Inhalt

Abstract:

The vhb course “Modeling Sustainable Energy Systems – Making the Energy Transition Tangible” equips students with practical skills for analyzing and modeling energy systems.

The central focus is on how a sustainable energy supply can be technically implemented and systemically evaluated. Participants learn to model, optimize, and analyze energy systems using the open-source model PyPSA.

Building on fundamentals of energy engineering and energy systems, students progressively develop and assess their own energy scenarios.

The course is complemented by units on scientific working methods, the formulation of research questions, and the structured presentation of results.

By combining theory and practice, the course enables participants to calculate and critically reflect on their own “energy transition” for selected regions or countries.

The course is aimed at undergraduate and graduate students in engineering-related degree programs and is designed as an interactive online lecture.

Gliederung:

1. Introduction
2. Scientific Working
3. Fundamentals of Energy Systems
4. Energy Models in Theory and Practice
5. Execution of PyPSA
6. Functioning of PyPSA
7. Additional Topics
   
   

Detaillierter Inhalt:

1) Introduction
The introductory chapter situates the course thematically and presents its objectives, structure, and learning outcomes. It also introduces the societal and energy-economic context of the energy transition and explains the role of energy system models in analyzing complex interrelationships. Participants receive an overview of the course organization, assessment format, and the tools used.

2) Scientific Working
This chapter introduces fundamental principles of scientific work. Participants learn how to formulate research questions, conduct appropriate literature research, and present results in a structured and transparent manner. In addition, good scientific practice and formal requirements for academic work are addressed.

3) Fundamentals of Energy Systems
This chapter provides the energy engineering fundamentals required to understand energy system models. Key components such as energy generation, storage, transport, and consumption are covered, as well as their interaction within coupled energy systems. The focus lies on renewable energy sources and their role in a sustainable energy supply.

4) Energy Models in Theory and Practice
This section introduces basic concepts of energy system modeling and compares different modeling approaches. Participants learn how real-world energy systems can be abstracted, parameterized, and analyzed using computational methods. The opportunities, limitations, and assumptions of energy models are also critically discussed.

5) Execution of PyPSA
This chapter offers a hands-on introduction to configuring and running the open-source energy system model PyPSA(-Earth). Using concrete examples, participants learn how to run existing models, understand input data, and perform initial simulations. The emphasis is on a reproducible and well-structured workflow.

6) Functioning of PyPSA
This chapter provides a deeper understanding of the internal functioning of PyPSA(-Earth). Participants explore the model structure, key components, and the underlying optimization approaches. The goal is to enable them to understand and critically assess model assumptions, decision variables, and result metrics.

7) Additional Topics
The final chapter addresses selected supplementary and advanced topics that go beyond basic modeling. These include, for example, introductory insights into the programming language Python.

Lern-/Qualifikationsziele:

The course imparts technical, methodological, and scientific competencies for modeling and analyzing sustainable energy systems. The objective is to enable participants to systematically investigate complex questions related to the energy transition and to evaluate them in a well-founded manner.

Upon completion of the course, participants are able to explain key energy engineering relationships and classify the role of individual system components within coupled energy systems. They understand fundamental concepts of energy system modeling and can abstract, model, and computationally analyze real-world energy systems.

Participants are capable of independently installing, running, and adapting the open-source energy system model PyPSA for selected research questions. They understand the model’s functionality, the underlying optimization approaches, and the significance of key model assumptions and parameters.

In addition, participants acquire competencies in scientific working methods. They can formulate research questions, conduct relevant literature research, systematically evaluate modeling results, and critically reflect on them. Results are presented in a target-group-oriented and formally correct written format.

Overall, the course enables participants to develop energy scenarios in a methodologically sound manner, critically assess their explanatory power, and interpret the results within the technical, economic, and systemic context of the energy transition.​

Lehrveranstaltungstyp:

Virtuelle Vorlesung

Interaktionsformen mit Betreuer/in:

Chat, E-Mail

Interaktionsformen mit Mitlernenden:

Chat, Forum

Kursdemo:

zur Kursdemo

Nutzung

Kurs ist konzipiert für:

OTH Regensburg:
Regenerative Energietechnik und Energieeffizienz (Bachelor)

Hochschule München:
Systems Engineering (Master)

Hochschule Hof:
Ingenieurwesen (Bachelor)

TH Deggendorf:
Energy System Engineering (Bachelor)

Formale Voraussetzungen:

​Registration at the Virtuelle Hochschule Bayern (vhb) and timely enrollment in the course via the vhb portal

Erforderliche Vorkenntnisse:

Basics in energy technology and energy systems

Hinweise zur Nutzung:

-

Kursumsetzung (verwendete Medien):

Knowledge is imparted via text, images, audio, video, self-study quizzes, interactive content and proprietary programming.

Erforderliche Technik:

Hardware: PC/MAC as a laptop or desktop, no tablets

Software: VisualStudio Code, regardless of operating system (any)

Nutzungsentgelte:

für andere Personen als (reguläre) Studenten der vhb Trägerhochschulen nach Maßgabe der Benutzungs- und Entgeltordnung der vhb

Rechte hinsichtlich des Kursmaterials:

-

Verantwortlich

Anbieterhochschule:

OTH Regensburg

Anbieter:

Prof. Dr.-Ing. Michael Sterner

Autoren:

Anton Achhammer

Michael Sterner

Alexander Meisinger

Kathrin Rettinger

Betreuer:

Anton Achhammer

Prüfung

Examination for the course

Art der Prüfung:

Studienarbeit

Bemerkung:

Writing a scientific paper (max. 10 pages)

Prüfer:

Prof. Dr.-Ing. Michael Sterner

Prüfungsanmeldung erforderlich:

ja

Anmeldeverfahren:

Registration and submission take place directly in the course.

Prüfungsanmeldefrist:

–

Prüfungsabmeldefrist:

–

Kapazität:

–

Prüfungsdatum:

–

Prüfungszeitraum:

–

Prüfungsdauer:

–

Prüfungsort:

–

Zuständiges Prüfungsamt:

Examination office of the students' home university

Zugelassene Hilfsmittel:

–

Formale Voraussetzungen für die Prüfungsteilnahme:

Registration by the deadline

Inhaltliche Voraussetzungen für die Prüfungsteilnahme:

Course content

Zertifikat:

Ja (graded certificate)

Anerkennung:

–