OpenMod workshop Freiburg 2026 - Lightning Talks and Poster Contributions

Workshop
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Contribution type: lightning talk and poster

Modeling investment decision-making in the steel industry under deep uncertainty

Presenter: Philipp Wächter

Description:
Investment decision-making in the steel industry is characterized by an inconvenient combination of long asset lifetimes and deep uncertainty. Parameters such as future H2 prices, CO2 prices, and CCS availability strongly influence the correct choice in steelmaking technology yet remain highly uncertain. Thus, these investment decisions carry considerable risk which investors must navigate.

In this contribution, we explore how modeling investment decision-making under deep uncertainty can provide insight into the steel industry transformation. We investigate which technology choices remain robust across a wide range of scenarios, and which allow steelmakers to retain strategic flexibility.

Using the open-source TEAM framework (Techno-Economic Assessment and Manipulation), we conduct techno-economic assessments of competing steelmaking technologies across a multidimensional parameter space of uncertain parameters. Cost and performance data are drawn from and extended within POSTED (Potsdam Open-Source Techno-Economic Database).

Building on these assessments, we model sequential investment decisions from 2026 to 2050 under many scenarios with different trajectories of uncertain parameters. A myopic NPV-based module selects technologies at each decision point without foresight, such that long asset lifetimes can create path dependencies and lock-ins. The resulting distribution of pathway outcomes is analyzed using Conditional Value at Risk (CVaR) and regret - the difference between the realized and the ex-post optimal outcome in each scenario - capturing downside risk and decision robustness beyond E[NPV]. We present illustrative results comparing technology rankings under expected value and risk-oriented criteria.

Background:
POSTED (Potsdam Open-Source Techno-Economic Database) is a public database of techno-economic data on energy and climate-mitigation technologies, developed at the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research (PIK) as part of the Ariadne project. TEAM (Techno-Economic Assessment and Manipulation) is a companion framework for performing techno-economic assessments using such data. Together, they provide a consistent, open-source pipeline for curating technology cost and performance data and carrying out energy and climate-mitigation analyses.

Optional links:

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Contribution type: lightning talk and poster

7K Challenge: Synthetic Power Injections for Open Grid Models

Presenter: Pierre-Olivier Cayetanot - CRESYM

Description:
The 7K Challenge is a new open-data initiative built around the RTE7K dataset, a detailed representation of the French transmission network released through the D-GITT project. The dataset includes the complete grid topology from 63 kV to 400 kV, with snapshots every 5 minutes over the period 2021-2023.

The first challenge focuses on generating realistic synthetic power injections, the missing component needed to run power-flow simulations on the dataset. Participants are invited to use public data, statistical methods, optimization techniques, machine learning, or hybrid approaches to reconstruct realistic load and generation profiles.

The goal is to spread awareness around the dataset, start an open data community, as well as creating a fully usable open dataset for power-flow analysis, grid optimization, and AI applications, enabling researchers and developers to work with genuine TSO topological data.

Background:
The RTE7K dataset was released through LF Energy OpenSynth and while it provides detailed information on its components and topology evolution, operational injection data is not included.

The 7K Challenge, organized by RTE, CRESYM, eRoots, and IRT SystemX, aims to fill this gap. Beyond synthetic injections, potential future challenges will explore topics such as AI-driven topology management, power-flow analysis, and advanced grid-operation use cases based on realistic open grid data.

Optional links:

Challenge link: https://www.codabench.org/competitions/16703/
RTE7K Dataset: https://huggingface.co/datasets/OpenSynth/rte7000

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Contribution type: lightning talk and poster

Comparing MILP formulations for non-linear hydrogen pipeline investment in PyPSA-based energy system model

Presenter: Veronika Brooks

Description: This contribution uses a PyPSA-based energy system model and extends its optimisation problem with alternative MILP formulations for hydrogen pipeline investment. The application focuses on offshore hydrogen infrastructure in the North Sea, where economies of scale can highlight the system value of hydrogen transport and shift network expansion from highly meshed low-capacity structures towards more defined corridor development.

The work compares four formulations: a linear reference case, piecewise-linear cost curves, a start-up formulation with fixed corridor activation costs, and discrete pipeline-size options. The methods are applied to a North Sea energy system model covering offshore wind, electrolysis, hydrogen pipelines, and electricity transmission optimal investment and operational decisions.

The contribution will discuss the modelling approach, preliminary results, and lessons learned from implementing mixed-integer and piecewise-linear formulations in a PyPSA workflow.

Background: This work is part of ongoing doctoral research on integrated European hydrogen and electricity infrastructure planning at Fraunhofer IEG and the Chair of Energy Economics, TU Dresden. It builds on PyPSA-Eur developments for offshore energy infrastructure in the North Sea by the TU Berlin PyPSA team and originated from previous work in the MOHN project funded by BMBF. It contributes to the open energy modelling discussion on representing economies of scale and discrete infrastructure choices in large-scale models.

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Dear Ramiz,

I know it is late submission and submitting with the kind hope:

Contribution type: lightening talk + poster

Title: highRES: a high resolution open-source European electricity system model

Presenter: Muhammad Shahzad Javed.

Description: I aim to introduce our highRES electricity system model, get feedback, and explore collaboration opportunities.

Background: highRES is an open-source electricity system model for EU25+Norway, Switzerland, and the UK. It is co-developed by researchers at the University of Oslo and University College London. This will be our first time presenting our advanced highRES version to the community, integrating socio-environmental dimensions.

Repository: GitHub - highRES-model/highRES-Europe-WF · GitHub