Integrated Planning of Multi-Energy Systems

Project Information

PlaMES

Grant agreement ID: 863922

DOI

10.3030/863922

Project closed

EC signature date 2 August 2019

Start date 1 November 2019

End date 31 October 2022

Funded under

• SOCIETAL CHALLENGES - Secure, clean and efficient energy

Total cost

€ 2 659 002,50

EU contribution

€ 2 659 002,50

Coordinated by

RHEINISCH-WESTFAELISCHE TECHNISCHE HOCHSCHULE AACHEN
Germany

Periodic Reporting for period 2 - PlaMES (Integrated Planning of Multi-Energy Systems)

Reporting period: 2021-05-01 to 2022-10-31

Summary of the context and overall objectives of the project

The European New Green Deal requires a continuous reduction of greenhouse gas emissions by effectively decarbonising the energy system. To reach the climate goals, not just the electricity but also the heat and mobility sector have to be decarbonised, which can only be achieved by coupling different energy sectors. Sustainable energy systems based on renewable energies are becoming increasingly decentralized with smaller scale generation units. Furthermore, they are characterised by volatile generation, which requires further flexibility in energy conversion as well as on transmission and distribution grid level. This project provides planning tools and perspectives on how to integrate multiple energy sectors into one interdependent and efficient energy system.
The general objective of the project was the development of an integrated planning framework for multi-energy systems on a European scale. The objective of the planning framework considers the European climate targets while optimizing the expansion of energy infrastructure and energy generation capacities to find solutions for an efficient and reliable interdependent energy system in 2050. The developed models consider the coupling of different energy sectors (electricity, heat, mobility and gas) and calculate cost-optimal energy infrastructure for future energy scenarios. To handle the mathematical complexity of the integrated energy system planning approach, new solution methods were required. This was achieved by solving both mathematical and computational challenges in the field of energy system modelling. Thereby, novel mathematical formulations of energy system modelling problems were proposed. The project provides a new energy system planning tool for different stakeholders, which intends to be used as a decision support to enable a beneficial development of the European energy system.
To show the adequacy of the modelling framework, two case studies were performed. One case study focused on Germany and investigated the central level of the European energy system. The second case study focused on a Turkish distribution grid and exemplarily analysed the decentral perspective. In both case studies, data was derived from a bottom-up modelling approach mainly relying on open data.
The first case study, aimed at the planning of the Central Energy System, considering the electricity, gas, heat and mobility sector. In an integrated approach, the expansion of generation capacity was combined with the expansion of the electrical transmission grid. The target of this investigation was the identification of a cost efficient energy system, which is compliant with European climate goals. The case study provided the allocation and installed capacity of multi-energy generation capacities as well as the required expansion and reinforcement measures of the electrical transmission grid.
The second case study focused on the modelling of the operation of generation and load technologies in a distribution grid area. Based on the allocation of these technologies, an operational planning of the technologies and the impact assessment on the electrical distribution grid was performed. To minimize resulting system costs on the decentral level, various market coordination mechanisms were taken into account and analyzed. The required expansion and reinforcement measures for ensuring system security were identified by a distribution network expansion planning.

Work performed from the beginning of the project to the end of the period covered by the report and main results achieved so far

At this point, all work packages have been finished. In Work Package 1, a project management handbook has been released (D1.1) and the yearly progress reports have been released (D1.2 D1.3 D1.4). Executive Board, advisory board, monthly, and other meetings have been organized as part of Work Package 1. The financial management of the project was part of WP1.
The functional description of the PlaMES tool including the definition of the scenario framework and the two case studies as well as the mathematical formulation and potential decomposition approaches are outlined by the deliverables in Work Package 2 (D2.1 D2.2 D2.3 D2.4 D2.5).
The conceptual development of the PlaMES tool forms the basis for the work and the tool development within Work Package 3. The workflow between the tools has been outlined in D3.1. With D3.2 the prototype of the PlaMES tool was presented. Within the project, all suggested models, workflows and interfaces have been developed into the PlaMES decision support system (DSS).
As two of the central planning tools have to cope with extraordinary problem sizes, in Work Package 4 the developed decomposition approaches for the two models were implemented as suggested in D2.3. The final decomposition approaches are showcased in D4.1. The interfaces between the models and solvers have been implemented.
The final tool, comprising models, solvers and interfaces with potential customers, is outlined in D5.1. With D5.2 the model performance was assessed. With D5.3 and 5.4 a tool handbook for the PlaMES DSS was finalized. It showcases how potential customers can interact over a graphical user interface with the functionalities of the models.
With Workpackage 6 the developed models were validated which is described in D6.1. Additionally, the Use-Cases were calculated and sensitivity analyses were conducted to derive recommended actions. The results were presented in D6.2.
To raise awareness and visibility of the project, a concept for dissemination and communication activities has been documented (D7.1 and D7.5). An important pillar of our strategy is contributions to professional and academic conferences. To eliminate future issues regarding property, exploitation and intellectual rights of data use, a Data Management Plan (D7.2) has been set up. The third deliverable of Work Package 7 outlines potential tool exploitation measures (D7.3 and D7.4).
The assessment of project activities concerning ethics compliance is provided by three deliverables of Work Package 8 (D8.1 D8.2 and D8.3).

Progress beyond the state of the art and expected potential impact (including the socio-economic impact and the wider societal implications of the project so far)

The work carried out in the project is an advance to the state of the art. The integrated energy system modeling approach enables the design of future multi-energy systems on a European scale to reach European climate goals. First, the interdependencies between relevant energy sectors are investigated while taking an integrated expansion planning of generation and electricity grid infrastructure into account.
The accuracy of the modeling approach was ensured by pursuing a high temporal resolution as well as a high structural representation of the energy system (compared to competing models that typically aggregate their models to certain regions). A high temporal resolution is required for evaluating the benefits of flexibilities such as storage facilities. The regional representation of the energy system is supported by a bottom-up modeling approach to investigate local interactions between energy sectors as well. The expansion planning takes not only direct greenhouse gas emissions but also indirect emissions from expansion into account. However, the most important approach in this project is that potential customers do not merely receive results, but can view them via a provided web interface. This way, we enable potential customers to better analyze their results, adapt scenarios, and thus make academic energy system planning tangible and prospectively include it in real planning processes.

PlaMES Tool