Course syllabus

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MEN115 Energy systems modelling and planning lp4 VT21 (7.5 hp)

Course is offered by the department of Space, Earth and Environment

Contact details

Examiner/head teacher:

Mikael Odenberger (MO), Energy Technology, Chalmers

phone: +46 31 772 14 44

mail: mikael.odenberger@chalmers.se

           

Teachers & TAs:

Georgia Savvidou (GS), Energy Technology, Chalmers

Karl Vilén (KV), Energy Technology, Chalmers

Simon Ingvarsson (SI), Energy Technology, Chalmers

Course purpose

The aim of the course is to provide the student with basic insights on the complexity of energy systems; and to introduce the students to practical tools and approaches to solve analytical energy system problems. The course is based on real problems combining technical, environmental and economic parameters. It is focused on local, regional and national energy systems with special emphasis on electricity systems and interconnections between sectors and importance of geographical as well as temporal scope in analysis.

The course is part of the master programme Sustainable Energy Systems at Chalmers. The course is taught in English.

Prerequisites

Students should have basic knowledge of engineering thermodynamics, energy conversion, energy technology, numerical methods, energy economy, and energy systems analysis. In addition, students should have taken at least one of the following Chalmers courses: Sustainable Energy Futures; Heat and Power Systems Engineering; Industrial Energy Systems; or corresponding courses at another university.

Schedule

Time slots can be seen in TimeEdit, however, rooms are not valid since all classroom activities at this point will be held online via Zoom. Thus, there will be Zoom-links announced in Canvas to all lectures held online. The schedule posted on this course page will be updated, so make sure you visit often. The published pdf-schedule outline the organization of all lectures, assignments and exercises.

Course literature

There is no single course book. The course literature consists of a variety of chapters (from e-books available via Chalmers library web pages inside Chalmers network), texts published at the web page and a number of articles, some of these are scientific articles. Some of these will be posted on the course web page while due to copyright restrictions others will not. Instead a list of recommended reading will be available at the web page, and the articles/texts mentioned there are available at the Chalmers digital library. The recommended readings give literature essential for the course (important for the examination) and suggestions for further studies.  Lecture notes (presentations) will be available at the course web page.

 

These reading instructions below are divided themes and into recommended reading and further reading, where the first should be seen as the material that reflect the course content, i.e. this material is the actual course literature needed to reach the targets and aim of the course. Further reading gives a hint on where to find additional material for anyone that is  interested to know more. The list may be changed and/or updated so please visit the course web-page for the latest version.

Energy systems and RES
Recommended reading
  • The reference energy system: a snapshot of the energy system (pdf)
Further reading
  • IPCC Fifth Assessment Report: Climate Change 2014 (AR5): Working Group III Report "Mitigation of Climate Change", Chapter 7.

Available at: https://www.ipcc.ch/report/ar5/wg3/

Power plants and Investments
Recommended reading
  • An introduction to energy economics (pdf): Sections 3 and Section 4
  • Electricity from new and future plants. ELFORSK report. Available at: http://www.energiforsk.se/program/elproduktionskostnader/rapporter/el-fran-nya-och-framtida-anlaggningar-2014/
  • Projected cost of generating electricity. 2015 ed. IEA report – Executive summary. Available at:

http://www.iea.org/Textbase/npsum/ElecCost2015SUM.pdf

Further reading
  • Sørensen, Bent, 2011. Chapter 7.1 Social and Economic Framework (pp 783-804) in “Renewable energy: physics, engineering, environmental impacts, economics & planning”, available as E-book at Chalmers Library (ISBN 9780080890661)
Energy markets
Recommended reading
  • Stoft, Steven (2002). “Power system economics: designing markets for electricity”. Chapter 1-6 and Chapter 2-2. E-book available through Chalmers library and posted in Canvas files
  • An introduction to energy economics (pdf): Sections 1 and Section 2 found in Canvas files
Further reading
  • Nordpool Day ahead market regulations. Available at:

https://www.nordpoolgroup.com/globalassets/download-center/rules-and-regulations/day-ahead-market-regulations_valid-from-15-august-2017.pdf

