Abstract
This paper describes the development of a circularity model for the synthesis of supply networks for the production of energy and food, mostly from renewables, and the use of suitable sustainability measurements in order to promote sustainable designs. The model includes options for closed loops of energy, material, and emissions. For assessment of its circularity, Material Circularity Indicator (MCI) was used; however, in order to promote other sustainability measures, including economic, environmental and social ones, a recently proposed Sustainability Profit (SP) model was applied and its designs compared to those obtained by MCI. The concepts and model were demonstrated in a case study of a regional-scale renewable-based energy supply network for the production of food, biofuels, and electricity from photovoltaics, wind turbines, and binary cycle geothermal plants. The designs indicate that by maximization of SP, a similar level of circularity, but with higher economic profit, can be obtained than with MCI.
