open_plan

The open_plan tool is an oemof -based Python package which aims at facilitating the modelling of multi-energy carriers energy systems in island or grid connected mode.

The main goals of the open_plan tool are

1. to minimize the production costs by determining the generating units’ optimal output, which meets the total demand

2. to optimize near-future investments in generation and storage assets with the least possible cost of energy.

The open_plan graphical model is divided into three connected blocks that trace the logic sequence: inputs, system model, and outputs. This is a typical representation of a simulation model:

The user is asked to provide the required data via a collection of csv files or a unique json file with particular format. The input data is split into the following categories:

• Project description, which entails the general information regarding the project (country, coordinates, etc.), as well as the economic data such as the discount factor, project duration, or tax

• Energy consumption, which is expressed as times series based on the type of energy (in this case: electrical and thermal)

• System configuration, in which the user specifies the technical and financial data of each asset

• Meteorological data, which is related to the components that generate electricity by harnessing an existing source of energy that is weather- and time-dependent (e.g. solar and wind power)

This set of input data is then translated to a linear programming problem, also known as a constrained optimization problem. The MVS is based on the oemof-solph python library that describes the problem by specifying an objective function to minimize the annual energy supply costs, the decision variables and the bounds and constraints.

The simulation outputs are also separated into categories:

• Economic results used for the financial evaluation, such as the levelized cost of electricity/heat or the net present value of the projected investments

• Technical results that include the optimized capacities and dispatch of each asset

• Environmental results assessing the system’s environmental contribution in terms of CO2 emissions.

Additionally, different vizualizations of the results can be provided, eg. as pie charts, plots of asset dispatch and an automatic summary report.

Getting Started

Follow the Quick start guide [Link ergänzen]

Model Reference

• How the energy system is modelled: Assumption behind the model | Available components for modelling | Setting constraints on model or components | Scope and limitation of the model

• Description of parameters: Input parameters | Output variables and KPIs

• Validation of the model: Validation methodology

API Reference

• Documentation: Modules and functions

• Getting involved: Contributing guidelines and protocols

• Academic references: Publications and Bibliography

• Using or modifying MVS: License | How to cite MVS

• Getting help: Know issues and workaround | Report a bug or issue

Indices and tables

• Index

• Module Index

• Search Page

Maintainers

The open_plan tool is currently maintained by staff from the Reiner Lemoine Institute the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research and the German Solar Energy Society.