Results from the first open_plan stakeholder workshops
03.07.2020 | What does a good software tool that enables the planning and design of energy cells look like? How can sector coupling be included and how can data management be improved? And how can this be done following scientific standards, user-friendliness and be transparent and reproducible? This was discussed by energy system experts in the first stakeholder workshops of the open_plan project.
An open-source tool for planning energy cells
In open_plan a cross-sectoral, open-source planning tool is being developed. It is to be used for the optimized planning of energy cells for the (partial) supply of the electricity and heat demand of neighborhoods, commercial yards, and industry.
An important part of the project is the involvement of potential users to ensure that the tool is application-oriented and tailored to real user needs. For this reason, regular workshops are held in which experts exchange information on requirements and functions.
Sector coupling is a desired use case
With workshops on May 6th and 13th 2020, the first round of these meetings has been completed and the results evaluated. The topics discussed included common challenges in energy system modeling and required functions of the tool. Particularly frequent was the wish to enable cross-sectoral energy planning and dynamic interfaces between electricity, heat, and hydrogen systems.
Based on the findings of the workshop, the development of the tool is now starting. The exchange and dialogue with experts and future users will continue to play an important role in the development process. Further workshops will take place in all project phases.
Feedback welcome
The RLI leads the consortium, in which the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Sonnenenergie (German Solar Energy Society) and the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research are also involved. The team is always open to external feedback or further ideas for functions of the tool and would be happy to hear from you.
> Contact details and further information on the open_plan project can be found here.
open_plan is funded as part of the “Technology-oriented system analysis” funding area of the 7th Energy Research Program “Innovation for the energy turnaround” of the Federal Ministry of Economics and Energy.
