

This paper proposes an optimised Energy Management System for a multi-carrier hub, which integrates two energy distribution networks, for hydrogen and electricity. The economic sustainability of a real-life instantiation of such a system has been analysed as well. The Energy Management System has been developed by means of a multi-objective optimisation algorithm, the Non-dominated Sorting Genetic Algorithm II, implemented using MATLAB®. The achieved results consist in a series of set-points defining the working conditions of the plant for a chosen time horizon. Data provided by this process also show the effectiveness of the adopted optimisation approach. The financial analysis is performed taking into account costs and revenues of a real demonstration plant. These cash flows have been evaluated by means of Net Present Value index. The proposed analysis shows a possible solution that is profitable for stakeholders and guarantees a short Pay Back Time.