Suitable energy mix for smaller communities

Published on: January 23, 2020 / update from: August 17, 2020 - Author: Konrad Wolfenstein

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Fraunhofer tool for the municipal energy transition

© Fraunhofer IOSB-AST/Martin Käßler

Solar energy, geothermal energy or photovoltaics – which form of energy supply is best suited for the community? Representatives of smaller communities are faced with a huge amount of information, which in many cases increases the existing uncertainty. A new online tool from Fraunhofer now sheds light on this jungle and determines the optimal energy mix for each individual, including funding options.

© Open Data Thuringia | virtualcitySYSTEMS GmbH | Layout: Daniel Cebulla (JENA-GEOS®-Ingenieurbüro GmbH)

Visualized heat requirements of the municipality of Neumark (486 inhabitants) in a 100 x 100 m grid. Dark colors indicate a high heat requirement. The results were estimated based on the building structures.

The energy transition is coming. However, representatives of small communities are often confused about what exactly this could look like for them. Solar energy, photovoltaics or geothermal energy? What makes sense and to what extent can these technologies contribute to the community's energy supply? What about possible funding?

Software tool analyzes needs and possibilities

A tool from the Applied Systems Technology AST division of the Fraunhofer Institute for Optronics, System Technology and Image Analysis IOSB, which researchers developed in the “Energy Engineering and Economic Modeling modTRAIL” project, comes into play here. “With our software, mayors of smaller communities can find out about the technical possibilities in the area of ​​energy transition and the corresponding funding – tailored individually to the community,” says Liane Rublack, scientist at Fraunhofer IOBS-AST. “Heat and electricity do not have to be generated 100 percent from renewable sources; rather, the tool relies on an energy mix of conventional and renewable generation systems.”

The researchers are already testing the tool in four model communities in Thuringia with fewer than ten thousand inhabitants - more precisely in Kahla, Werther, Neumark and Großobaren. For the decision-makers in the communities it looks like this: They first enter the name of their community and then receive more detailed information about the electricity and heat requirements in their area. They then state their wishes for the future electricity and heat supply. Which technologies would you like to rely on and which would you prefer to exclude? There are numerous options to choose from, such as solar and wind energy, electricity and heat storage, oil and gas condensing boilers, air heat pumps and geothermal heat pumps. The tool also asks for requests regarding other factors. Is the focus on minimizing CO2 emissions or rather on the procurement costs of energy? As a result, the mayors or other decision-makers receive information about what an energy and system mix could look like that meets the stated targets, e.g. consisting of photovoltaic systems, electricity and heat storage and combined heat and power plants. The information also includes the costs of installation and operation, the energy procurement costs, the amount of CO2 emissions and funding options.

“We want to use our tool to get the ball rolling and show mayors of small communities the potential that renewable energy sources offer for their locality,” explains Rublack. As basic data for the tool, the researchers at Fraunhofer IOSB-AST used standard load profiles for households as well as the time series for renewable energy sources stored by the German Weather Service - in this case those from the Thuringian weather station near Erfurt-Weimar. For communities with fewer than 10,000 inhabitants in Thuringia, the necessary data is already stored in the system. However, the tool can also be used in other federal states with the corresponding data.

Overcome entry barriers

This optimization model is to be integrated as a component (module) into the online software of the TRAIL joint project. The specific goal of the joint project “Transformation in Rural Areas (TRAIL)” is the availability of an easy-to-use tool that helps to motivate a large number of smaller communities to intensively address the issues of efficient energy supply. In particular, the entry hurdles that can be seen in the limited human and financial resources should be overcome. An online software tool is being developed that generates initial statements on electricity and heat consumption in the communities and suggests recommendations for further action, primarily on the basis of publicly accessible GIS data, census data and other existing databases.

