eGon
Open and cross-sectoral planning of transmission and distribution grids
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We plan energy systems from a cellular perspective
In close collaboration with practitioners of energy modelling and energy project developers we developed an open-source planning tool
The open-plan-tool is still under development, however it is already released for a general use
You can checkout the latest version of the open-plan-tool
If you want to collaborate or are interested in the project, you can find more information on:
Energy cells explained
The cellular approach is a new energy system model framework based on decentralized energy systems and sector coupling
The cellular approach describes an energy system organized in so-called energy cells
The fundamental idea of the cellular approach is to optimize energy system planning at all possible levels, from the smallest energy cell to the largest one.
An energy cell can contain and combine many forms of energy such as electricity, heat, gas, etc.
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The adoption of the German Renewable Energy Law „EEG 2021“ opens a unique opportunity to be leveraged by looking at a new energy system planning perspective. The full transition to renewable energy sources and climate neutrality by 2050 requires a high level of citizens' acceptance, reachable by local participation opportunities. Such frameworks can enable tenants to benefit from rooftop PV installations and local communities and authorities to value wind power generation. These are two examples that show how bottom-up approaches can contribute to a successful energy transition, ultimatively requiring a cellular approach: "The cellular approach is a new organizational model for energy supply. In this interdisciplinary model, technical, economic, legal and political (and social) concerns are taken into account. The central component of this model is the energy cell." [1]
This model was developed by the German Association for Electrical Engineering, VDE. It proposes a new way to organize future energy system networks. The cellular approach incorporates the idea that the production and consumption of energy are locally balanced forming a so-called energy cell. An energy cell is not geographically limited but it is a system composed of at least a generator, a converter, a storage unit, a load, a protection and control system and a connection to the distribution grid. An energy cell can contain many forms of energy such as electricity, heat, gas and mobility thus embracing the concept of sector coupling.
[1] VDE Verband der Elektrotechnik Elektronik Informationstechnik e.V.: Cellular Energy System - A Contribution to the Concretization of the Cellular Approach with Recommendations for Action, Frankfurt am Main, May 2019
Cross-sectoral, open-source planning tool
Sector coupling
The tool is intended to be used for the optimised planning of energy cells for the (partial) supply of the electricity and heat requirements of neighbourhoods, industrial yards and industry in Germany. As active subsystems, energy cells can facilitate the integration of renewable energy and considerably reduce network expansion, since they can be planned and controlled among each other.
Open licence
The project will follow the promising open-science approach already implemented by RLI in many projects and will make all data, methods and program code available under a suitable open license. This is intended to comply with scientific standards, because only results generated with open and citable tools and data can be reproduced and reproduced in the field of software-based research.
Stakeholder dialogue
Close cooperation within the consortium and with a wide range of stakeholders and users will expand the research network, opening up a broad field of new, significant and explicitly application-oriented research questions. The open_plan project complements other previous open-science research projects of RLI, such as open_eGO (OpenEnergyPlatfrom), open_FRED (feed-in time series on OpenEnergyPlatform) and enables the comparison, validation and improvement of energy system modelling.
Features
Sector coupling
Combination of different generation components and demand categories for designing optimized systems and operational strategies
Data management
Integration of open libraries, e.g. resource data and grid components and usage of open exchangeable formats
Scenario analysis
An automated creation of scenarios allows for an easy comparison of different options and to understand sensitivities
Reproducibility
All results will be reproducible based on transparent calculations, both product-based and generic
Modularity
A large variety of different energy cells requires modular components to represent different levels of complexity and functionalities
User friendliness
The tool was developed with a strong focus on easy use without requiring programming language expertise
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About us
The open_plan project consortium is composed of the Reiner Lemoine Institut (RLI), Deutsche Gesellschaft für Sonnenenergie (DGS) and the Potsdam Institut für Klimafolgenforschung (PIK). It is funded within the framework of the "Technology-oriented systems analysis" funding area of the BMWi's 7th Energy Research Programme "Innovation for the energy transition".
