Abstract:In order to guarantee the sustainability of power industries, demand response is widely developed in China with the improvement of power markets. Massive potential flexible resources in the commercial sector are valuable to carry out continuous demand response programs. This paper presented a hybrid framework to evaluate the performance of such programs. Considering that assessment processes involve multiple decisions for massive criteria under fuzzy conditions, we proposed a fuzzy multi-criteria decision making model to evaluate the performance of commercial demand response based on the concepts of a fuzzy Vlsekriterijumska Optimizacijia I Kompromisno Resenje method and a L2-metric distance. The weighting determination process in the model was modified by integrating subjective opinions and objective information according to a fuzzy Analytic Hierarchy Process and Criteria Importance Through Intercriteria Correlation methods. Then a comprehensive evaluation index system for demand response performance was established by using a fuzzy Delphi method based on experts' opinions, including the five aspects of economy, society, technology, environment and management. Finally, the practicality of the proposed hybrid framework was verified through an empirical analysis of five such programs in Chinese commercial buildings. Their comprehensive performances were ranked effectively. Sub-criteria affiliated with society and environment should be more attention than the other evaluation criteria based on experts' judgments and objective information. Moreover, a set of sensitivity analyses were performed to confirm the robustness and effectiveness of the proposed framework and the evaluation results. The study findings can offer references for the improvement of demand response and relevant policy formulation.

Abstract:Energy efficiency is one of the most practical ways for China to simultaneously tackle environmental issues and achieve sustainable development. However, the issue of inadequate capital inflows is a bottleneck in energy efficiency projects, especially for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). This study focuses on the complicated financial barriers to effectively promoting such projects for SMEs. A hybrid framework was proposed to recognize the most obvious financing barriers under uncertain circumstances. Potential barriers were collected firstly to build an index system, including the five dimensions of "policy and regulation", "economic market", "financial institutions", "behavior" and "economic non-market". Then, this paper introduced a novel way to combine a fuzzy Delphi and a fuzzy decision making trial and evaluation laboratory (DEMATEL) method. The fuzzy Delphi method was applied to extract significant factors from potential barriers. To analyze a series of causal relationships, the fuzzy DEMATEL approach was employed. Moreover, triangular fuzzy numbers (TFNs) are used firstly to express vague linguistic ratings in the proposed framework. Based on the experts' opinions, seventeen significant factors were chosen to assemble a final evaluation system. Eleven key barriers were identified by analyzing cause-effect relations, including "slight fiscal incentives", "inadequate energy market trading mechanisms", "a low priority of energy saving issues", etc. The key barriers affiliated with "market" and "policy and regulation" are much more important than the others. Except for B11 and B53, the others are the original factors. Finally, we listed relevant suggested measures to help SMEs, government departments and financial institutions overcome the key barriers.

Demand Side Management in power systems plays an important role in ensuring a reliable power supply and protecting the environment. Demand Side Management in the commercial sector is vital for sustainable development during China's industrial restructuring. A hybrid multi-criteria decision making framework for evaluating Demand Side Management performance of commercial enterprises is proposed from a sustainability perspective. A fuzzy Analytic Hierarchy Process is employed to determine the weights of the criteria and a fuzzy technique for order preference by similarity to an ideal solution is applied to rank Demand Side Management performance. An evaluation index system is built, containing economic, social, environmental and technical criteria associated with 15 sub-criteria. Four groups of expert panels from government departments, research institutions, electricity utilities and commercial enterprises gave judgments on criteria weights and criteria performances for alternatives. The effectiveness of the proposed hybrid framework was demonstrated through a case study in Beijing, in which Demand Side Management performances of four alternatives were ranked. Sensitivity analysis results indicate that the hybrid framework is robust.

China has been plagued by hazy weather for a long time. Adjusting the energy consumption structure and reducing fossil energy consumption proportions are key to solving environmental problems. The “Electricity substitution” development strategy advocates “substituting electricity for coal, oil, and gas.” To establish an efficient energy consumption structure, the strategy is conducive to an increase in the proportion of electricity in the terminal energy consumption market. Therefore, it is important to comprehensively compare the economic and environmental substitution benefits of electricity and other fossil energies when promoting the electricity substitution strategy. In this paper, the energy substitution cost evaluation model is established to compare economic benefits, and a life cycle assessment calculation method is used to obtain the environmental benefits of electricity substitution. Based on the calculation results, the environmental benefits are quantified as the economic cost with an environmental value standard. The comprehensive economic-environmental evaluation results obtained reveal that in the three substitution directions, the effect of substituting electricity for fuel oil is the most obvious. The substitution index considering the economic and environmental cost is 5.25%. “Substituting electricity for oil” can be used as a priority area to promote the electricity substitution strategy. The sensitivity analysis results reveal that reducing the proportion of coal-fired power generation, improving the proportion of clean electricity, and making strict financial penalties for creating pollution, can play strong roles in promoting electricity substitution. This paper provides a new research perspective for the comparison between electricity and fossil fuels. The results from this study can provide references for electricity substitution implementation and relevant policy formulation.

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