DESSLib – Benchmark Instances for Optimization of Decentralized Energy Supply Systems

DESSLib provides benchmark instances obtained by real world data for synthesis problems of decentralized energy supply systems (DESS). In this paper, the considered optimization problem is described in detail. Decentralized Energy Supply Systems An energy system consists of a subsystem of energy consumers and a subsystem of energy suppliers. In this case the different forms of final energy consumed, are satisfied by different supplier technologies. Since the supplier subsystem is represented by multiple decentralized, on-site components, we speak of a decentralized energy supply system (DESS). The application of DESS encompasses, e.g., chemical parks, urban districts, hospitals or research complexes. Besides climatic goals, energy costs usually match the companies’ profits in magnitude and energy efficient DESS can reduce energy cost significantly [2]. Thus, optimally designed decentralized energy supply systems can lead to a considerable increase of profits. DESS can consist of several energy conversion components (e.g., boilers and chillers) providing different utilities (e.g., heating, cooling, electricity, steam). DESS are highly integrated and complex systems due to the integration between different energy forms and connection to the gas and electricity market as well as the energy consumers. An example for a DESS is shown in Figure 1. The target of optimal synthesis of DESS is the identification of an (economically) optimal structure and optimal component dimensions, while simultaneously considering the optimal operation of the selected components [4]: 1. Structure: Which energy conversion components and how many of each type? 2. Dimension: How big should these components be? 3. Operation: Which components are operated at which level at what time? These three decision-levels could be considered sequentially. However, the levels influence each other, thus only a simultaneous optimization will find a global optimal solution. For some literature about synthesis of DESS see [6], [7], [5].