The Energy-Carbon Nexus of Sustainable Energy Systems

To achieve carbon neutrality by 2050, Switzerland requires a deep understanding of its energy system and the potential for using carbon not only as an emission, but also as a recyclable commodity in Energy-X paths. In this work, we investigate the Energy-Carbon nexus using a MILP method based on Pyomo, implemented in Empas ehub modeling platform. We demonstrate the critical role of Energy-X in supplying sustainable fuels and balancing seasonal mismatches through storage. Integration of Energy-X results in seasonally optimized carbon capture and utilization and cost-effective storage solutions during times of limited import capacities or high prices. Our work provides valuable insights into achieving a net-zero CO2 emission energy system and is applicable to other national energy systems.