Operations Research 2025
Abstract Submission

2434. Advancing multi-criteria energy systems analysis – new links of multi-objective optimisation, modelling to generate alternatives and energy systems modelling

Invited abstract in session TC-4: GOR PhD Awards, stream PC Stream.

Thursday, 11:45-13:15
Room: H6

Authors (first author is the speaker)

1. Jonas Finke
Chair of Energy Systems and Energy Economics, Ruhr-Universität Bochum

Abstract

The energy sector is a main source of anthropogenic carbon emissions and must therefore be transformed to limit global warming. The energy transition poses major challenges for decision-makers. Energy systems optimisation models (ESOMs) support energy planning and decision-making by generating insights into energy systems, focussing mostly on the techno-economic sphere. At the same time, many decision-makers and stakeholders are involved in the energy transition, all of whom have different and potentially conflicting interests. This results in further complexities for decision-making, which can be addressed by considering multiple decision criteria in ESOMs. Therefore, this work aims at advancing multi-criteria ESOMs, focusing on modelling to generate alternatives (MGA) and multi-objective optimisation (MOO). The following research targets are achieved. First, paradigms, strengths and limits of existing multi-criteria approaches are synthesised. Second, a new approach, modelling to generate near-Pareto-optimal alternatives (MGPA), is developed. It combines the strengths of MGA and MOO. Third, a new link between ESOMs with MGA and market equilibria is established to facilitate the economic interpretation of these models. Fourth, the flexibility, applicability and usefulness of multi-criteria ESOMs across various contexts, energy systems and criteria are demonstrated. Fifth, particularly innovative applications of MGA and MOO to energy system models are developed. Finally, the open and highly flexible ESOM framework Backbone is extended by new implementations of MGA and MOO. Overall, this work advances the field of multi-criteria energy systems analysis both theoretically and practically. Thereby it contributes to improved decision support for the energy transition.

Keywords

Status: accepted

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