ENERGY CARRIER SUPPLY CHAIN OPTIMIZATION: A TEXAS CASE STUDY

Increasing the penetration of renewable energies requires energy storage to combat the challenges with solar and wind intermittency. A possible storage option is using chemicals such as hydrogen, ammonia, or methanol. Unlike batteries, chemicals are more energy dense, easily transportable, and adaptable in their end-usage. Likewise, their production is not geographically constrained. Chemicals are flexible energy carriers moving solar and wind energy from areas of excess supply to demand. However, the design of a supply chain network of such energy carriers is an ongoing problem. We describe the development of a MILP model for designing an energy carrier supply chain network to analyze the various tradeoffs and competing options. Results on Texas case studies are discussed.