A multi-criteria approach to evaluate the natural gas energy systems

• Published in: Energy policy Vol. 35; no. 11; pp. 5754 - 5765
• Main Authors: Dinca, Cristian, Badea, Adrian, Rousseaux, Patrick, Apostol, Tiberiu
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford Elsevier Ltd 01.11.2007; Elsevier; Elsevier Science Ltd
• Series: Energy Policy
• Subjects: Applied sciences; Cogeneration; Comparative analysis; Ecology; Economic data; Electric energy; Electricity generation; Energy; Energy economics; Energy policy; Energy utilization; Exact sciences and technology; Fluid mechanics; Fossil fuels; General, economic and professional studies; High Energy Physics - Experiment; Mechanics; Methodology. Modelling; Multi-criteria; Multidimensional analysis; Natural gas; Physics; Regression analysis; Sensitivity analysis; Solid mechanics; Studies; Sustainability; Thermics; Cogeneration; Multi-criteria; Natural gas; Performance evaluation; Steam turbine; Script; Sensitivity analysis; Multicriteria analysis; Ecobalance; Tertiary activities; Heat production; Condensing exchanger; Optimal strategy; Combined cycle; Technicoeconomic study; Electric power production; Gas turbine; Residential sector
• ISSN: 0301-4215; 1873-6777
• DOI: 10.1016/j.enpol.2007.06.024

This paper aims to select the optimal energetic scenario applied to a consumer with 100 000 inhabitants from the residential–tertiary sector, from the ecological, energetical and economic points of view. A series of seven scenarios based on natural gas has been analyzed. The authors proposed six scenarios for the combined heat and power generation using existing technologies and one scenario for separate generation of the two energy forms. To compare the seven energetic scenarios, the amount of thermal and electrical energy produced by each one had to be the same for a defined time period. To select the optimal energy scenario a multi-criteria NAIADE-based method has been used. Consequently, the optimal energy scenario has been established with respect to criteria groups: ecologic, economic, energetic and global where all criteria groups have been considered. The study results prove that a combined gas and steam turbine cycle is optimal technically, economically and ecologically as it is for each criteria group. A sensitivity analysis has been performed to establish the influence of various parameters in the identification of the optimal energy scenario. For all analyzed scenarios, the optimal energetic scenario is the combined gas and steam turbine cycle.