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New biogas module

Biogas plays an important role in the Danish energy system. That is why it is important to have a detailed representation of both existing and potential biogas technologies in the TIMES models.

Energy Modelling Lab has developed a new detailed biogas module in collaboration with The Danish Energy Agency.

Maabjerg Bioenergy in Holstebro is one of the 89 existing Danish biogas plants that has been modeled in the new biogas module.

The biogas module contains both existing and new plants

The model can now utilize the 89 existing biogas plants in Denmark, and it can choose to invest in new biogas plants, when searching for solutions to cover our future energy demand.

Each plant can take classic biomasses such as manure or straw as input and generates both biogas and a fiber fraction, which can be utilized in for example pyrolysis processes. But the model is also ready to use new types of biomass like seaweed in future biogas plants.

The biogas plants in the module can each take different types of biomass as input and turn it into biogas and a fiber fraction. In the process there is a methane (CH4) leakage depending on the age of the biogas plants.

Restrictions and regulation

A couple restrictions have been added to the biogas plants. In this way the model results become more realistic:

Project period: September 2022 – December 2022

EML Team: Ida Græsted Jensen and Alexandra O’Sullivan Freltoft

Client: Danish Energy Agency

Model: IntERACT (TIMES framework)

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Future heating & cooling in Dublin

The possibilities for sustainable heating and cooling are many, but where is central heating the best option? And what local heat sources are available in different areas? These are some of the questions we are going to help answer in Dublin.

In the future Dublin will be heated by recycling thermal energy. Photo: Salim Darwiche (Wikipedia Commons)

A cool collaboration

Energy Modelling Lab has joined the TEN21 project. Here we are going to help cities all over Europe deliver climate friendly thermal energy.

TEN21 consists of a strong team. Firstly energy modelers build a digital version of the heat system. Thereafter we use the model output to create net zero scenarios. Finally investment experts step in to ensure the plans can become reality. This ensures the entire development path from early planning to financing the implementation.

Sewage as part of the future heating and cooling?

If you want to learn more about recycling heat from for example sewage, metros, and datacenters, then go to TEN21.eu.

This is an example of a thermal energy network. Here, waste from several sources is recycled as heating for public buildings. You can read more at TEN21.eu.
Building DK-BioRes

MODELLING DUBLIN
We develop an optimization model within the TIMES-framework.

First and foremost covers the heat and power sector in Dublin. But this model has an especially high level of detail.

NEUTRAL SCENARIOS
Energy Modelling Lab is developing a series of CO2-neutral scenarios for cooling and heating in Dublin.

In this way we can find the perfect fit for each district.

Duration: April 2021 – ongoing

Project: TEN21

Energy Modelling Lab Contact: Kenneth Karlsson

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Energy strategy in Azerbaijan

Azerbaijan means the land of fire and energy resources as natural gas simply sets the country on fire. As the country moves forward new investments in energy and infrastructure is needed.

To ensure an informed decision process Energy Modelling Lab has supported the Government of Azerbaijan in developing and implementing a long-term energy strategy.

Building DK-BioRes

MODELLING
Energy Modelling Lab has developed and implemented a full energy model (TIMES-AZ) for Azerbaijan, connecting all relevant sectors from energy and heating to transport and industry.

SCENARIO ANALYSIS
The model is used for long term energy system and climate policy planning.

TRAINING
Energy Modelling Lab is supporting the Government of Azerbaijan with training in the use of the energy system model.

Duration: November 2020 – November 2021

Team: Kenneth Karlsson, Mikkel Bosack Simonsen, Till ben Brahim & Andrea Marin Radoszynski

Client: Government of Azerbaijan

Model: TIMES-AZ

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Danish Bioresource Model

What is needed for the Danish agriculture and forestry to become climate neutral?
How should the limited Danish area be distributed in the future?
How can we utilize the available Danish biomass resources?

These are some of the tricky questions the Danish bio-resource model (DK-BioRes) can help answering.

If you want to create your own scenarios, the model is available open source in our GitHub repository.

Building DK-BioRes

MODELLING

Energy Modelling Lab has developed the flow-based model DK-BioRes containing all Danish biomass resources from both agriculture, forestry and aquaculture.

The model serves as a foundation for political decisions towards reaching the national climate goals.

The model can be connected to the full national energy model, DK-TIMES.

TRAINING THE USERS

A crucial part of the project is training the analysts from the Danish Energy Agency in using the DK-BioRes model.

Through the series of courses Energy Modelling Lab has been training both regular and super users.

