This tutorial outlines how you can simulate various renewable energy integration technologies in the

EnergyPLAN tool. In this first exercise, we will create a reference scenario, which is used as a starting point
for analysing how renewable energy can be integrated into an energy system. Afterwards, this reference
scenario will then be changed so it can integrate more intermittent renewable energy.

Based on previous research, approximately 6 key changes are necessary in existing energy systems to
transition to renewable energy. In this tutorial the first three of these steps will be modelled and analysed
in the EnergyPLAN tool after the reference ‘starting point’ is created. These are:

1. Regulating conventional power plants by varying their output to accommodate renewables. In

other words, when the wind is blowing too much the power plants should shut down, and when
the wind is not blowing enough then the power plants should produce more. This will enable a
wind penetration up to 25% of electricity production.
2. Power Plants are converted to Combined Heat and Power which are regulated according to wind
production using Thermal Storage and the District Heating network. This will enable a wind
penetration up to 25% of electricity production, but it will be more efficient than in step 1.
3. Heat pumps and thermal storage in buildings and district heating networks. This will enable a wind
penetration up to 40% of electricity production.

This transition is illustrated graphically below. Figure 1 illustrates what today’s energy system looks like: it is
a very segregated energy system with separate supplies for electricity, heating and transport. This is what
the energy system looks like in step 1.

Page 1 of 20
 Resources Conversion Exchange Demand
and Storage

Mobility

Power Exchange

Power-Only
Fuels Electricity
Plants

Cooling

Heat-Only
Heating
Boilers

Figure 1: Interaction between sectors and technologies in today’s typical energy system.

Figure 2 illustrates a smart energy system, where the electricity, heating, and transport sectors are
interconnected with one another. This interconnection creates a lot of flexibility which enables the energy
system to become dependent on intermittent renewable energy such as wind and solar. This is what the
energy system looks like in step 3 here.

Page 2 of 20
 Resources Conversion Exchange Demand
and Storage

Mobility
Fluctuating
Wind etc.
Electricity Power Exchange

Electricity

CHP
Fuels Heat Pump Cooling
(or Quad)

Thermal
Storage

Heating

Fluctuating
Solar etc.
Heat

Figure 2: Interaction between sectors and technologies in an energy system with district heating and heat pumps.

Below is an overview of the costs you will need during these exercises.

 You can assume an Interest Rate of 3%

Page 3 of 20
 Unit Investment (Unit) Lifetime (years) Fixed Operation and
Maintenance (% of
investment)
Exercise A
Gas Power Plant M€/MW 0.9 25 2.0
Oil Boiler €/boiler 6600 20 3.8
Conventional Car €/vehicle 12000 16 7.7
Truck/Bus €/vehicle 160000 8 1.2
Exercise B
Wind Power M€/MW 1.25 20 3.0
Exercise C
Small CHP M€/MWe 1.2 25 3.8
Large CHP M€/MWe 0.8 25 3.6
Boiler M€/MWth 0.1 35 3.7
Thermal Storage M€/GWh 3.0 20 0.7
District Heating M€/TWh 72 40 1.3
Pipes
District Heating €/exchanger 5500 20 2.7
Heat Exchangers*
Exercise D
Heat Pump €/heat pump 14000 20 1.0
Centralised Heat M€/MWe 3.5 25 2.0
Pumps
*Includes the branch pipe.

Petrol/Jet
(€/GJ) Coal Diesel Natural Gas
Fuel
Fuel Price 3 16.5 17.5 10
To Central Plant 0 - - 0.4
To Decentral Plant 1.5 - - 2
Fuel Handling
To Individual Households 2.5 2 - 3
Costs
To Road Transportation - 1.9 1.9 2
To Air Transportation - - 0.5 -

Page 4 of 20
Exercise A: Creating the Reference Scenario
The name of our ‘starting point’ or ‘case study’ is Energyland. It is very similar to a typical country today.
The only major difference is that there would be a greater variety of fuels and energy plants than utilised
here. Below is an overview of the demand and supply for Energyland.

Sector Demand (TWh) Supply

Electricity 30 6000 MW of gas power plants
Heat 27 2 million individual oil boilers
Industry 25 Coal
Transport 70 Oil
Petrol 35 2 million cars
Diesel 25 70,000 trucks
Jet Fuel 10

Try to model this in the EnergyPLAN tool. Before you do, make sure that you:

 Open the EnergyPLAN Tool

 Open the “initialize.txt” file. This will set all values in the tool to zero or for non-zero inputs such as
efficiencies, to their default values.
 Go to “File->Save As” and save the file as “Energyland_step0_REF.txt”
 Go to the “Settings” tabsheet and change the “Monetary Unit” to “EUR” (euro).
 Save your file again.

Page 5 of 20