OMEGAlpes, an Open-Source Optimisation Model Generation Tool to Support Energy Stakeholders at District Scale

Abstract

Energy modelling is key in order to face the challenges of energy transition. There is a wide variety of modelling tools, depending on their purpose or study phase. This article summarises their main characteristics and highlights ones that are relevant when it comes to the preliminary design of energy studies at district scale. It introduces OMEGAlpes, a multi-carrier energy modelling tool to support stakeholders in the preliminary design of district-scale energy systems. OMEGAlpes is a Mixed-Integer Linear Programming (MILP) model generation tool for optimisation. It aims at making energy models accessible and understandable through its open-source development and the integration of energy stakeholders and their areas of responsibility into the models. A library of use cases developed with OMEGAlpes is presented and enables the presentation of past, current, and future development with the tool, opening the way for future developments and collaborations.

Realistic Nudging through ICT Pipelines to Help Improve Energy Self-Consumption for Management in Energy Communities

“…Reducing the error helps improve the efficiency of these tools. Pajot et al [13] use generative modelling of building consumption to study their flexibility potential, thanks, in particular, to the OMEGAlpes optimiser [14,15]. Laicane et al [1] assess the potential of demand-side management for consumption reduction in households.…”

“…However, the diversity of the models used [34] make the construction of an all-encompassing approach difficult. Hodencq et al [15] constructed the OMEGAlpes model in such a way that it can be most easily used, and open sourced the code.…”

“…We use OMEGAlpes, defined in Hodencq et al [15], to provide an upper bound for the performance of our controllers. To give the reader an idea of how OMEGAlpes computes this bound, we provide some elements of context here.…”

“…We call it "reference" in the plots. OMEGAlpes [15] provides an upper-bound for the best possible case. It is a linear optimisation energy system modelling tool (see Appendix A for details).…”

Improving Thermoeconomic and Environmental Performance of District Heating via Demand Pooling and Upscaling

“…Simulations were solved by means of the optimization models generation as linear program for energy system (OMEGAlpes) tool [32][33][34], i.e., an open-source decision support tool conceived to simulate management of energy units. Using mixed-integer linear programming, this tool arranges the use of available energy sources and units to meet users' objectives.…”