IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/eee/appene/v255y2019ics0306261919314709.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Are complex energy system models more accurate? An intra-model comparison of power system optimization models

Author

Listed:
  • Priesmann, Jan
  • Nolting, Lars
  • Praktiknjo, Aaron

Abstract

Today, optimization models are by far the most popular choice when analyzing energy systems. Impressive advances in computer and data sciences have allowed for a multitude of complex energy system optimization models. In our manuscript, we assess the hypothesis of a positive correlation between complexity of a model and accuracy of its results. For this, we propose a framework based on alternative model formulations and apply it in a case study with 160 different, more or less complex, implementations of power system optimization models for dispatch and investment. Our results indicate that a certain degree of complexity is indeed necessary to obtain sufficiently accurate results. However, a careful balancing is also necessary for acceptable use of computational resources. In terms of partial load efficiency of conversion processes, our findings indicate that (two) different formulations should be used for dispatch and for investment decisions. Furthermore, a model including simple grid constraints comes with only minor increases in complexity compared to a model assuming a copper plate. Moreover, the combination of multiple technical constraints for conversion processes leads to a significant gain in accuracy while the combination of multiple time-coupling constraints is a major complexity driver.

Suggested Citation

  • Priesmann, Jan & Nolting, Lars & Praktiknjo, Aaron, 2019. "Are complex energy system models more accurate? An intra-model comparison of power system optimization models," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 255(C).
  • Handle: RePEc:eee:appene:v:255:y:2019:i:c:s0306261919314709
    DOI: 10.1016/j.apenergy.2019.113783
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0306261919314709
    Download Restriction: Full text for ScienceDirect subscribers only

    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1016/j.apenergy.2019.113783?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    As the access to this document is restricted, you may want to search for a different version of it.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:eee:appene:v:255:y:2019:i:c:s0306261919314709. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    We have no bibliographic references for this item. You can help adding them by using this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Catherine Liu (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.elsevier.com/wps/find/journaldescription.cws_home/405891/description#description .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.