Transmission Network Planning

The Transmission Network Planning Group answers scientific and application-related questions on the design of large-scale energy infrastructures. The main focus is on electricity transmission grids at national and, in particular, European level. In addition, the consideration and planning across energy sources is playing an increasingly important role. Particularly worth mentioning here are the (natural) gas transport networks and, in the future, possible hydrogen transport networks. The core topic of this group is how these infrastructures and the associated system service options must develop in a technically and economically optimal manner over the next five, ten or twenty years.

A methodological focus of the group is linear and nonlinear optimization. In combination with complex scenarios, for example from Fraunhofer IEE (from scenario framework to market simulation), optimization models are used to calculate operational deployment time series (including redispatch) in order to be able to make optimal expansion decisions. In addition to the numerical tool-based optimization approaches, the group also answers analytical and planning questions regarding system service options. How does the system have to be designed in order to handle e.g. major disturbances in the future in a safe and resilient way? The methodological spectrum of the group thus includes tool-based mathematical optimization methods and engineering-based planning system considerations.

Topics:

• Engineering-based planning system considerations
• Tool-based mathematical optimization
• Modeling of electricity and gas transmission networks
• Redispatch and network expansion optimizations
• Major disturbance analyses and resilience considerations
• Network reconstruction conceptualization