With the introduction of the “dual carbon” goal and the continuous promotion of low-carbon development

the integrated energy system (IES) has gradually become an effective way to save energy and reduce emissions. This study proposes a low-carbon economic optimization scheduling model for an IES that considers carbon trading costs. With the goal of minimizing the total operating cost of the IES and considering the transferable and curtailable characteristics of the electric and thermal flexible loads

an optimal scheduling model of the IES that considers the cost of carbon trading and flexible loads on the user side was established. The role of flexible loads in improving the economy of an energy system was investigated using examples

and the rationality and effectiveness of the study were verified through a comparative analysis of different scenarios. The results showed that the total cost of the system in different scenarios was reduced by 18.04%

9.1%

3.35%

and 7.03%

respectively

whereas the total carbon emissions of the system were reduced by 65.28%

20.63%

3.85%

and 18.03%

respectively

when the carbon trading cost and demand-side flexible electric and thermal load responses were considered simultaneously. Flexible electrical and thermal loads did not have the same impact on the system performance. In the analyzed case

the total cost and carbon emissions of the system when only the flexible electrical load response was considered were lower than those when only the flexible thermal load response was taken into account. Photovoltaics have an excess of carbon trading credits and can profit from selling them

whereas other devices have an excess of carbon trading and need to buy carbon credits.