Prof. Dr. Stefan Niessen
We focus our research on the analysis and the optimization of energy system in order to answer micro- and macro-economical questions
In doing so, we consider the various multimodal couplings between different modes of energy such as electricity, heating, cooling, traction and chemicals. Models, simulations and optimization methods are the basis of our work. We continuously improve them and adapt them to the most recent technologies. For energy economic analyses of regional and local energy systems, we continue to develop the models for power generation, heat supply and transport. These models comprise among others the supply with primary energy, the renewable and conventional power plant portfolio, the grid connection, trading and prosumers. With the help of these models, we quantify the impact of different alternative decisions of entrepreneurs and regulators on a supply area. By means of deterministic and stochastic simulation- and optimization methods, that capture the uncertainties of wind, sun and consumption, we generate recommendations for the future structure of energy systems and assess the impact of changes in the regulatory environment.
The objective function of such optimization can contain emissions, land- and resource-usage, operating- and investment costs, revenues on the market and through sales. Operators of power plants, energy traders and industrial generators are continuously striving to adapt the structure of their power procurement best to changes in prices, interest rates and regulation. In the frame of research activities on optimal power procurement we analyze and model procurement systems. In particular we tailor models to the respective questions to be answered such as models for thermal power plants, combined-heat-and-power-plants, thermal and electricity storages, hydro plants, solar- and wind plants and also electricity and heat consumption. Building on this modelling using deterministic and stochastic optimization methods considering profit and risk, we determine pareto-optimal decision alternatives, that provide a solid foundation for entrepreneurial investment and disinvestment decisions. We quantify the impact of these decisions to environment and resources.
Reliability of energy supply is again increasingly gaining public attention in light of an increasing share of renewables and recent experiences with natural disasters and terrorism. Classical methods study reliability within one energy mode. There is e.g. profound work on reliability of electrical grids. Building on this work, we will work on methods evaluating reliability of multimodally coupled energy systems. We aim at quantifying the advantage of multimodal coupling on the reliability of supply.
