Catalogue of models and their functionalities

This report is devoted to a description of models and databases which may be of interest in the scope of the Open energy Modelling 4 Africa (OM4A) Toolbox which will be developed in the OpenMod4Africa project. The OM4A toolbox is being implemented based on the Open Energy Models platform released in the open ENTRANCE project. It includes a database (based on the Scenario Explorer from IIASA), tools for processing and visualising data, as well as linked models, to be chosen among those described in this document. The input data used for conducting case studies in OpenMod4Africa using the OM4A toolbox will be created based on available data in southern and western Africa. This report describes first different models of interest and second available data sources. The models which are described in this document are separated into different categories: ◼ Models which will be used in OpenMod4Africa and are already linked to the toolbox:o GENeSYS-MOD: The Global Energy System Model (GENeSYS-MOD) is a linear open source energy system model which is tailored to analyse long-term low-carbon energy transition pathways considering all energy sectors: electricity, buildings, industry, and transportation. First published by Löffler et al. (2017), it extends the Open Source Energy Modelling System (OSeMOSYS) framework and was expanded by numerous features and functionalities since then. Its main strength lies in the simultaneous optimization of capacity expansion, energy generation, and dispatch of all energy sectors, which leads to an endogenous optimization of electricity demand, taking into account the additional electricity demand from sector coupling by considering interactions between all energy sectors.o openTEPES: The openTEPES model is an open-source decision support system for defining the integrated generation, storage, and transmission expansion plan of a large-scale electric system at a tactical level1. The user pre-defines the expansion candidates, so the model determines the optimal decisions among those specified by the user. Essentially, any technology can be considered by this tool, such as generation units (thermal -nuclear, gas, coal), energy storage (hydro, pumped-hydro, battery, electric vehicle, demand response, alkaline water electrolyzer, solar thermal) and variable renewable (onshore and offshore wind power, solar PV, run-of-the-river). Besides, the representation of the hydro system based on volume and water inflow data considers the water stream topology (hydro cascade basins).o plan4res: plan4res is an open-source power system model, which includes capacity expansion (adaptation of the generation and storage mix as well as of the existing interconnections of a given year), optimization of the strategies for managing seasonal storages, and simulation of the system operation. Technologies: plan4res focuses on electricity. It includes all power generation technologies, electricity storage technologies, a representation of the interconnections between. ◼ Models which have been identified as necessary and whose linkage to the platform is being processed:o InfraFair: The (open-source) InfraFair model determines the network utilisation by agents (demand and generators using the network) and countries. Based on this utilisation and assuming that it reflects the economic benefits received by agents, it determines the responsibility of each agent in the construction of each element in the network. In order to reasonably reflect agent utilisation of infrastructure, multiple representative snapshots of the annual network usage should be provided. InfraFair is a decision support tool for network cost allocation and tariff design for regional power transmission infrastructure, but it can be used for national infrastructure as well as other types of infrastructures operating on the same principle of flow (e.g. gas and hydrogen). Hence, the model includes all assets that have a flow usage such as power lines, transformers, breaks, series capacitors and phase shifting transformers.o OnSSET: OnSSET is a Geographic Information Systems (GIS) based tool that enhances electrification planning and decision-making for the accomplishment of energy access goals in currently unserved areas. The OnSSET code base is open and modular and allows the users to specify spatial and temporal resolution of the analysis, GIS input data, technologies and costs. OnSSET is a bottom-up medium- to long-term optimization model that attempts to determine the least-expensive supply alternative to achieve universal electrification in each site by combining population settlements with various geographical features, socioeconomic data, and demographic information.o EV-PV: The main goal of the open-source EV-PV model is to support planning and decision-making for the deployment of charging stations for electric vehicles (EVs).The EV-PV model is a set of geospatial data layers and calculation modules implemented in the open source Citiwatts platform (citiwatts.net). This tool, developed as part of the ERANET OpenGIS4ET project, is a GIS (Geographic Information System) tool for territorial energy planning. It is based on the previously developed Hotmaps platform. Technological scope: for the time being, the EV-PV model focuses on passenger cars, as this is the main mode of road passenger transport in Europe. ◼ Models which are used in Western or Eastern Africa for conducting case studies in a close perimeter. Among those models, some are open and thus could be linked to the toolbox, if it appears that the former models are not sufficient, while others are not and won’t be linked. Nevertheless it is important to be aware of what the later models may bring in order to cover all necessary characteristics of the OM4A models, if necessary by extending some of the open models.o Plexos: PLEXOS Integrated Energy Model is a simulation software designed for energy market analysis. It was first developed as an electricity market simulator. Its functionality was then extended so that the recent versions of PLEXOS integrate electric power, gas, heat and water. PLEXOS is a high-performance simulation platform, operationally used by energy market participants, system planners, investors, regulators, consultants and analysts worldwide. The PLEXOS simulations are based on mathematical programming. The system supports various planning horizons from long-term to short-term, and several different time steps: the simulated time frames can range from minutes and hours to tens of years. The PLEXOS models can capture specifics of short-term operational limits, as well as the effects of system expansion. Plexos is a commercial tool.o Splat-Africa: System Planning Test (SPLAT) Africa is a long-term capacity expansion model that includes the five SPLAT models of the African regions (North, East, West, South and Center). Most recently, the SPLAT-MESSAGE framework has been endorsed as the official planning tool for the development of the African Continental Power Systems Master Plan (CMP), an initiative led by the African Union Development Agency (AUDA) with the technical and financial support of the European Union (EU). o Balmorel: Balmorel is an open source economic and technical partial equilibrium model for analysing the electricity and combined heat and power sectors in an international perspective. It is highly versatile and may be applied for long range planning as well as shorter time operational analysis. It simulates the power system and least-cost dispatch, as well as optimizes investments in generation and dispatch. The model optimises production at the existing and planned production units and simultaneously simulates least-costs investments in new generation and transmission, thereby finding the regional least-cost way to supply the needed electricity. The investment projects (as well as the year of investment, location and capacity) are chosen by the model via an impartial and objective least-cost optimization approach based on the input data provided.o Antares: Antares-Simulator is an Open Source power system simulator meant to be used by anybody placing value in quantifying the adequacy or the economic performance of interconnected energy systems , at short or remote time horizons. With an adequate modelling of the energy consumption, generation and transportation, the software performs probabilistic simulations of the system throughout many year-long scenarios made of 8760 hourly time-frames each. The Antares-Simulator project was initiated by RTE (French Electricity Transmission system Operator) in 2007. The software is used to explore prospective visions of the energy sector, analyse the costs and benefits of a new generation or interconnection project, assess the impact of a given energy policy on the generation mix, or evaluate the level of security of supply of the upcoming years.o PSS-E: PSS-E (Power System Simulator for Engineering) is an electrical system simulation software owned by Siemens. It is used for static studies (distribution of power flows, network losses, calculation of short-circuit currents) and also for dynamic studies (simulate the behaviour of an electrical system following one or more events, like the connection or disconnection of a structure, the triggering of a production group, the appearance and disappearance of a short circuit, a variation in voltage or power setpoint for a group, etc.). PSS-E is a commercial tool.