Management optimisation of Multi-Energy System Hubs: A simulation-based approach for urban planning

The integration of renewable energy plays a pivotal role in shaping urban energy consumption, particularly as electrification trends gain momentum. In this context, the development of Multi-Energy System Hubs emerges as a promising strategy to enhance sustainability, flexibility, and efficiency in urban clusters. This paper presents a Mixed-Integer Linear Programming model for the optimal management of multi-energy systems, addressing the demand for heating, cooling, and electricity in urban environments. The study specifically analyses potential synergies between heating and electricity demand and investigates how energy storage systems can enhance flexibility and improve the utilisation of renewable energy sources. By aggregating energy demand under district energy systems, local energy hubs can be developed to maximise self-consumption and minimise reliance on external energy sources. The proposed model optimises both the operation and sizing of key energy technologies, ensuring a balanced trade-off between economic and environmental objectives. Results highlight how different optimisation objectives—such as cost reduction, minimisation of CO₂ emissions, and maximisation of renewable self-consumption—lead to distinct management strategies for energy hubs. These objectives also significantly influence the optimal sizing of energy conversion and storage technologies. The findings demonstrate that by implementing an optimised management and sizing strategy, renewable energy penetration can reach up to 50%, with a primary energy saving (PES) for the case study analysed up to 11.5 GWh/years, underscoring the crucial role of advanced simulation-based planning tools in fostering sustainable urban development.