GIS‐based modeling approach for energy systems

Purpose – The purpose of the work is to elaborate a model framework that includes location related temporal characteristics in energy supply and demand. These characteristics in mind an imaginable energy system setup can be explored with the framework. In a case study the possible coverage of the global energy demand, by solar‐ and wind power in junction with a backup technology is treated. Design/methodology/approach – Spatially and temporally high disaggregated data describing different aspects of the energy supply side (especially devoted to renewable resources and related availabilities) as well as the energy demand side are investigated. This information is processed to serve as input for the TIMES model generator in a special adapted model. The complete workflow is enclosed in a graphical user interface implemented as a plugin in the software package ArGIS. Findings – The elaborated case study shows the practicability of the approach to treat spatially and temporally high disaggregated problems in the energy system. Especially sensibilities of an optimal system setup in dependency on assumptions on specific costs for energy transport or storage can be investigated in a very detailed manner. Research limitations/implications – Since the spatial and temporal disaggregated examination implies the treatment of huge datasets, simplifications have to be made in the description of the technological setup of the energy system. The approach is appropriate to describe single scenario set‐ups but not a complete forecast based system development. Originality/value – Geographic information systems (GIS) and geographic information are tied together with a conventional modeling approach of energy systems. That enables the cognition and quantification of influences and sensibilities related to spatial and temporal deviations in our energy system either on the supply or the demand side.