Use cases for integrated electrical and thermal energy systems operation and control with a view on simulation tools

There is a general lack of knowledge regarding energy systems coupling (also known as multi-energy systems (MES), multi-domain or integrated energy systems) and few well-defined use cases (UCs) that properly describe their operation. Energy systems coupling increases complexity due to additional operational, physical, temporal and spatial constraints making it challenging for analysis and simulation but also for designing operational strategies (e.g. control).

In this paper, we present UCs based on a holistic validation and testing methodology in the context of integrated electro-thermal systems and discuss why we consider these UCs to be the most representative of such systems. Based on these UCs we derive requirements for simulation tools and level of detail (e.g. technical and temporal resolution) to simulate MES in a holistic way.

We relate these requirements to the existing tools for studying integrated electro-thermal systems with a focus on their capabilities and limitations with respect to the analysis of system/network operation and control impact aspects. Control strategies of domains-linking components such as a heat pump can be various and challenging since actions taken in one domain could have an impact into another.

We show that no single tool exists to cover all UCs and why such a tool may not be desirable after all.