Towards a more integrated energy market – A focus on the improved modelling of transmission systems and energy storage investments in the long-term energy systems optimization model OSeMOSYS and the development of the OpeN Source Spatial Electrification Toolkit – OnSSET

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Project abstract

Under SweGRIDS, the division of Energy Systems Analysis (dESA) at KTH and ABB have initiated a bilateral collaboration aiming to develop and improve analytical tools and methodologies for improved Energy Systems Analysis. In particular, the research activities are focused on improving the modelling capacity to better support rural electrification efforts in Sub Saharan Africa using the OpeN Source Spatial Electrification Toolkit (OnSSET) and the development of an improved representation of trade and transmission technologies within the Energy Systems Optimisation tool OSeMOSYS.

Summary of work

The following goals have been achieved since starting the project in January 2016:

Established a clear and constant communication channel between KTH dESA and ABB, allowing clear specification of project goals and objectives.

Evaluated and updated the T&D dynamics in expanding access to electricity in developing countries.

Updated & improved the OnSSET methodology:
a. Review decision algorithms for electrification.
b. Review LCOE calculation data & formulas by including additional components, more specific cost data and a grid expansion method that better reflects real life limitations and capabilities.
c. Review the country specificity of input data and consider a methodology to derive it from national data and a generic starting point.

Added new data layers, representative of important constraints (e.g. topography, rights of way).

Developed a beta version of a user friendly, country specific, interface for OnSSET along with tutorial guides and training material.

Supported UNDESA capacity building activities by contributing to Modelling Tools for Sustainable Development initiative.

Updated and refined data used in the TEMBA model (The Electricity Model Base for Africa – a long term energy systems model focusing on the electricity supply sector of Africa).

Developed a soft-linking approach between the geospatial electrification model (OnSSET) and the long-term model (OSeMOSYS) using Africa.

Improved the storage equations in OSeMOSYS and use of a national electricity supply model (Cyprus) as a case study.

Plans for the coming year:

Introduce dynamic time evolution of both the demand and electrification supply options. Investigate how demand growth changes the optimal electrification option over time but also how resources intermittence is integrated in the electrification model.

Include productive uses of energy in the electrification analysis. Investigate how energy access affects rural productivity and how productive uses (community, commercial) support energy access.

Develop future scenarios aiming at identifying and sizing new markets while investigating the adoption of new technological solutions.

Develop a stand-alone version of the OnSSET tool and/or an interactive interface that will facilitate the communication of the electrification results.

Further the soft-linking efforts between OnSSET and OSeMOSYS as well as other modelling software

Event log

2016-08. Training Workshop – Capacity building of 30 officials from various African countries on Modelling tools and integrated approaches for sustainable development policies in partnership with UNDESA/DPAD and UNDP, Addis Ababa Ethiopia.

2016-11. KTH Energy dialogue Poster participation

2017-02. Training Workshop on energy modelling - Capacity building with the World Bank and representatives of four South East Asian Countries, New Delhi India.

2017-04. European Geosciences Union General Assembly – Nominated for the Outstanding Student Poster and Pico Award for 2017, Vienna Austria.

2017-05. World Hydropower Congress – Invitation to participate as panelist to the dialogue on the role of small (off-grid) hydropower in rural electrification & Awarded the prize of IHA Young Researcher for 2017, Addis Ababa Ethiopia.

2016-08. Training Workshop – Capacity building of 30 officials from various African countries on Modelling tools and integrated approaches for sustainable development policies in partnership with UNDESA/DPAD and UNDP, Addis Ababa Ethiopia.

2017-02. Training Workshop on energy modelling - Capacity building with the World Bank and representatives of four South East Asian Countries, New Delhi India.

2017-04. European Geosciences Union General Assembly – Nominated for the Outstanding Student Poster and Pico Award for 2017, Vienna Austria.

