Research project - ANaPlan Plus

JThe more the image of the future energy system is determined by volatile, decentralized producers, the greater the interconnection points between infrastructures for electricity, gas and heat. The interaction between sectors means that increased flexibility can be used more effectively, and grid capacities can be better utilized. However, due to the significant changes in technical and political framework conditions, traditional target grid planning with long time horizons is currently often reaching its limits.

The aim of the ANaPlan Plus project is to identify optimization potential in the area of energy grids through new degrees of freedom from a cross-divisional and cross-sectoral perspective.  The core element is a methodology for integral infrastructure planning in order to make the adaptation of supply networks for electricity, natural gas/biogas and hydrogen to complex future scenarios manageable with digital support.

For this purpose, a method for electricity and gas network simulation for optimized, heuristic expansion planning is to be further developed, combined, and expanded for a comprehensive multi-criteria analysis. In this way, synergies in grid expansion can be used and potential conflicts between the sectors can be identified. Additionally, area and route data will be incorporated into the planning process in order to enable the most realistic and practical consideration possible. Innovative automation and optimization are intended to close the gap between short-term, manual planning decisions and long-term scenarios.

Content:

The focus of the project is on software and scenario development to support network planners. This includes:

• Scenarios with uncertainties, expansion paths and dependencies
• Methodology for the automated evaluation of electricity distribution grid development
• Methodology for the automated assessment of gas distribution grid development
• Coupled analysis and evaluation taking into account the interactions
• Visual processing of electricity and gas grid structures

As a result of the project, various methodological developments to support cross-sectoral grid planning are to be created. The majority of these developments are currently being implemented at the Fraunhofer and the University of Kassel in a group of simulation environments (pandapower, pandapipes, pandapower Pro). The improvement in prediction accuracy and range of functions aimed for in the project should increase the quality of these environments and make them more attractive for users.