Environmental-economic optimization for implementation of parabolic collectors in the industrial process heat generation: Case study of Mexico O. May Tzuc a, ** , A. Bassam b, * , Luis J. Ricalde b , O.A. Jaramillo c , Manuel Flota-Ba ~ nuelos b , M.A. Escalante Soberanis b a Estudiante de Posgrado, Facultad de Ingeniería, Universidad Aut onoma de Yucat an, Av. Industrias no contaminantes, M erida, Yucat an, Mexico b Facultad de Ingeniería, Universidad Aut onoma de Yucat an, Av. Industrias no contaminantes, M erida, Yucat an, Mexico c Universidad Nacional Aut onoma de M exico, Priv. Xochicalco s/n, Col. Centro, Temixco, Morelos, CP, 62580, Mexico article info Article history: Received 15 June 2019 Received in revised form 19 September 2019 Accepted 20 September 2019 Available online 23 September 2019 Handling Editor: Giorgio Besagni Keywords: Multi-objective optimization Industrial process Solar thermal Surrogate models Clean heat production Decision-making method abstract This paper proposes an economic and environmental analysis for the design of solar heat systems and their incorporation in the industrial sector. A novel computational methodology is implemented to help the sustainable integration of parabolic trough collectors photothermal technology into the low and medium enthalpy industrial activities. A multivariate artificial neural network that involves environ- mental, operational, and economic aspects was used to transfer the phenomenon under study into a simple and fast computing multi-output mathematical model. The optimal trade-off between environ- mental benefits and investment viability of the hybrid solar plant’s design is obtained by a multi- objective optimization process. The objective functions consider the maximization in CO 2 mitigation and net present value, and the minimization of the total life-cycle cost. The final optimal result is selected by using the TOPSIS decision-making method. Besides, a sensitivity analysis is conducted to report the system performance with respect to back-up boiler fuel type, climate region, the volume of the storage tank, and solar field area. The work contemplates the case study of a solar thermal plant based on parabolic collectors integrated into a pre-existing industrial process in Mexico. The study considered four of the most common climatic regions and the most representative heating fossil fuels in the national industrial sector. Based on the results, the best profitability and CO 2 mitigation are achieved in warm climate regions. Moreover, diesel was identified as the most profitable back-up fuel scenario and natural gas as the least viable. Analysis of the energy contribution describes that implementation of parabolic trough collectors in the presented industrial process covers just over 40%e80% of the energy required, depending on the climate region. The presented methodology constitutes a rapid and low-cost computational tool which facilitates decision making for the implementation of solar heat industrial process systems. Moreover, it can be applied to other industrial processes with several photothermal technologies for clean heat generation. © 2019 Published by Elsevier Ltd. 1. Introduction The industrial sector represents the second greatest energy consumer in Mexico, with 34% of the total national demand (SENER, 2018a). Of this amount, two-thirds are required in the form of heat, with temperature ranges between 50  C and 200  C, for the development of industrial processes such as drying, cooking, cleaning, blanching, heating, dehydration, pasteurization, and among others. In the Mexican scenario, more than 95% of the heat produced for industrial applications is met with conventional fossil fuel-based heating systems, implying a degradation of the local environment and consequently leaving its footprints over the entire country. According to the National Inventory of Gases Emissions and Greenhouse Effect Compounds, fossil fuel emissions produced by industrial activities are equivalent to 17% of the total * Corresponding author. ** Corresponding author. E-mail addresses: maytzuc@correo.uady.mx, maytzuc@gmail.com (O. May Tzuc), baali@correo.uady.mx (A. Bassam). Contents lists available at ScienceDirect Journal of Cleaner Production journal homepage: www.elsevier.com/locate/jclepro https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2019.118538 0959-6526/© 2019 Published by Elsevier Ltd. Journal of Cleaner Production 242 (2020) 118538