clicSAND for OSeMOSYS: A User-Friendly Interface Using Open-Source Optimisation Software for Energy System Modelling Analysis

Carla Cannone (), Lucy Allington, Nicki de Wet, Abhishek Shivakumar, Philip Goyns, Cesar Valderrama, Alexander Kell, Fernando Antonio Plazas Niño, Reema Mohanty, Vedran Kapor, Jarrad Wright, Rudolf Yeganyan, Naomi Tan, Long Seng To, John Harrison and Mark Howells
Additional contact information
Carla Cannone: Department of Geography and Environment, Loughborough University, Loughborough LE11 3TU, UK
Lucy Allington: Department of Geography and Environment, Loughborough University, Loughborough LE11 3TU, UK
Nicki de Wet: Independent Researcher, Cape Town 8000, South Africa
Abhishek Shivakumar: Department of Geography and Environment, Loughborough University, Loughborough LE11 3TU, UK
Philip Goyns: Independent Researcher, Johannesburg 2021, South Africa
Cesar Valderrama: Chemical Engineering Department, Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya·BarcelonaTECH, 08930 Barcelona, Spain
Alexander Kell: Centre for Environmental Policy, Imperial College London, London SW7 1NE, UK
Fernando Antonio Plazas Niño: Department of Geography and Environment, Loughborough University, Loughborough LE11 3TU, UK
Reema Mohanty: Department of Geography and Environment, Loughborough University, Loughborough LE11 3TU, UK
Vedran Kapor: Independent Researcher, 71000 Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina
Jarrad Wright: National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), Golden, CO 80401, USA
Rudolf Yeganyan: Department of Geography and Environment, Loughborough University, Loughborough LE11 3TU, UK
Naomi Tan: Department of Geography and Environment, Loughborough University, Loughborough LE11 3TU, UK
Long Seng To: Department of Geography and Environment, Loughborough University, Loughborough LE11 3TU, UK
John Harrison: Department of Geography and Environment, Loughborough University, Loughborough LE11 3TU, UK
Mark Howells: Department of Geography and Environment, Loughborough University, Loughborough LE11 3TU, UK

Energies, 2024, vol. 17, issue 16, 1-27

Abstract: Energy modelling plays a crucial role in assisting governmental and policymaking bodies to strategise long-term investments within the context of energy transition. Among the well-established open-source optimisation models, OSeMOSYS—the Open-Source Energy Modelling System—stands out. This paper introduces clicSAND, a novel user interface designed for OSeMOSYS, aimed at reducing the learning curve and supporting novice energy modelers in efficiently conducting long-term investment analyses. clicSAND, freely available and open-source, features a user-friendly Excel interface for data input, integrated solvers, and a visualisation dashboard for result interpretation. The outcomes, projected up to 2070, hold the potential to inform policy decisions and mobilise financial resources for sustainable development endeavors, such as ensuring affordable and secure energy supply and mitigating climate change impacts. This advancement not only democratises access to energy modelling tools but also empowers policymakers and stakeholders to conduct thorough long-term investment analyses with ease. This paper elaborates on clicSAND’s key advantages, architecture, and functionalities. Additionally, it discusses the evolutionary journey from clicSAND 1.0 to 3.0, emphasising a commitment to continuous improvement and user-centric adaptation, thereby enhancing its utility and relevance. The inclusion of a South African case study, conducted during the EMP-A (Energy Modelling Platform for Africa) 2021 international capacity-building event, showcases clicSAND’s efficacy in facilitating knowledge transfer and skill development among inexperienced users, while providing a tangible example of its application in addressing specific regional energy challenges and policy contexts. Finally, current applications and future extensions of the software are also presented.

Keywords: energy modelling; OSeMOSYS; open-source; user interface; clicSAND; energy planning; policy; climate change (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: 2024
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
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