Cost-carbon-water nexus analysis of a biomass-wind-solar integrated cogeneration system : A system and ecological perspective

Integrating local full-spectrum solar, wind, and biomass resources into industrial energy systems can reduce fossil fuel dependency and environmental impact. Focusing on heat and power requirements of an industrial park with demand response method, a biomass-solar-wind integrated energy system is constructed employing an organic Rankine cycle to efficiently harness renewable and waste thermal energy. Optimal scheduling of devices is determined to maximize profits for both the system and users, followed by comprehensive cost, carbon, and water footprint analyses from an ecological standpoint. The results demonstrate that the renewable energy integration achieves a 96.3% penetration rate through biomass utilization, albeit accompanied by a 44.0% reduction in system profitability and a 2.1-fold increase in water footprint compared to natural gas-based systems. Sensitivity analysis underscores the significant influence of water parameters on the energy system, providing crucial insights for advancing renewable energy management practices through integrated cost-carbon-water nexus analysis. This study advances energy transition research beyond single-criterion optimization, offering policymakers a dispatching framework to align industrial energy planning with planetary boundaries through explicit water-carbon-economic tradeoff quantification.