2017-05. World Hydropower Congress – Invitation to participate as panelist to the dialogue on the role of small (off-grid) hydropower in rural electrification & Awarded the prize of IHA Young Researcher for 2017, Addis Ababa Ethiopia.

2017-07. Training Workshop on OnSSET tool - Capacity building with the World Bank and representatives of the Government of Afghanistan, Dubai UAE.

2018-01. Training Workshop – Capacity building. 16 officials from various African countries on geospatial electrification modelling as part of the 1st Energy Modelling Platform for Africa (EMPA) in partnership with UNECA, Addis Ababa Ethiopia.

2018-06. Training Workshop – Capacity building. 30 officials from 15 various countries on Modelling tools and integrated approaches for sustainable development policies in partnership with the World Bank, Trieste, Italy.

Project reference-group

Alexandre Oudalov,  ABB CRC Baden-Dättwil Switzerland
Stefan Thorburn,  ABB Västerås
Maxine Ghavi,  ABB Micro grids Africa
Mark Howells,  KTH dESA
Constantinos Taliotis,  The Cyprus Institute

MSc etc theses connected to the project

2016. A climate, land-use, energy and water nexus assessment of Bolivia, Christopher Arderne.

2016. UN Sustainable development goals from a Climate Land Energy and Water perspective for Kenya, Nandi Moksnes.

2016. (Bachelor thesis): "Electrification planning in Zimbabwe – A GIS-based methodology" by Olivia Krakau.

2016. Electrified Africa – associated investments and costs, Ioannis Pappis.

2017. The Open Source Energy Model Base for the European Union (OSEMBE), Hauke Henke.

2017. Geo-spatial electricity demand assessment and hybrid off-grid solutions to support electrification efforts using OnSSET: the case study of Tanzania, by Andreas Sahlberg and Babak Khavari.

2017. "The impact of electrification on socio-economic dimensions of development: A case study of Rwanda", by Joakim Hallander.

2017. "A GIS-based approach for productive uses of electricity. The case study of water and electricity demand for agriculture in Tanzania", by Konstantinos Pegios (Erasmus+ research intern at KTH).

201x. "Developing a least cost electrification plan for Kakamega County in Kenya. A bottom up approach in geospatial analysis" by Rahul Cumbalam Kumaresh.

201x. "A GIS based approach to link Energy Access and Socio-economic Development in Uganda" by Anna Nilson.

Publications by this researcher

See alternatively the researcher's full DiVA list of publications, with options for sorting.
Publications in journals and conferences usually will not show until a while after they are published.

Attention to detail : exploring effects on technology selection in geospatial electrification modelling
Andreas Sahlberg,   Alexandros Korkovelos,   Christian Kabongo,   Cristian Trujillo,   Babak Khavari,   Francesco Fuso Nerini.

Population cluster data to assess the urban-rural split and electrification in Sub-Saharan Africa
Babak Khavari,   Alexandros Korkovelos,   Andreas Sahlberg,   Mark I. Howells,   Francesco Fuso Nerini.
2021,   Scientific Data, vol. 8(1)

Planning with justice : Using spatial modelling to incorporate justice in electricity pricing - The case of Tanzania
Vikas Menghwani,   Hisham Zerriffi,   Alexandros Korkovelos,   Babak Khavari,   Andreas Sahlberg,   Mark Howells,   Dimitris Mentis.
2020,   Applied Energy, vol. 264

Supporting Electrification Policy in Fragile States : A Conflict-Adjusted Geospatial Least Cost Approach for Afghanistan
Alexandros Korkovelos,   Dimitrios Mentis,   Morgan Bazilian,   Mark Howells,   Anwar Saraj,   Sulaiman Fayez Hotaki,   Fanny Missfeldt-Ringius.
2020,   Sustainability, vol. 12(3)

Advancing the state of geospatial electrification modelling: New data, methods, applications, insight and electrification investment outlooks
Alexandros Korkovelos.
2020,   Thesis (PhD), KTH Royal Institute of Technology, TRITA-ITM-AVL 2020:31

