A decision-making method to choose optimal systems considering financial and environmental aspects: Application in hybrid CCHP systems

This work presents a decision-making method based on a multiobjective optimization model that integrates renewable and nonrenewable energy equipment and considers environmental and financial combined gains. Parametric studies optimize the system for other energy tariffs, and an investment risk analysis provides additional information about the systems identified by the decision-making method and in the parametric studies. The energy system is located in northeastern Brazil. The bicriteria optimal solution comprises a gas boiler, solar collector, photovoltaic panels, wind turbines, and absorption and compression chillers. This optimal solution had a reasonable commitment to financial and environmental present values. Another energy system was identified in the parametric study, where an enginegenerator set and a recovery boiler were included. Both systems presented a significant gain in environmental present value versus a slight decrease in financial present value. In the risk analysis, these systems demonstrated high adaptability, mainly due to the integration of the absorption chiller and engine-generator set and cascading use of energy. This high adaptability led to low investment risks. (c) 2022 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.