A novel method for analyzing highly renewable and sector-coupled subnational energy systems-case study of schleswig-holstein

Abstract

The energy transition requires an integration of different energy carriers, including electricity, heat, and transport sectors. Energy modeling methods and tools are essential to provide a clear insight into the energy transition. However, the methodologies often overlook the details of small-scale energy systems. The study states an innovative approach to facilitate subnational energy systems with 100% renewable penetration and sectoral integration. An optimization model, the “Open Sector-coupled Energy Model for Subnational Energy Systems” (OSeEM-SN), was developed under the Open Energy Modeling Framework (Oemof). The model is validated using the case study of Schleswig-Holstein. The study assumes three scenarios representing 25%, 50%, and 100% of the total available biomass potentials. OSeEM-SN reaches feasible solutions without additional offshore wind investment, indicating that it can be reserved for supplying other states’ energy demand. The annual investment cost varies between 1.02 and 1.44 bn €/year for the three scenarios. The electricity generation decreases by 17%, indicating that, with high biomass-based combined heat and power plants, the curtailment from other renewable plants can be decreased. Ground source heat pumps dominate the heat mix; however, their installation decreases by 28% as the biomass penetrates fully into the energy mix. The validation confirms OSeEM-SN as a beneficial tool to examine different scenarios for subnational energy systems.