LF Energy Summit 2024

The talk introduces a set of open-source software tools that we use at KU Leuven/Etch-EnergyVille to provide decision support to transmission and distribution network operators. The tools rely on linear and nonlinear power grid optimization models and cover a variety of planning and operation problems. Their modular structure makes the tools easy to use and extend, to incorporate additional modelling features, e.g., for different components, objective functions and constraints. While we first introduce the tools and their development philosophy, the focus of the talk is to share which practical problems they solve, in the light of the energy transition. Examples include: • cost-benefit assessment for HVDC assets, which are expected to play a fundamental role in the integration of the massive future offshore wind power generation from the North Sea to the European grid. • monitoring and parameter estimation for distribution systems. These are crucial to mitigate the congestion that distribution networks, are facing or expecting, e.g., due to a defective grid integration of electric vehicles. The use of our software in both research and industrial collaborations is discussed.