Carbon-oriented optimal operation strategy based on Stackelberg game for multiple integrated energy microgrids

•A Stackelberg game model is proposed to coordinate the conflicting interests in multiple integrated energy microgrid (IEM) energy trading, focusing on three typical IEM types.•The carbon trading (CT) mechanism is introduced into the energy interaction of multiple IEMs. The carbon emission quotas (CEQs) of each IEM are used to calculate the real-time carbon rights (CRs) trading between IEMs. This mechanism can effectively improve the economic benefits and carbon reduction effect of each IEM.•To address the uncertainty and seasonal differences of PV in multiple IEMs, the K-means clustering method is used to process the stochastic fluctuations of photovoltaic (PV) installations. Four typical scenarios corresponding to spring, summer, autumn, and winter are constructed to simulate the timing characteristics of PV and obtain CEQs under different scenarios.•A comprehensive evaluation system is proposed to evaluate the operation of IEM from economic, energy efficiency, and environmental perspectives. This evaluation method combines the analytic hierarchy process and entropy weight method, which balances the advantages of expert subjectivity and objective weighted methods.