Virtual Power Plants: Spatial Energy Models in Times of Climate Change

Introduction: The Energy Debate and Arising Research Needs In 2006/07, energy supply and climate change moved to the top of the political agenda. Events such as the oil dispute between Russia and Belarus, coupled with the crises of oil supplier countries in the Middle East, have elucidated the importance of supply reliability. A reliable, secure, efficient and environmentally sound energy-supply is essential for a sustainable provision of goods and services, especially within the light of the global warming. Internationally complex, though, policy and the global energy industry has to cope with ever great challenges. This refers to aspects like the constantly increasing energy demand, insufficient energy conversion and transport capacities or geopolitical risks alongside others. Furthermore the possible longtime effects of CO2 emissions in relation to global warming and the challenge to meet the obligations of the Kyoto protocol have lead to an enhanced problem awareness regarding energy supply systems. For the Digital Earth research topic there are two major aspects to be dealt with using geospatial techniques: the CO2 topic and security of supply. Both are of broad interest at several scales and both need long term solutions. Improvements of current energy system concerning CO2 and security of supply are particularly determined by spatial questions. So far, the energy industry has paid only little attention to geospatial aspects in modelling possible future energy systems and solutions. This namely refers to the spatial distribution of renewable energy carriers and their possible utilization in the energy system. The problem faced in this context is the generally low energy density of renewable energy carriers. