CO2 reduction effect of the utilization of waste heat and solar heat in a city gas system

We evaluated total energy consumption and CO₂ emissions in the phases of a city gas utilization system from obtaining raw materials to consuming the product. Assuming monthly and hourly demand figures for electricity, heat for space heating, and hot water in a typical hospital, we explore the optimal size and operation of a city gas system that minimizes the life cycle CO₂ emissions or total cost. The cost‐effectiveness of conventional cogeneration, a solar heating system, and hybrid cogeneration utilizing solar heat is compared. We formulate a problem of mixed integer programming that includes integral parameters that express the state of system devices such as the on/off condition of switches. As a result of optimization, the hybrid cogeneration can reduce annual CO₂ emissions by 43% compared with the system without cogeneration. The sensitivity of CO₂ reduction and cost to the scale of the CGS is also analyzed. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Electr Eng Jpn, 149(1): 22–32, 2004; Published online in Wiley InterScience ( www.interscience.wiley.com ). DOI 10.1002/eej.10369