Aim of Energy System Modeling
How to find a minimal emissions system for a given budget (green dots)? Classical variants (orange dots) are not necessarily optimal.
Today there is almost an infinite number of possibilities to design a system for heat an electricity supply. It is common practice to select some of these possibilities, compare them and select the most cost effective one.
But, is this the most efficient solution overall? Using energy system modeling, there are no distinct variants anymore. There is a single model that contains all possible technologies in form of a lower and an upper boundary. A computer varies the installed capacities of all technologies within these boundaries, until a target variable is minimized for the whole system.
Possible target variables are:
- Cost (minimal cost, lower right point in the chart)
- Emissions (minimal emissions, upper left point in the chart)
- Cost, with a maximum emission goal given (points on the Pareto curve i the chart)
Tools
Workflow from a simple spreadsheet model definition to the visualization of the model and the results.
The energy system models are based on the »open energy modeling framework« (oemof). To ease the workflow, another software layer has been developed, the »Spreadsheet Energy System Model Generator« (SESMG). Both software packages are licensed as open source.
Nevertheless, energy system modeling is not a push button method. The main task is to simplify the reality to make the model solvable with the available resources like time and computational power.
Results
Results are only useful, if they are presented in a human readable format. Energy system models deliver specific technology combinations, installed capacities of single units, load curves, monetary costs and spatial distributions of installed units in open geodata formats.
Training and Support
For questions and support, do not hesitate to contact us!
Publications
KLEMM, Christian; WIESE, Frauke. Indicators for the optimization of sustainable urban energy systems based on energy system modeling. Energy, Sustainability and Society, 2022, 12. Jg., Nr. 1, S. 1-20.
https://doi.org/10.25974/fhms-14513
KLEMM, Christian; VENNEMANN, Peter. Modeling and optimization of multi-energy systems in mixed-use districts: A review of existing methods and approaches. Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, 2021, 135. Jg., S. 110206.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rser.2020.110206