The research project PlaMES (Integrated Planning of Multi-Energy Systems) started in November with the kick-off meeting at the EU commission in Brussels. The project is funded by the European Union within the Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme and aims at developing a holistic planning tool for multi-energy systems on a European scale. The ambitious climate goals set by the European Union’s COP21 commitments require the coupled consideration of multiple energy sectors in order to reach the necessary reduction of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions as well as the increase of renewable energies up to 2050. In particular, the heat and mobility sectors will play a decisive role in achieving the decarbonisation. At the same time, the progressive integration of renewable energies as well as the increasing demands of the heat and mobility sector will lead to extensive bottlenecks in the electricity grid due to missing transport capacities. For this reason, grid constraints and a limit for grid expansion have to be considered in order to reach an overall efficient energy system.
The simultaneous modeling of multi energy sectors as well as grid expansion require both a large mixed-integer (non-linear) optimization problem and new solution methods that will be developed within the course of the project. This will be achieved by solving both mathematical and computational challenges in the field of energy system modeling. Thereby, novel mathematical formulations of energy system modeling problems will be proposed, e.g. by combining diverse mathematical decomposition methods. The goal is to strive towards a system, where a multiplicity of models for single energy system aspects all synergistically contribute to the optimal planning of such a complex system. Two case studies with European scope will be performed to show the adequacy and relevance of the developed modelling framework.
The developed tool will provide different stakeholders with the means to develop efficient strategies to reach the climate goals, while promoting optimal development and operation of the energy system. This includes European system planners, regulators and national authorities as well as technology companies, grid operators and utilities. To muster the interdisciplinary challenges in such a holistic energy system planning, the consortium is composed of academic and industrial partners from three countries experienced in the fields of energy system modelling, mathematical optimization and electrical grid operation. The consortium will be supported by an advisory board constituted of experts from the energy industry.
Detailed information can be found at: https://cordis.europa.eu/project/rcn/224605/factsheet/en
