eGo

eGo – Electricity Grid Optimization

What does eGo help with?

The eGo tool was developed by researchers at RLI and partners from the open_eGo and eGo^n projects. It aims to optimize the expansion of power grids and storage systems across all voltage levels in Germany, considering the integration of the heat, mobility, and gas sectors.

Who is the tool suitable for?

The tool is primarily designed for energy system modelers, but it is also valuable for electricity grid operators and municipal utilities who want to assess the impact of future developments, such as the expansion of decentralized renewable energy systems and sector coupling, on the power grids. Distribution grid operators and municipal utilities can use the tool to evaluate the impact on their networks within the context of the German and European energy systems, while transmission grid operators can derive valuable information from the underlying networks for their grid planning and operation.

How does eGo work?

The eGo tool integrates two other tools: eTraGo, for optimizing grid and storage expansion in the extra-high and high-voltage levels, and eDisGo, for optimizing the medium and low-voltage levels. A top-down approach is employed, where the nationwide expansion of storage technologies, power grids, and the use of power plants and flexibilities are optimized from a whole-system perspective. The extra-high and high-voltage levels are addressed using eTraGo, and the resulting grid expansion needs in the medium and low-voltage levels are then determined using eDisGo to account for these in the overall system costs.

What are some examples of its use?

The tool was initially developed in the “open_eGo – open electricity grid optimization” project and was used to determine the optimal grid and storage expansion in Germany. It was further developed in the eGo^n project to study the impact of sector coupling on the German power grid across all voltage levels.

How can the tool be used?

The program code is written in Python and is fully available on the online service GitHub under the MIT Open-Source License.