Natural gas distributed energy systems can have energy-saving and emission reduction applications when using a stepped supply of combined cooling, heating and power. However, as a new form of clean energy supply, the reasonable benefits of the process need to be estimated. In this paper, a comprehensive evaluation of the applicability of a natural gas distributed energy system was carried out based on economic and environmental factors, an applicability evaluation indicator system was built, and the semantic classification of the evaluation levels was determined. Then, the weight of each indicator was calculated using the analytic hierarchy process, and the applicability level was determined by the set pair analysis theory. Finally, a hotel in Xi’an, Shaanxi province, was taken as an example for evaluation, and the results were compared with traditional energy supply methods. The following research results were obtained. First, the comprehensive evaluation result indicates high applicability, and the economy and the environment are the key influencing factors for the applicability of the natural gas distributed energy system. Second, compared with the traditional energy supply method, the efficiency of energy conservation and emission reduction is remarkable, and the advantages of clean energy and the stepped supply method are reflected. Third, the distributed energy system has obvious economic applicability, especially in low-price areas of natural gas. It is concluded that the research results provide a more scientific decision-making method and reference for the promotion and application of the natural gas distributed energy system.

The natural gas distributed energy system can achieve the purpose of energy saving and emission reduction with the stepped supply of the combined cooling heating and power, but as a new type of clean energy supply mode, the reasonable benefit in the process of its promotion needs to be estimated. In this paper, the comprehensive evaluation for the applicability of the natural gas distributed energy system was carried out from features such as economic and environment, the applicability evaluation indicator system was built and the semantic classification of the evaluation levels was determined. Then, the weight of each indicator was calculated by the analytic hierarchy process and the applicability level was determined by the set pair analysis theory. Finally, a hotel in Xi’an, Shaanxi province, was taken as an example to evaluate and the results were compared with traditional energy supply methods. The following research results were obtained. First, the comprehensive evaluation result is high availability, and the economy and environment are the key influence factors for the applicability of the natural gas distributed energy system. Second, compared with the traditional energy supply method, the efficiency of energy conservation and emission reduction is remarkable, and the advantages of clean energy and stepped supply method are reflected. Third, the distributed energy system has obvious economical effect, especially in low price areas of natural gas. It is concluded that the research results provide a more scientific decision-making method and the reference for the promotion and application of the natural gas distributed energy system.