Integration of seasonal storage into energy system frameworks and modelling tools

  • genre: break‑out‑group
  • title: Integration of seasonal storage into energy system frameworks and modelling tools
  • presenter: @robertH
  • background:

Due to the increasing share of RES in our energy system, the need of seasonal storage is continuously growing. However, the dispatch of power plants (e.g. in district heating systems) usually takes place within a time horizon of 24 hours up to a few days. In this context, the optimisation of seasonal storage capacities is a methodological challenge.

In the proposed break-out session, the following aspects could be discussed (among others):

  • Methodological challenges and possible solutions regarding the integration of seasonal storage building blocks into (open source) energy system models; points of discussion could include:
    • How to deal with different planning and optimisation horizons?
    • How could uncertainties be taken into account? (e.g. through decision trees, mix between deterministic and stochastic modelling)
    • Model coupling versus necessary complexity reduction?
    • How could appropriate modelling approaches look like?
  • Are there (open source) initiatives regarding the integration of seasonal storage building blocks into existing energy system frameworks or models?

  • Are there suitable models from other domains (e.g. geothermal research, natural gas sector, etc.) that could be build upon and integrated into (existing) open source frameworks?

  • Possible joint activities in the open source community

The focus of this break-out session could be on heat storage (BTES, ATES, but also TTES and PTES). Nevertheless, also other energy carriers (e.g. hydrogen) may be considered.

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Here were some ideas that was gathered during the session:

  • Use of agent-based modelling(?):

    • Agent: for daily business profit maximization
    • Agent for overall/seasonal profit maximization
  • Application of agent-based modelling in Ireland: Agent-based modelling is used for the modeling the utilization of heat pumps for the households.

  • Use of GEOPHIRES model (Geothermal model) for possible application for the thermal storage(?)