Optimal Design of Renewable Energy Supply Chains Under Uncertainty

可再生能源供应链（RESCs）作为减少化石燃料消耗对环境影响的有效途径，在全球范围内得到越来越多的采用。最近的一个趋势是在住宅和工业用户之间的供应链范围内扩大可再生能源。但是，由于缺乏获得专门知识和研究经费的机会，需要进行进一步的研究，以便为住宅和工业用户，特别是中小型用户提供见解。这个独立研究项目的长期目标是制定一个全面的框架，指导加拿大能源部门的利益相关者向可持续能源过渡。这个研究项目对加拿大来说是至关重要的，因为大量的中小型能源用户（smu）生活在农村和遥远的社区。特别是，我们需要一个加拿大的可持续能源消费解决方案，考虑到环境、商业、文化和可用的能源资源，并通过审查和基准其他国家的经验来完善。在未来5年，将实现3个相互关联的短期目标，以支持长期目标：(1)建立一个框架，以评估中小企业发展社会经济中心的可行性；(2)建立一个框架和模型，以优化不确定性下的社会经济中心；(3)建立一个框架和模型，以在社会经济中心实施“共享经济”。目标1将侧重于制定一个分析框架，以研究在加拿大为中小型能源用户应用RESC的可行性。在这一目标范围内，将为在不同的地理、大小和能源配置环境下可再生能源的最佳组合制定一个模型。目的2将调查一系列与RESCs相关的不确定因素。此外，将调查供应链的不同利益相关者，以确定实施RESCs的个人态度和利益。目标3将回顾在发展中国家实施共享经济的挑战和机遇。因此，利用数学模型对实施共享经济所创造的价值进行量化。模拟的结果将为决策者制定指导方针提供基础，帮助他们确定实现共享区域可持续发展的不同途径。为每个目标审查的框架和模型将通过应用于实际案例（即工业和住宅合作伙伴）来验证。重点将放在未被充分研究的可再生能源上，如能源共生。这项研究涉及本科生和研究生，以增加研究领域的高素质人才（HQP）的数量，这对加拿大和世界各国都非常重要。总的来说，这个研究项目将促进向可持续能源供应链的过渡，并为下一代减少对环境的影响。

The adoption of renewable energy supply chains (RESCs) is growing across the world as an effective way to reduce the environmental impact associated with fossil fuel consumption. A recent trend is extending renewable sources of energy in the supply chain context between residential and industrial users. However, further research is needed to provide insight to residential and industrial users, in particular, for small and medium-sized users due to lack of their access to expertise and research funding. The long-term objective of this independent research program is to develop a comprehensive framework to direct stakeholders in the Canadian energy sector through a transition to sustainable energy sources. This research program is crucial for Canada due to a large number of small and medium-sized energy users (SMUs) living in rural and far away communities. In particular, we need a Canadian solution for sustainable energy consumption that considers the environment, business, culture, and available energy resources, which is polished through reviewing and benchmarking other nation's experiences. Over the next 5 years, 3 interrelated short-term objectives will be pursued to support the long-term objective: (1) Develop a framework to evaluate the feasibility of developing RESCs for SMUs, (2) Develop a framework and models to optimize the RESCs under uncertainty, and (3) Develop a framework and models for implementing "sharing economy" in RESCs. Objective 1 will focus on developing an analytical framework to study the feasibility of the application of RESC in Canada for small and medium-sized energy users. Within this objective, a model will be developed for an optimal mix of renewable energy sources in different geographical, size, and energy-profile settings. Objective 2 will investigate a set of uncertainties related to the RESCs. Moreover, different stakeholders of the supply chain will be investigated to identify individual attitudes and interests in implementing RESCs. Objective 3 will review challenges and opportunities to implement the sharing economy in RESCs. As a result, the values created by implementing sharing economy are quantified using mathematical modeling. The outcomes of the modeling will provide a basis for developing guidance for policy-makers looking to identify different pathways towards sustainability in shared RESCs. The reviewed framework and models for each objective will be validated by applying to real-world cases (i.e., industrial and residential partners). The focus will be on understudied renewable sources of energy such as energy symbiosis. This research involves undergraduate and graduate students to increase the number of highly qualified personnel (HQP) in a research area that is very important for Canada and countries across the world. Collectively, this research program will facilitate the transition towards sustainable energy supply chains and the reduction of environmental impact for the next generations.