DESIGN OF DISTRIBUTED ENERGY SYSTEM CONSIDERING VILLAGE STRUCTURE AND REGIONAL CIRCULATION SYMBIOSIS IN A MOUNTAINOUS AREA

Abstract

 The proliferation of renewable energies requires more rapid progression in promoting local initiatives in elemental technology development and policy implementation. This study takes a mountainous area named Mishima Town in Fukushima Prefecture, Japan, in which each village is assumed to be a unit for decision making in optimizing energy system design and operation plans of renewable energies according to its demand variation. Based on the summation of each village’s decision, the total resource and economic circulation effects within the region are evaluated. Result reveals that the introduction of all-electric systems using solar power generation can significantly reduce energy costs, while boilers and co-generation using forest biomass resources can reduce more CO₂ emissions and promote regional resource circulation. In addition, the utilization of renewable energies is indicated that can play an important role in the formation of regional circulation symbiosis through reallocating the flow of money and resources in a region.