Optimal operation of DES/CCHP based regional multi-energy prosumer with demand response

•Design a paradigm for energy hubs that combine DES/CCHP, RES and energy storage.•Propose a paradigm and operations for RMEP served by interconnected energy hubs.•Propose an optimal dispatch model for RMEP with considering demand response.•Operational strategies for RMEP under different conditions can be obtained. The concerns on energy security and environment protection have driven the need to produce, transform and utilize energy in a more efficient, clean and diversified way. Under this background, we design a paradigm for energy hubs that combine distributed energy supply/combined cooling heating and power (DES/CCHP), renewable energy and energy storage. These energy hubs are comprised of heating, cooling and power systems, and natural gas, power generation and photovoltaic (PV) are the primary energy sources. Also, we propose a paradigm and its operation model for regional multi-energy prosumers (RMEP) whose energy demands are served by interconnected energy hubs. The energy exchange in energy hub is based on the structure of energy buses including power bus, heating bus and cooling bus. These energy buses are interconnected as a ring heating/cooling network and a radial power grid to implement mutually complementary reserves of energy hubs. Moreover, the bi-directional energy flows between prosumer and the main grid are also analyzed. In addition, an optimal scheduling model for RMEP is proposed. The formulated objective of this model is to minimize prosumer’s cost of purchasing electricity and natural gas plus the cost of GHG emission or to maximize the revenue of selling electricity back to the grid, while considering various electricity and gas prices and heating/cooling demands during different time periods. The decision variables for prosumer include the amount of purchased gas, the amounts of purchased and sold electricity at energy hubs. Case studies are undertaken on the 15-node multi-energy prosumer system, where the system comprises three energy hubs. Prosumer’s operational strategies under system normal and contingency conditions on typical summer and winter load days can be obtained. Comparative analyses between mutually independent energy hubs are also conducted. According to the simulation results, prosumer can play an important role in responding to the time-of-use electricity and gas tariffs, shaving the regional peak loads as a whole. Besides, the interconnected energy hubs can enhance the overall system operational flexibility and