Simulation and analysis of different scenarios for the use of renewable resources in the energy system of Fars province, emphasizing the role of cooling

Cooling is one of the largest energy uses in Fars province, which has a hot and dry climate. The aim of this research is to analyze the impact of using renewable sources on energy consumption and air pollution in Fars province, with an emphasis on the role of cooling. For this purpose, ENERGY PLAN software was used to simulate and calculate the results of five different scenarios for the Shiraz energy system. These scenarios are the baseline scenario, the scenario of using heat pumps/absorption chillers and district heating systems, the scenario of reducing energy demand by 20%, the scenario of using natural cooling, and the scenario of maximizing the use of renewable sources. The results show that the fifth scenario, which involves the maximum use of renewable sources by using the technology of hybrid Combined Heat and Power (CHP) and solar thermal, has the best results. In this scenario, 75.68% of the total energy need of the province is supplied by renewable energies, and it is possible to reduce CO2 emissions by about 92.76% compared to the baseline. The prerequisite for implementing most scenarios, especially the fifth scenario in Fars province, is to provide the necessary infrastructure for the production, transmission, and storage of renewable energies, pay attention to the proper design of buildings, optimize energy production and distribution technologies, and consider behavioral and cultural aspects of the province.