Optimization of energy supply systems with simulated annealing, continuous and discrete descriptions

We have developed continuous and discrete implementations of an optimization method (simulated annealing) to search the best way to fulfill different energy demands using different sets of transformation and storage devices. The simplicity of continuous description allows to implement the algorithm in an easy way, but for the discrete one we had to determine priorities in the devices contributions and to use a suitable code. We can conclude that the efficiency of both methods are good, but the discrete method is quicker than the continuous one. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.