Handling Non-Linearities in Modelling the Optimal Design and Operation of a Multi-Energy System

Multi-energy systems (MESs) combining different energy carriers like electricity and heat allow for more efficient and sustainable energy solutions. However, optimizing the design and operation of MESs is challenging due to non-linearities in the mathematical models used, especially the performance curves of technologies like combined heat and power units. Unlike similar work from the literature, this paper proposes an improved piecewise linearization method to efficiently handle the non-linearities, models an MES as a multi-objective mixed-integer linear program (MILP), and solves the optimization problem over a year with hourly resolution to enable detailed operation and faithful system design. The method uses fewer linear pieces to approximate non-linear functions compared to a standard technique, resulting in lower complexity while preserving accuracy. The MES design and operation problem maximizes cost reduction and the rate of renewable energy sources. A case study on an MES with electricity and heat over one year with hourly resolution demonstrates the effectiveness of the new method. It allows for solving a long-term MES optimization problem in reasonable computation times.