open_plan

open_plan – open_plan – Cross-Sectoral Open-Source Planning Tool.

How does open_plan help?

The open_plan tool, developed by researchers at RLI, supports the optimized planning of energy cells to (partially) meet electricity and heating demands in neighborhoods and industrial areas in Germany. Energy cells function as active subsystems that facilitate the integration of renewable energies and significantly reduce the need for grid expansion, as they can be planned and managed collaboratively. The open_plan tool can also be used for planning energy systems in general.

Who is the tool suitable for?

open_plan is suitable for stakeholders such as municipal utilities, engineering firms, or citizens with limited scientific expertise who aim to plan, compare, and optimize sustainable energy systems.

How does open_plan work?

Following an open-science approach, open_plan makes all data, methods, and program code available under an appropriate open-source license. It allows the integration of various generation components and demand types, supports the management of open data libraries, and uses open, interchangeable formats. Automated scenario analyses and modular components ensure user-friendliness and enable the creation of reproducible results.

How can open_plan be used?

The program code is written in Python and is freely available on the online platform GitHub. Additionally, a browser-based user interface is available for direct use at https://open-plan.rl-institut.de/.