A Retrospective Analysis of Energy Access with a Focus on the Role of Mini-Grids
Alexandros Korkovelos,   Hisham Zerriffi,   Mark Howells,   Morgan Bazilian,   Holger Rogner,   Francesco Fuso Nerini.
2020,   Sustainability, vol. 12(5)

A GIS-Based Approach to Inform Agriculture-Water-Energy Nexus Planning in the North Western Sahara Aquifer System (NWSAS)
Youssef Almulla,   Camilo Ramirez Gomez,   Konstantinos Pegios,   Alexandros Korkovelos,   Lucia de Strasser,   Annukka Lipponen,   Mark Howells.
2020,   Sustainability, vol. 12(17)

Erratum : The role of open access data in geospatial electrification planning and the achievement of SDG7. An OnSSET-based case study for Malawi (Energies (2019) 12:7 (1395) DOI: 10.3390/en12071395)
Alexandros Korkovelos,   Babak Khavari,   Andreas Sahlberg,   Mark I. Howells,   C. Arderne,   Dimitris Mentis.
2020,   Energies, vol. 13(19)

Electrification pathways for Kenya-linking spatial electrification analysis and medium to long term energy planning (vol 12, 095008, 2017)
Nandi Moksnes,   Alexandros Korkovelos,   Dimitris Mentis,   Mark I. Howells.
2020,   Environmental Research Letters, vol. 15(12)

The Role of Open Access Data in Geospatial Electrification Planning and the Achievement of SDG7. An OnSSET-Based Case Study for Malawi
Alexandros Korkovelos,   Babak Khavari,   Andreas Sahlberg,   Mark I. Howells,   Christopher Arderne.
2019,   Energies, vol. 12(7)

A geospatial assessment of small-scale hydropower potential in sub-saharan Africa
Alexandros Korkovelos,   Dimitris Mentis,   Shahid Hussain Siyal,   C. Arderne,   Hans-Holger Rogner,   M. Bazilian,   Mark I. Howells,   H. Beck,   A. De Roo.
2018,   Energies, vol. 11(11)

Estimating the spatially explicit wind generated electricity cost in Africa - A GIS based analysis
Dimitris Mentis,   Shahid Hussain Siyal,   Alexandros Korkovelos,   Mark Howells.
2017,   Energy Strategy Reviews, vol. 17

Lighting the World : the first application of an open source, spatial electrification tool (OnSSET) on Sub-Saharan Africa
Dimitris Mentis,   Mark I. Howells,   Hans-Holger Rogner,   Alexandros Korkovelos,   Christopher Arderne,   Eduardo Zepeda,   Shahid Hussain Siyal,   Constantinos Taliotis,   Morgan Bazilian,   Ad de Roo,   Yann Tanvez,   Alexander Oudalov,   Ernst Scholtz.
2017,   Environmental Research Letters, vol. 12(8)

Electrification pathways for Kenya-linking spatial electrification analysis and medium to long term energy planning
Nandi Moksnes,   Alexandros Korkovelos,   Dimitris Mentis,   Mark I. Howells.
2017,   Environmental Research Letters, vol. 12(9)

A geospatial assessment of the techno-economic wind power potential in India using geographical restrictions
Dimitrios Mentis,   Shahid Hussain Siyal,   Alexandros Korkovelos,   Mark Howells.
2016,   Renewable energy, vol. 97

The benefits of geospatial planning in energy access - A case study on Ethiopia
Dimitrios Mentis,   Magnus Andersson,   Mark Howells,   Holger Rogner,   Shahid Siyal,   Oliver Broad,   Alexandros Korkovelos,   Morgan Bazilian.
2016,   Applied Geography, vol. 72

Publication list last updated from DiVA on 2024-01-10 15:23.

Page started: 2016-01-01
Last generated: 2024-01-10