© Fraunhofer IOSB-AST/Martin Käßler

The participating municipalities can derive measures for their regional energy transition using the innovative online tool TRAILstarter: www.trail-energie.de

© Fraunhofer IOSB-AST/Martin Käßler

Solar energy, geothermal energy or photovoltaics – which form of energy supply is best suited to the community? Representatives of smaller communities are faced with a vast amount of information, which in many cases increases the existing uncertainty. An innovative online tool from Fraunhofer is now shedding light on this jungle and determining the optimal energy mix for each individual, including funding options.

© Open Data Thuringia | virtualcitySYSTEMS GmbH | Layout: Daniel Cebulla (JENA-GEOS®-Ingenieurbüro GmbH)

Visualized heat demand of the community Neumark (486 inhabitants) in a 100 x 100 m grid. Dark colors indicate a high heat demand. The results were estimated based on the building structures.

The energy turnaround is imminent. However, representatives of small communities are often wondering what exactly this could look like for them. Solar energy, photovoltaics or geothermal energy? What makes sense and to what extent can these technologies contribute to the community's energy supply? What about possible subsidies?

Software tool analyzes needs and possibilities

This is where a tool from the Applied Systems Technology Ast Unit of the Fraunhofer Institute for Optronics, Systems Engineering and Image Exploitation IOSB Comes into Play, which Researchers Have Developed in the “Modtrail Energy Technology and Economic Modeling” Project. “With our software, Mayors of Smaller Communities can inform Themsselves about the technical possibilities in the field of energy system transformation and the corresponding Subsidies-and this information is individual freight to the community,” Says Lianen Rublack, Scientist at Fraunhofer IOBS-Ast. “Heat and Electricity do not have to be generated one hundred percent from renewable sources, but the tool focuses on an energy mix of conventional and renewable generation.

The researchers are already testing the tool in four model communities in Thuringia with fewer than ten thousand inhabitants – to be more precise in Kahla, Werther, Neumark and Großobaren. For the decision-makers in the municipalities, the situation is as follows: They first enter the name of their municipality and then receive more detailed information on the electricity and heat requirements in their town. Then they enter their wishes for the future electricity and heat supply. Which technologies would they like to rely on, which ones would they rather leave out? There are numerous options to choose from, such as solar and wind energy, electricity and heat storage, oil and gas condensing boilers, air heat pumps and geothermal heat pumps. The tool also queries requests regarding other factors. Is the focus on minimizing CO2 emissions or rather the purchase costs of the energy? As a result, the mayors or other decision-makers receive information on what an energy and plant mix could look like that meets the specified targets, eg consisting of photovoltaic systems, electricity and heat storage and combined heat and power plants. The information also includes the costs for installation and operation, energy procurement costs, the amount of CO2 emissions and possibilities for subsidies.

“With our tool, we want to get the ball rolling and show mayors of small communities the potential that renewable energy sources offer for their community,” explains rublack. The Fraunhofer Iosb-Ast Researchers Used Load Profiles for HouseHolds As Well As The Time Series For Renewable Energy Sources Stored by the German Weather Service-In this Case The Thuringian Weather Station Near Erfurt-Weim-As The Basic Data for Tool. For Communities with Less Than 10,000 Inhabitants in Thuringia, The Necessary Data Is Already Stored in the System. However, The Tool Can So Used With The Corresponding Data in Other States.

Overcoming barriers to entry

This optimization model is to be integrated as a component (modules) into the online software of the joint project trail. The Concrete Objective of the Joint Project “Transformation in Rural Areas (Trail)” is the Availability of an Easy-T-FROM TOOL that Helps to motivats A Large Number of Smaller Communities to Deal Intenseely with the Issues of Efficient Energy Supply. In Particular, The Project Aims to Overcome the Entry Barriers that Are Seen in the Limited Human and Financial Resources. An online software tool will be developed, which primary uses publicly accessible gis data, census data and other existing databases to generates initial statements on electricity and heat consumption in the municipalities and to suggest recommendations for Further Action.

© Fraunhofer IOSB-AST/Martin Käßler

Using the innovative online tool TRAILstarter, the participating municipalities can derive measures for their regional energy system transformation: www.trail-energie.de