The Potential of Simulating Energy Systems: The Multi Energy Systems Simulator Model

Luigi Bottecchia, Pietro Lubello, Pietro Zambelli, Carlo Carcasci and Lukas Kranzl
Additional contact information
Luigi Bottecchia: Institute of Renewable Energy, Eurac Research, Via A.Volta 13/A, 39100 Bolzano, Italy
Pietro Lubello: Department of Industrial Engineering, University of Florence, Via Santa Marta 3, 50139 Firenze, Italy
Pietro Zambelli: Institute of Renewable Energy, Eurac Research, Via A.Volta 13/A, 39100 Bolzano, Italy
Carlo Carcasci: Department of Industrial Engineering, University of Florence, Via Santa Marta 3, 50139 Firenze, Italy
Lukas Kranzl: Energy Economics Group, Institute of Energy Systems and Electrical Drives, Technische Universität Wien, Gusshausstraße 25-29/370-3, 1040 Vienna, Austria

Energies, 2021, vol. 14, issue 18, 1-27

Abstract: Energy system modelling is an essential practice to assist a set of heterogeneous stakeholders in the process of defining an effective and efficient energy transition. From the analysis of a set of open-source energy system models, it emerged that most models employ an approach directed at finding the optimal solution for a given set of constraints. On the contrary, a simulation model is a representation of a system used to reproduce and understand its behaviour under given conditions without seeking an optimal solution. In this paper, a new open-source energy system model is presented. Multi Energy Systems Simulator (MESS) is a modular, multi-energy carrier, multi-node model that allows the investigation of non optimal solutions by simulating an energy system. The model was built for urban level analyses. However, each node can represent larger regions allowing wider spatial scales to be represented as well. In this work, the tool’s features are presented through a comparison between MESS and Calliope, a state of the art optimization model, to analyse and highlight the differences between the two approaches, the potentialities of a simulation tool and possible areas for further development. The two models produced coherent results, showing differences that were tracked down to the different approaches. Based on the comparison conducted, general conclusions were drawn on the potential of simulating energy systems in terms of a more realistic description of smaller energy systems, lower computational times and increased opportunity for participatory processes in planning urban energy systems.

Keywords: energy system modelling; energy optimization; energy simulation; Multi Energy Systems Simulator (MESS) (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q Q0 Q4 Q40 Q41 Q42 Q43 Q47 Q48 Q49 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (3)

Downloads: (external link)
https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/14/18/5724/pdf (application/pdf)
https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/14/18/5724/ (text/html)

Related works:
This item may be available elsewhere in EconPapers: Search for items with the same title.

Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text

Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:gam:jeners:v:14:y:2021:i:18:p:5724-:d:633357

Access Statistics for this article

Energies is currently edited by Ms. Agatha Cao

More articles in Energies from MDPI
Bibliographic data for series maintained by MDPI Indexing Manager ().