Simulation versus Optimisation: Theoretical Positions in Energy System Modelling

By Henrik Lund, F. Arler, P. A. Østergaard, Frede Hvelplund, D. Connolly, Brian Vad Mathiesen, P. Karnøe. 2017

225 citations recorded by the source corpus.

In recent years, several tools and models have been developed and used for the design and analysis of future national energy systems. Many of these models focus on the integration of various renewable energy resources and the transformation of existing fossil-based energy systems into future sustainable energy systems. The models are diverse and often end up with different results and recommendations. This paper analyses this diversity of models and their implicit or explicit theoretical backgrounds. In particular, two archetypes are defined and compared. On the one hand, the prescriptive investment optimisation or optimal solutions approach. On the other hand the analytical simulation or alternatives assessment approach. Awareness of the dissimilar theoretical assumption behind the models clarifies differences between the models, explains dissimilarities in results, and provides a theoretical and methodological foundation for understanding and interpreting results from the two archetypes.

Subfields: Electrical and Electronic Engineering, Renewable Energy, Sustainability and the Environment

View Paper: https://www.semanticscholar.org/paper/63773fcf03860be92a7992c802fecba8e8b16de6

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In Electrical and Electronic Engineering

In Renewable Energy, Sustainability and the Environment

Citations in the corpus

On the History and Future of 100% Renewable Energy Systems Research (2022, methodology): “This is more often applied in simulation type scenarios [184], in which specific shares for each of the technologies included in the model can be defined.”