Duration: October 2020 – June 2021

EML team: Ida Græsted Jensen & Alexandra O’Sullivan Freltoft

Client: Danish Energy Agency

Model: The Danish Bioressource Model (DK-BioRes)

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Energy outlook in Vietnam

The Vietnamese economy is growing, and so is the demand for energy. As the country moves forward new investments in clean energy and infrastructure is highly needed.

Energy Modelling Lab supports the Vietnamese government in developing and implementing a long-term energy strategy.

Building DK-BioRes

MODELLING
Energy Modelling Lab has further developed the transport sector in the energy systems model for Vietnam.

The model connects all relevant sectors from energy and heating to transport, industry, and health.

SCENARIO ANALYSIS
The model is used for long term energy system and climate policy planning. The scenarios show different paths to reach the Vietnamese government’s climate targets.

REPORT
The scenario results serve as a foundation in the development of the Vietnam Energy Outlook report, showing the path ahead for the Vietnamese energy system.

Implementation date: September 2020 – December 2021

EML Team: Ida Græsted Jensen and Till ben Brahim

Client: This project is part of the Framework contracts with Global Cooperation at the Danish Energy Agency

Collaborators: Ea Energy Analyses, Institute of Energy, E4SMA, Aarhus University

Model: TIMES

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Nordic Clean Energy Scenarios

The project Nordic Clean Energy Scenarios aims at identifying technological solutions to a fully carbon neutral Nordic region. It further aims at developing energy scenarios for the Nordic energy sector enabling the Nordic commitment to reach carbon neutrality.

Collaborating on finding the right solutions

NCES2020 brings together nine teams from four Nordic countries, with complementing modelling and analytical skills. Combined with use of open access energy system models and data, this strengthens Nordic cooperation and expertise in energy modelling.

The path to neutrality

If you are curious to know more about the results, you can find the five solution tracks here. You can also listen to the podcast, read the full report, or dive straight into the results data.

Building DK-BioRes

MODELLING
Energy Modelling Lab has developed an open source energy model for the Nordic region (ON-TIMES).

The model covers Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Finland and Iceland.

SCENARIO ANALYSIS
The model is used to identify paths to a fully carbon neutral Nordic region.

Find the scenario results here.

REPORT
The results are collected in the Nordic Clean Energy Scenarios report.

Duration: March 2020 – April 2021.

Project: Nordic Clean Energy Scenarios

Energy Modelling Lab Contact: Kenneth Karlsson

Client: Energiforsk

Model: Open Nordic TIMES model (ON-TIMES)

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Energy planning in Ukraine

The main objective of the project is to support Ukraine in planning for their future green energy system.

The project is part of a partnership program between Ukraine and Denmark, to achieve the goals of the Energy Strategy of Ukraine for 2050.

Building DK-BioRes

MODELLING
Improving and updating the Energy System Model for Ukraine (TIMES-Ukraine), to contain the newest trends and technologies.

SCENARIO ANALYSIS
The model is used for long term energy system and climate policy planning.

REPORT
Supporting the development of the Action Plan, showing the road towards national green house gas reductions in Ukraine.

Duration: September 2020 – April 2021

EML Team: Mikkel Bosack Simonsen

Client and collaborators: Danish Energy Agency, The Ministry of Environmental Protection and Natural Resources in Ukraine

Model: TIMES-Ukraine

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CO2-streams

It is a key piece in the future energy puzzle to capture carbon. CO2 is captured directly from the air, from industry chimneys or in agriculture. This carbon can be used for two things. Either you can produce CO2-neutral fuels through Power2X-technologies. Alternatively the CO2 can be stored in the ground.

The project investigates the cost, potential and limitations to the carbon streams.

Building DK-BioRes

MODELLING
These new technologies, that can deliver and utilise carbon capture, was added to the Danish Energy System Model (TIMES-DK). This allows the model to run scenarios that achieves long term climate neutrality.

Duration: 2020

EML contact: Kenneth Karlsson

Model: The Danish Energy System Model (TIMES-DK)

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Time slicing tool for energy models

It is crucial to select suitable time slices in an energy model. Including time intervals with high demand is important, since leaving them out might create misleading results and bad investments.

Energy Modelling Lab created a smart tool for flexible time slice selection. The tool has been designed for the Danish energy system model (TIMES-DK).

Duration: November 2019 – March 2020

EML contact: Kenneth Karlsson

Client: Danish Energy Agency

Model: the Danish energy system model (TIMES-DK)