(82c) Optimizing Resource Systems Toward Low-Cost Energy Transition

Achieving an efficient energy transition requires integrating renewable energy with CO2 utilization, storage, and offsetting options to curb emissions while maintaining energy security. This calls for a flexible approach that addresses the complexities associated with sustainable decarbonization to guide insightful decisions. This work presents a mixed integer linear programming framework for designing and operating integrated systems to minimize the total system’s cost while constraining the life cycle footprints. The method is demonstrated in a case study where energy carriers' production costs are analyzed in different geographic regions. Temporal variations in electricity prices, grid emissions, and renewable energy availability are accounted for by discretizing the planning period into hourly time steps. Considering life cycle accounting, the demonstration integrates renewable energy sources with hydrogen production, direct air capture, and CO2 utilization to ensure a net-zero CO2 footprint. Results show that the optimal system design varies across regions where hydrogen production and storage may be key in managing variabilities and ensuring continuous fuel production. The resource systems representation is then applied to analyze the economic and environmental impacts of energy carriers' value chains. The study demonstrates the importance of region-specific considerations when designing integrated decarbonization solutions. It provides actionable insights for decision-makers that unravel the complexities, allowing an understanding of the impacts of the available pathways.