#3 Soner Candas: Optimisation of renewable energy systems

How can computer-based modelling help optimise the integration of renewable energy?

Soner is research assistant and PhD student at the Technical University Munich. He conducts research on possible future energy systems and looks at ways of optimizing the transition towards renewable energy sources.

Institute: Chair of Renewable and Sustainable Energy Systems

Faculty: School of Engineering and Design

Supervisor: Prof. Dr. Thomas Hamacher

Dissertation title (as for now :D)

Development of a communal energy planning tool with multi-scale coupling

Topic – in brief

• Optimization of renewable energy systems: How can different renewable energy source, like solar and wind energy, and storage technologies, like batteries, be organized and used in the most efficient way?
• Germany aims at a carbon neutral energy system until 2045
• Given the weather-dependency of many renewable energy sources, storage and management solutions become ever more important, when it comes to making demand and supply meet in cost-effective ways. 
• How can optimal configurations of all technologies look like, e.g. on a country level?
• Optimization-based modelling
• Top-down modelling approach: imaginary social planner with total control of energy system i.e. the planner can decide on optimal configuration

Projects Soner has been involved in

• Patterns behind private PV installations in Germany and Italy. What are the driving factors? Are decisions purely economic or do social effects such as peer pressure play a role?

Publication: Sociodynamic modeling of small-scale PV adoption and insights on future expansion without feed-in tariffs

• Model comparison. There are several models in Europe that model possible transformation pathways of energy systems under varying assumptions. Comparing them reveals sensitivities and potential draw-backs of each model

Publication: Code exposed: Review of five open-source frameworks for modeling renewable energy systems

Publication: Comparing open source power system models – A case study focusing on fundamental modeling parameters for the German energy transition

• Renewable heating systems in Bavaria. What should happen on the communal level to decarbonize the heating system?

 

Other tasks Soner is involved in

Teaching: Mathematical Modeling for expansion and dispatch planning in modern energy systems

Co-authored publication with one of his students:

Co-optimizing transmission and active distribution grids to assess demand-side flexibilities of a carbon-neutral German energy system

Soner’s learning

• The rewarding feeling of teaching
• The importance and advantages of active time management and pickiness, when it comes to filling the time one has. Be mindful about your time!

Further links

Related studies, if you would like to learn more!
Wie der deutsche Stromsektor bis zum Jahr 2035 klimaneutral werden kann

Aufbruch Klimaneutralität

Energietage – annual event (Soner mentioned it)

IEA graph of pv installations

 

If you would like to connect with Soner:

LinkedIn: Soner Candas

 

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