Integrated Energy Microgrids and Low-Carbon Operation Optimization of Coal Mining Areas

Currently, the isolated development of energy in the coal mining areas and the energy supply mode based on coal power generation and grid power supply can no longer satisfy the requirements for implementing clean coal-mining and building a new energy development pattern that is green, low-carbon, and recyclable. Therefore, it is necessary to build integrated energy microgrids in the coal mining areas to enhance the comprehensive utilization of energy and control carbon emissions in these areas. This study explores the demand for and natural advantages of integrated energy microgrids application in the coal mining areas, proposes an integrated energy microgrid framework, and analyzes the development elements of the framework: new energy generation, energy storage, associated energy utilization, multi-energy coupling, and optimal scheduling of energy. A material‒energy‒carbon hub model is established in the coal mining areas, realizing low-carbon operation optimization based on carbon ‒ energy synergy of integrated energy microgrids in typical coal mining areas. The results indicate that the application of integrated energy microgrids in coal mining areas can fully exploit and efficiently integrate the advantages of resources such as wind, solar energy, gas, air heat, and gushing water heat, and energy storage devices can further improve the match degree between energy supply and load demand, thereby reducing the amount of power purchased from the power grid and the carbon emissions from electricity consumption in the coal mining areas. The low-carbon operation optimization process takes into account the carbon‒energy coupling of various types of equipment and supports the formulation of low-carbon and economical operation strategies. This study is expected to provide new concepts and technical support for the high-quality economic and social development of coal mining areas.