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Outline
Systems Modelling and Advantages
Types of system modelling
Components of Systems Modelling
Energy Systems, Modelling and Optmisation

Session I
Advantages and Disadvantages of Energy Systems Optimisation
MESSAGEix
Flow of Energy Systems Optimisation Model Development
Reference Energy System
BASICS OF SYSTEMS MODELLING Parameters of MESSAGEix
Types of technology mapping
Q&A

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What is systems modelling? Types of system modelling

The systems model is a process-oriented representation that
emphasizes the influences, or flow, of information between
modules. A systems model describes how processes interact and
what operations these processes perform, but it does not go into
details as to how these processes are implemented.
The term "systems modeling" has multiple meanings. It can
relate to:
◦ the use of model to conceptualize and construct systems
Consumption
◦ the interdisciplinary study of the use of these models
◦ the systems modeling, analysis, and design efforts
◦ the systems modeling and simulation, such as system dynamics
◦ any specific systems modeling language
As a type of modeling systems modeling is based on systems thinking and the systems
approach:
◦ agent based modeling
Supply ◦ data modeling and
◦ mathematical modeling
Based on purview of system:
◦ Top-Down Model - an overview of the system is formulated, specifying, but not detailing, any first-level
subsystems. Each subsystem is then refined in yet greater detail, sometimes in many additional
subsystem levels, until the entire specification is reduced to base elements.
Demands ◦ Bottom-Up Model - the individual base elements of the system are first specified in great detail. These
elements are then linked together to form larger subsystems, which then in turn are linked, sometimes
in many levels, until a complete top-level system is formed.

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Components of Systems modelling Energy Systems, Modelling and Optimisation

Boundary of interest – city, state, country, region, continent Energy Systems: A system of elements that constitute • Different Energy Systems Models in the market:
• MESSAGEix
System elements – demand, utilisation technology, supply technology, etc. the continuous flow of energy resources from • LEAP
Demand to Supply. • TIMES/MARKAL
System design & architecture – Reference energy system, interconnections, levels of use • GCAM
System behaviour – defined characteristics of system elements Energy Systems Modelling: Relational • Demands: Agriculture, Industry, Transport,
interconnection of all the elements of Energy Systems Residential, Commercial, Cooking, etc.
Data integration – all sorts of data
using mathematical equations and the parameters • Supply: Coal, Oil, Gas, Electricity, Solar, Wind, Hydro,
Relational integration – dependencies of one technology onto another that differentiate between each element. etc.

Energy Systems Optimisation: Using Energy Systems
Model to optimise the utility of different elements in
the Energy System based on key objective. The key
objective could be cost, emissions, resource, etc.
• Technologies: Coal Power Plants, Gas Power Plants,
Passenger Transport Modes, Freight Transport Modes,
Tractors, Solar PV, Hydro, Nuclear Power Plant, Oil
Refinery, Coal Extraction, Import terminals, Electric
Grid, etc.

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Advantages and Disadvantages Energy Systems Optimization MESSAGEix

Advantages: 1. MESSAGEix is a versatile, dynamic systems-optimization modelling framework developed by
1. Holistic approach where each technology in a boundary of study is mapped into the IIASA Energy Program since the 1980s.
techno-economical relations.
2. Macro View of the Demand-Supply relations rather than micro view. 2. Equations are written in GAMS Programming Language called MESSAGE
3. Majorly used for long term planning and systems optimisation.
4. Behavioural datapoints like flexibility, reliability, lifetime, O&M cost, etc. to 3. The interface for MESSAGE is MESSAGEix which is python oriented, the interface provides
represent the technology makes it reactive to the Demand-Supply nature like a simple to use schemes, functions and modules to easily create an Energy Systems Model
real-life system.
4. MESSAGEix stores data in ixmp Data-structure.
Disadvantages:
1. Provides Macro view and not micro view, so cannot be used to define intricacies of
activities at micro level.
2. Limited sets of parameters to define behaviour and so cannot incorporate complex
elements.
3. Economical and demographical impacts cannot be assessed.

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Flow of Energy Systems Optimisation

Model Development Reference Energy System

Developing a
Reference Energy Deriving
System Technological &
Representation to Economic Data Creating a
Creating Optimal
Defining Physical Deriving Macro- Business As Usual
incorporate all required for Scenarios and
Boundary/Area of Economic Case based on
components modelling the Technological
Study. Demand current policy of
related to that Components and Pathways.
that area.
area form its behaviour into
Demand-to- the Model
Resource.

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Parameters of MESSAGEix Types of technology mapping

• Demand Technology – information regrading demand, like passenger demand from road, passenger demand from rail, residential energy demand, commercial, etc.
Input Bound_activity_lo,Bound Reliability_factor • Required: demand_fixed
_activity_up
Output Flexibility_factor • Utility Technology – technology that utilises the demand in terms of different modes, like electric vehicles, oil based vehicles, gas based vehicles, etc.
• Required : input, output, inv_cost, technical_lifetime
Growth_activity_lo, • Optional: fix_cost, bound_activity_lo, bound_activity_up, emission_factor
Inv_cost growth_activity_up Peak_load_factor • Generation Technology – technology that transforms one commodity into another to meet the demand, like power plants
• Required : input, output, inv_cost, technical_lifetime, flexibility_factor, rating_factor, capacity_factor
Fix_cost Bound_total_capacity_lo, Emission_factor • Optional: fix_cost, bound_activity_lo, bound_activity_up, bound_total_capacity_lo, bound_total_capacity_up, historic_capacity

Var_cost bound_total_capacity_up Technical_lifetime

• Resource Extraction Technology – technology that provides resources like solar, wind, coal, oil, gas, etc. to the system
• Required :resource_volume, resource_remaining
• Optional: bound_extraction
Inconv_cost Historic_capacity
• Import Technology – these are open channels that is used to meet the excess demand in the system and can be treated as channel to meet unmet requirements.
• Required: input, output, var_cost
Demand_fixed Capacity_factor • Optional: inv_cost

Resource_volume Rating_bin • Grid Technology – distribution supply channel between generating technology and final energy demand like electric grid.
• Required: input, output, inv_cost, technical_lifetime, peak_load_factor, capacity_factor
• Optional: var_cost, historic_capacity

Resource_remaining Rating_factor

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Q&A

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