  • Greer, M., 2011. Chapter 1 (Introduction) and Chapter 10 (Efficient pricing of electricity) in “Electricity Cost Modeling Calculations”, available as E-book at Chalmers Library
Energy models
Recommended reading
  • Pfenninger, S., Hawkes, A., Keirstead, J. (2014) Energy systems modeling for twenty-first century energy challenges. Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, 33, pp. 74-86.
  • Energy-systems modelling (Energy_systems_modelling_by_Unger_120418.pdf) Found in Canvas files
  • Sterman, J.D, “A Skeptic’s Guide to Computer Models”: Available at:
    http://web.mit.edu/jsterman/www/Skeptic's_Guide.html
Further reading
  • Bhattacharyya, S.C. & Timilsina, G.R. 2010, "A review of energy system models", International Journal of Energy Sector Management, 4, no. 4, pp. 494-518.
  • Nakata, T., Silva, D. & Rodionov, M. 2011, "Application of energy system models for designing a low-carbon society", Progress in Energy and Combustion Science, 37, no. 4, pp. 462-502.
Scenario and assumptions
Recommended reading
  • Börjeson L., Höjer M., Dreborg K.-H., Ekvall T., Finnveden G. 2006, ”Scenario types and techniques: Towards a user's guide”, Futures, 38 (7) , pp. 723-739.
Intangiables in modelling
Recommended reading
Linear Programming
Recommended reading
Further reading
Policy instruments
Recommended reading
  • Götz, B., Blesl, M., Fahl, U., Voß, A. (2012) Theoretical background on the modelling of policy instruments in energy system models. Report from Stuttgart University, Institut für Energiewirtschaft und Rationelle Energieanwendung (IER). Posted in Canvas files.
Further reading

Course design

The course includes basic energy systems elements such as:

  • Energy economics
  • Energy markets
    • Electricity
    • District heating
  • Electricity system dynamics
    • Interaction between power generation units
    • Interaction to surroundings (e.g. district heating)
  • System analysis tools (energy systems modelling and optimization tools)
    • Background and terminology
    • Linear programming
  • Policy instruments
  • Scope
    • Geographical
      • Local and regional energy systems
      • The Nordic energy system
      • European outlook
    • Temporal
      • Time scales in analysis
      • Large scale implementation of renewable energy sources
      • Present and future systems
    • Sectoral
  • Intermittent power generation
  • Energy and the environment
Organisation

The course includes lectures as well as an assignment project of which two out of three parts are computer based modelling exercises. The assignment requires a written report to be handed in (guide for structure will be distributed). Presence at the finalizing workshop is compulsory (see schedule for compulsory occasions). All material and information can be found in the course page in Canvas.

Assignments

Three compulsory assignment parts should be carried out during the course; in groups of preferably three students (groups assigned by course assistants as presented by the course-homepage):

  • Assignment Part I: Reference Energy System (RES)
  • Assignment Part II: Setting up a linear-programming model over the electricity generation system in south of Sweden.
  • Assignment Part III: Analysing a topical issue for the development of the south Swedish electricity system with the aid of the model created in Part II.

Presence is mandatory at the workshop arranged after the completion of all three parts. The mandatory presence is marked by bold in the course schedule.

Each group should deliver their written assignment reports, no later than the date indicated for each assignment part, in the Canvas hand in system. Note that the hand in via Canvas closes at stated times and that late submissions are not possible.

Exercises

Exercises in classroom will be held at a few occasions to exemplify the type of problems relevant for the examination. In addition, these scheduled exercises will include supervision time where students can get assistance in their own calculations. A booklet of exercises can be found on the course web page intended for practice outside the scheduled exercises. The exercises enables practise before the exam and students are recommended to solve all exercises prior to the examination.

Changes made since the last occasion

Lectures are followed by  learning activities in “flipped classroom events”.

Learning objectives and syllabus

Learning objectives:

  • Predict the interaction between different parts of the energy system
    • Construct and apply the Reference Energy System (RES) concept (locally/regionally/nationally)
    • Examine system changes for any given change in the RES
  • Reflect and theorize around choices made in analysis
    • Reflect on the influence of energy system boundaries in analysis
    • Assess and explain effects of simplifications made
    • Conclude generalizable results
    • Discuss robustness of model results
  • Discuss marginal effects
    • Distinguish between marginal and average perspectives on changes in a system
    • Hypothesize on marginal effects and influence from temporal/geographical scope
  • Differentiate and discuss energy balance vs. capacity balance
    • Construct and apply load duration curves based on chronological load data
    • Explain and motivate the use of base-load and peak-load power plants (or production units)
  • Apply energy systems modelling tools
    • Distinguish between simulation and optimisation tools
    • Select and/or recommend relevant type of methodology for given energy system problems
  • Describe different electricity market structures
    • Reflect on how market design affect the system composition
    • Recommend market design to fulfil given goals
  • List energy policy instruments common/plausible in the energy systems
    • Analyse effects of different measures
    • Discuss the influence of policy type
    • Select and suggest a policy measure for efficient goal fulfilment
  • Reflect on the interaction between environmental impact and economic performance for common energy conversion technologies

Link to the syllabus on Studieportalen.

Study plan

Examination form

The examination is based on a written exam and approved assignment reports. Presence at the assignment workshop is a compulsory part of the course (marked BOLD in schedule). The requirement for passing the exam is set to 50% approval of the points in the exam. Approved assignments are valid for one year.

Course summary:

Date Details Due