MOTER

Somadutta Sahoo, Last update: 14 December 2023

MOTER is an optimization model for dispatching multi-commodity energy systems in an interconnected network of multiple energy carriers. Refer to https://multimodelling.readthedocs.io/en/latest/energy_models/MOTER/index.html for more overall information regarding the model.

General model information

General model information questions were asked regarding basic information, model versions, and point of contact for questions. The MOTER model is developed and maintained by DNV.

Questions to ask	Answers/Explanation
Model name	MOTER (Modeler of Three Energy Regimes)
Model owner	DNV
Model Developer	DNV
The latest model version/date
The model version used in this project
Organization	DNV
Individual	Jan Willem Turkstra

A second set of questions was asked regarding whether the model is type or token, the intended purpose of the model, and the level of decision that the model aims to support. We understand that the model can be categorized as type and token model. The model focuses on long-term investment in energy infrastructure and technology options related to storage and conversions. In the mid-term, the model dispatches assets (for example, generators and heat pumps) within the physical limitations of the system at the minimum overall costs. In the short term, the model balances demand-supply energy and addresses mismatches related to energy flows.

Questions to ask	Answers/Explanation
Is the model a token model? If so, give illustration(s).	Yes. For example, the model analyses energy infrastructure in detail, i.e., voltage and current levels of different electricity networks, rather than the universal property of energy flows.
Is the model a type model? If so, give illustration(s).	Yes. For example, one of the major components of an integrated energy system, i.e., energy infrastructure, is modeled in detail.
Briefly describe the intended purpose of the model	A global optimization model for dispatching flexible assets in a multi-commodity energy system
Strategic - long-term planning; what do we want?	Investment in capacity of energy infrastructure and technology options related to storage and conversions.
Tactical - medium-term; how do we approach this?	MOTER dispatches the assets (i.e., generators, heat pumps, boilers, compressors, gas blending, storage, etc.) within the physical limitations of the system at the minimum overall cost. Also included in the dispatch plan are supply/ demand curtailment, intraday load shifting, transport and storage losses, and any limitations on maximal annual volumes (like for biogas)
Operational - short-term; regular/day-to-day operations?	Demand-supply energy balances, energy flows to address mismatches, dispatch of flexible assets, etc.

Typical questions asked of the model include future capacities and energy from different technology options. The model has many strengths, including the detailed representation of energy infrastructure, for example, electricity, heat, and gas. One of the critical limitations of the model is that it has only been used in the context of the DNV Energy Transition Simulator. The model has been used to provide near real-time feedback on the techno-economic performance of the investment choices made by the stakeholders. Refer to the table below for further discussion on these aspects.

Questions to ask	Answers/Explanation
What are typical types of questions that can be asked to the model? provide examples of such questions	1. What are the capacity and energy supply from different technology options? 2. What type of system integration can be achieved with the model? 3. What flexibility options are included in the analysis? Etc.
What are the strengths of this model? What is unique?	All energy carriers can be configured within three classes: Electric (HV/ MV voltage ranges), gaseous (pressure, composition ranges), and heat (temperature ranges).
What are the important limitations of the model?	1. As a global optimizer, the number of assets combined with the time resolution is a limiting factor 2. Only used in the context of the DNV Energy Transition Simulator
Cases/examples where the model was used for its intended purpose	1. The primary purpose of the MOTER tool is to provide stakeholders with near real-time feedback on the techno- economic performance of the investment choices made. 2. Users can co-create any future multi-commodity energy system
Cases/examples where the model was not used for its intended purpose; are there any examples of model abuse or misuse?

The next set of questions is related to model documentation, accessibility, and type. The model documentation is not complete and not accessible. The graphical user interface (GUI) can be accessed with the owner’s permission. The model is static, deterministic, and linear programming (LP)-based.

Questions to ask	Answers/Explanation
Is the model documentation complete?	No
Is the documentation accessible? If so, how?	Not accessible
Is the documentation in English?	Not available
Does the model have a GUI? If so, how to access it?	No
Does the model have an Application Programming Interface (API) ? If so, how to access it?	In general, the model does not have an API.
Is the model static or dynamic?	Static
Is the model continuous or discrete?	continuous
Is the model stochastic or deterministic?	Deterministic
Is it an optimization model? If so, what type of algorithms it uses?	Yes, LP

The next set of questions are regarding the modeling paradigm, implementation environment, and license. The model applies multiple formalisms, such as mathematical equations and logical expressions. The model is implemented using a modeling package called AIMMS. An AIMMS license is needed, and the owner can share the model.

