Modeling the regional energy transition
Investigating the interaction between electricity, heat and hydrogen to facilitate the energy transition in a congested region.
The regional level of the energy transition is gaining importance, both because of existing and expected limitations in the transmission grid but also because it is easier to create mutual understanding and collaboration on the regional level.
The aim of the proposed project is to design a modeling tool for integrated energy systems which can support the identification of cost-efficient investments in generation and flexibility on local level considering electricity, heat and hydrogen as energy carriers. The model builds on three ongoing PhD projects at the division of Energy Technology; one with focus on the 130kV power grid, one with focus on hydrogen infrastructure and one with focus on district heating. Within the proposed project, the methods developed in these 3 PhD projects would be combined to a coherent tool to investigate cost-efficient regional transition pathways representing the infrastructure of electricity, hydrogen and heat.
Care is taken to give a physical representation of electricity, hydrogen and heat infrastructure which is appropriate for the regional scope. An extensive set of technologies will be included as investment options, with a particular focus on representing technologies coupling the three energy carriers (such as combined heat and power plants, heat pumps, electric boilers and electrolysers) and flexibility options (including batteries, hydrogen tank storage, hydrogen LRC storage, hydrogen pipline storage, heat tank storage, heat storage in buildings, strategic charging of electric vehicles).
The tool is intended for decision support for regional actors, such as regions, länsstyrelser and regional grid owners. Within the project the tool will be tested on the Västra Götaland region.
Involved in the project
Niclas Mattsson, Lisa Göransson, Viktor Walter, Magnus Danielsson
Partners
Chalmers, VGR, SvK
Funders
VGR and SvK