Benefits Evaluation Method of an Integrated Energy System Based on a Fuzzy Comprehensive Evaluation Method

Building an integrated energy system (IES) is an excellent solution to environmental pollution and energy consumption currently. However, there are usually various IES configurations with different performances, and it is usually difficult for the decision-makers to select the most sustainable IES solution among multiple choices. In this paper, we attempt to design an evaluation method that considers the renewable energy and energy system model for evaluating the benefit of an IES. Firstly, this paper constructs an evaluation index system including four dimensions of technology, economy, environment, and society, based on the physical architecture of IES and its benefit influencing factors. It focuses on multiple energy sources or systems, and satisfies the overall evaluation of IES, resulting in accurate benefit evaluation results. Secondly, the subjective weight is determined by combining the triangular fuzzy number (TFN) and the analytic hierarchy process (AHP). The objective weight is determined by the entropy method. The combined weight is obtained by combining the subjective and objective weights, which solves the problem of the weight calculation error caused by the mutual influence between the indexes. Finally, the fuzzy comprehensive evaluation method is used to conduct the benefit evaluation of the IES, which solves the problem that the qualitative index cannot be calculated. This paper takes an IES project in a city in northern China as a case study. Through sensitivity analysis and comparative analysis, the reliability and feasibility of the evaluation results and proposed method are verified. The analysis results show that the model evaluation results are intuitive and consistent with reality, and the data information utilization rate is high.

Automated summary

This paper proposes an evaluation method for integrated energy systems (IES) that considers renewable energy and energy system models. It constructs an evaluation index system and determines subjective and objective weights using fuzzy number and analytic hierarchy process methods. The fuzzy comprehensive evaluation method is then used to evaluate the benefits of IES. The proposed method is validated through a case study in northern China.