MaREI researchers release new paper on Global Power Systems Modelling

MaREI’s Maarten Brinkerink, Brian Ó Gallachóir and Paul Deane have released a new paper on global power systems entitled: ‘Building and Calibrating a Country-Level Detailed Global Electricity Model Based on Public Data’.

To download or read the paper follow the link. 

Here at @MaREIcentre we’re currently expanding our detailed global power system model to perform model simulations for a variety of global grid scenarios, indeed mostly based on wind and solar.https://t.co/HjPCRKpyDf

— Maarten Brinkerink (@MaartenUCC) June 18, 2021

Deep decarbonization of the global electricity sector is required to meet ambitious climate change targets. This underlines the need for improved models to facilitate an understanding of the global challenges ahead, particularly on the concept of large-scale interconnection of power systems. Developments in recent years regarding availability of open data as well as improvements in hardware and software has stimulated the use of more advanced and detailed electricity system models.

In this paper we explain the process of developing a first-of-its-kind reference global electricity system model with over 30,000 individual power plants representing 164 countries spread out over 265 nodes. We describe the steps in the model development, assess the limitations and existing data gaps and we furthermore showcase the robustness of the model by benchmarking calibrated hourly simulation results with historical emission and generation data on a country level. The model can be used to evaluate the operation of today’s power systems or can be applied for scenario studies assessing a range of global decarbonization pathways.

Comprehensive global power system datasets are provided as part of the model input data, with all data being openly available under the FAIR Guiding Principles for scientific data management and stewardship allowing users to modify or recreate the model in other simulation environments. The software used for this study (PLEXOS) is freely available for academic use.

Breakthrough
Development of a First-of-a-Kind Global Electricity Model: This model represents over 30,000 individual power plants representing 164 countries spread out over 265 nodes. The model and all the associated global power system datasets are freely provided as part of the model input data, with all data being openly available under the FAIR Guiding Principles for scientific data management and stewardship allowing users to modify or recreate the model in other simulation environments. This research is strategically important as it addresses an existing knowledge gap by using detailed computer simulations of future global power systems to quantify the impact of transnational grids to enable high levels of renewable generation.

Importance
Integrated Assessment Models are used internationally to inform global climate mitigation strategies. These models have many advantages but are often limited in spatial and temporal resolution from a power system perspective, which is a significant disadvantage when trying to represent highly variable renewable resources such as wind and solar energy. We can now address this and assess the future global power system in the context of the Shared Socioeconomic Pathways (SSP) by soft-linking IAM models to our PLEXOS World model. This enables us to model long-term evolution in the energy system together with short-term dynamics.

Translation
Model input data is available under the FAIR Guiding Principles for scientific data management and stewardship. PLEXOS is freely available for academic use, allowing users to modify or recreate the model in other simulation environments. Model data and inputs have been shared with KTH Sweden, Simon Frasier University Canada, International Council on Large Electric Systems and others.
This work has received 350,000 views on social media and has been presented at international conferences such as the International Energy Workshop and Integrated Assessment Modelling Workshop. It has been published in IEEE Power and Energy Magazine, Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, and Global Energy Interconnection.

Beneficiaries
The Integrated Assessment Community and wider scientific community will benefit from openly available tools to understand the technical potential of current power systems to integrate variable renewables. Government will benefit from better knowledge and information on the technical pathways, and ultimately society will benefit because of a better understanding of mitigation options for climate change.