Design Innovation of Campus Climate-Neutral Energy Systems: From Technology Integration to Economic Optimization

摘要

As the world accelerates its shift toward carbon neutrality, universities—major energy consumers and influential social leaders—are grappling with unclear strategies for transforming their energy systems in a greener direction. In response, this study introduces an economically driven, multi-period optimization model designed specifically for campus integrated energy systems. Built on a Mixed-Integer Linear Programming (MILP) framework, the model incorporates a range of technologies, including photovoltaic power generation, ground- and air-source heat pumps, electrochemical energy storage, and thermal storage tanks. Using a representative university in China’s Yangtze River Delta as a case study, the research identifies the most cost-effective combination of technologies and operational strategies to achieve climate neutrality. The findings show that deploying ground source heat pumps to handle base heating demands, alongside large-scale solar photovoltaics and energy storage systems, offers the most economically practical solution. Compared with traditional energy setups, the optimized system can cut Scope 1 and Scope 2 carbon emissions by more than 85%. Under projected grid decarbonization trends and tiered carbon pricing policies, the campus could realistically reach carbon neutrality by around 2045. Overall, this study delivers a practical decision-making framework that balances technical feasibility with economic efficiency, offering valuable guidance for university energy planning in China and other regions with similar climate conditions.