Questions to ask	Answers/Explanation
What modeling paradigm or formalism does the model use?	Mathematical equations, logical expressions, energy balances, math equations, etc.
Is it implemented in a General purpose programming language?	No
Does it use a modeling/Simulation environment/package?	AIMMS
Is it implemented in a spreadsheet?
Is any license required to run the model?	AIMMS license is needed, except for educational and research purposes

Model content

A preliminary set of model content questions were related to energy system integration and scope. The model does not represent an integrated energy system. Essential elements and concepts included in the model are production, transport, storage, conversion, and end-use of resources. Some flexibility options included in the model are combined heat and power plants and heat pumps.

Questions to ask	Answers/Explanation
Does the model represent an integrated energy system?	No
What important elements and concepts are included in the model?	1. Production, transport, storage, conversion, and end- use are in scope. Networks may have ring topologies with multiple interconnections 2. MOTER can be configured to include all classes of supply and demand
What elements and concepts are currently not included in the model, but in your opinion, those shall be included?
Specific attention to flexibility options: What type of flexibility options are included in the model?	Some examples of flexibility options are combined heat and power plants, heat pumps, storage, gas blending, and other similar options.

The next set of content-related questions included scale and resolution. There is no spatial representation. The model has a topological representation of a fictive world of ‘Enerland.’ Similarly, there is no specified time scale. Users can define the topological resolutions of regions. Temporal resolution is the time slices representing a year, varying from 16 to 800.

Questions to ask	Answers/Explanation
What spatial (or geospatial) scale does the model have?	There is no spatial representation. The model has a topological representation of a fictive world of ‘Enerland.’ The modeling framework can represent energy systems ranging from local to national scale.
What temporal (or time) scale does the model have?	There is no specified time scale. Modelers can determine the scale based on applications/projects.
Spatial resolution	Users can define the topological resolution of regions. No fixed preexisting category is present in the model.
Temporal resolution	A yearly dispatch plan is created with hourly resolution using “time slices” (i.e., a limited number of hours (16-800) representing the total 8760 hours of a year).

The next set of questions is related to model assumptions, model inputs, parameters, and outputs, and data sources related to the model. The model’s standard input and output format is MS Access. Some important model inputs are technology options (supply options) and costs (annualized investments, fixed, variable, and operation and maintenance costs). Similarly, some important model outputs are production, transport, conversion, and storage. Data can be shared with permission from model owners. Most of the data are from open sources.

Questions to ask	Answers/Explanation
What critical assumptions does the model have?
Which ones are likely to be contested by others? Why?
What is/are the model input format(s)?	MS Access
What is/are the model output format(s)?	MS Access
What are the important model inputs?	Technology inputs (supply, transformation, transport, and storage options), costs (investments, fixed, variable, and operation and maintenance costs)
What important parameters do the model have?	technology- and process-related parameters (such as, efficiency), demand and supply profiles, limits and ranges on output, etc.
What are the important model outputs?	1. The model outputs include an envisaged operation of the production, transport, conversion, storage, and (intelligent) end-use assets on an hourly basis during a year. 2. System KPIs on the renewable share, CO2 emission, energy cost levels, and security of supply
What are the data sources used by the model?
Any data that can be shared? If so, what and how to access them?	Databases can be accessed with permission from model owners.

Continuing with the model content, there were questions regarding verification, validation, and test, and uncertainty descriptions. The answer to test coverage of the model is that there is no formal testing possibility within the modeling framework. Verification, validation, and testing can be done on boundary conditions and input limits/ranges.

Questions to ask	Answers/Explanation
Can you comment on the test coverage of the model?	There is not much formal testing possibility within the modeling framework. Input parameters can be tested by sensitivity analyses, for example. Non-optimality or model not converging conditions validate modeling outputs/results.
What is being verified, validated, or tested in the model?	Verification, validation, and testing can be on the boundary conditions, inputs, limits/ranges, etc.
What methods are used for the model verification, validation, and testing, if any?	1. Qualitative method: stakeholder and expert opinions and perspectives, literature, government reports, etc. 2. Quantitative method: comparison with other contemporary national models, scenario comparisons, and result ranges are also indicative based on the experience of modelers, etc.
Can you comment on the uncertainty in model parameters?	Important model parameters within the model operate within ranges, depending upon scenarios, to handle uncertainty
Can you comment on the uncertainty in model input?
Can you comment on the uncertainty in the model structure?

References:

Model Description:

• https://www.dnvgl.com/services/energy-transition-simulator-138088

• https://etrm.nl/