Location Optimization for Biomass Trigeneration System with Pit Thermal Energy Storage: the Case of the City of Petrinja

The combined production of electricity, heat and cold in biomass trigeneration power plants integrated with seasonal pit thermal energy storage ensures maximum utilization of biomass resources and at the same time reduction of variable operation costs of the system. Beside optimal size of trigeneration system, location allocation problem is additional factor which need to be taken into account. In this study, optimization of the location of biomass trigeneration power plant was considered. The system combined biomass cogeneration power plant, absorbers and the seasonal pit thermal energy storage. In order to optimise location two steps optimisation has been used. In the first step, hybrid optimisation model with Genetic Algorithm and fmicon were used while in the second step model searches for minimum cost of transportation subtracted by increased costs of distribution network investment. Moreover, four case studies were done for the city of Petrinja for which economic assessment of choosing optimal and non-optimal location was performed. Case studies have shown that significant amount of yearly spending on fuel can be avoided, if the optimal location has been chosen for the power plant location. Results of analysis shows that total yearly savings for biomass with optimal location can reach up to 4.2% compared to location with highest biomass costs.