Heat Decarbonisation Modelling Approaches in the UK: An Energy System Architecture Perspective

• Published in: Energies (Basel) Vol. 13; no. 8; p. 1869
• Main Authors: Scamman, Daniel, Solano-Rodríguez, Baltazar, Pye, Steve, Chiu, Lai Fong, Smith, Andrew Z. P., Gallo Cassarino, Tiziano, Barrett, Mark, Lowe, Robert
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Basel MDPI AG 01-04-2020
• Subjects: Architecture; Computer architecture; Cost assessments; Decarbonization; Energy; energy modelling; Energy policy; energy system architecture; Environmental policy; Flexibility; Heat; heat decarbonisation; Heating; Modelling; Natural gas; Representations; Supply & demand; Temporal resolution; United Kingdom > UK
• ISSN: 1996-1073; 1996-1073
• DOI: 10.3390/en13081869

Energy models have been widely applied to the analysis of energy system decarbonisation to assess the options and costs of a transition to a low carbon supply. However, questions persist as to whether they are able to effectively represent and assess heat decarbonisation pathways for the buildings sector. A range of limitations have been identified, including a poor spatio-temporal resolution, limited representation of behaviour, and restricted representation of the full technical option set. This paper undertakes a review of existing energy models for heat decarbonisation in the UK, applying the novel perspective of energy system architecture (ESA). A set of ESA-related features are identified (including evolvability, flexibility, robustness, and feasibility), and models are reviewed against these features. The review finds that a range of models exist that have strengths across different features of ESA, suggesting that multiple modelling approaches are needed in order to adequately address the heat decarbonisation challenge. However, opportunities to improve existing models and develop new approaches also exist, and a research agenda is therefore proposed.