Specifications of the extensions of the open-source models

The Horizon Europe Energy project 101118123 – OpenMod4Africa (Open Modelling Toolbox for development of long-term pathways for the energy system in Africa) is a three-year project (2023–2026) about the development of an energy modelling toolbox for analyses of the future energy and power systems in Africa. Furthermore, capacity building in the use of models and further development of the toolbox, among African experts, is a core element in the project. The main objective is to contribute to an improved and robust understanding of how to develop an energy and a power supply to all Africans by making available, demonstrating and using an open modelling Toolbox. The OM4A Toolbox will be populated with a suite of open integrated state-of-the-art models and a common database including all necessary data for conducting among other scenario building exercises at regional, national and pan-African level. Two case studies are demonstrating the use of the Toolbox, and in addition providing new insights into important challenges related to the energy transition. The research in the project is done in dialogue with two stakeholder groups, one in the Eastern African Power Pool region and one in the Western African Power Pool region. In this deliverable we focus on the necessary extensions of the models functionalities to make them relevant for conducting energy system transition studies in Africa. The OM4A Toolbox includes the 6 following models:◼ GENeSYS-MOD which analyzes long-term low-carbon energy transition pathways considering all energy sectors: electricity, buildings, industry, and transport;◼ openTEPES, a decision support system for defining the integrated generation, storage, and transmission expansion plan of a large-scale electric systems;◼ plan4res, a power system model, which includes capacity expansion module (adaptation of the generation and storage mix as well as of the existing interconnections of a given year), focused on the optimization of the strategies for managing seasonal storages, and the simulation of the system operation. plan4res focuses on electricity;◼ InfraFair which determines the network utilisation by agents (demand and generators using the network) and countries;◼ OnSSET, 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;◼ EV-PV, whose goal is to support planning and decision-making for the deployment of charging stations for electric vehicles (EVs). The current models functionalities have been analysed in regard to the OpenMod4Africa case studies specifications. The following extensions will allow the studies to be conducted as smoothly as possible:◼ The mathematical modelling is sufficient to represent the required characteristics of the African energy systems. Thus, no extension to this mathematical modelling, nor the linked solving algorithm, is necessary.◼ GENeSYS-MOD, openTEPES and plan4res will not require any extension related to the mathematical modelling or the solving algorithms. However, the technological scope of the models needs to be extended regarding the demand side (to include different demand sectors, in particular cooking) as well as for the network modelling (to include the offgrid demand). These extensions will be conducted via evolutions of the data workflow.◼ InfraFair and OnSSET have been developed and used within an African context and, thus, do not require adaptation.◼ EV-PV extensions will focus on the following extensions:    o Including more passenger transport modes (Private transport: add motorbikes, public transport: minibus taxi, regular buses, rapid transit buses)    o The methodology applied to determine the PV potential will be adapted to the local context. This document also includes recommendations for the modelling teams regarding the documentation (for installation and use), and the design and development of the linkage scripts (which allow soft-linkage of the models via data sharing, based on a common format and nomenclature, as well as the use of the scenario explorer).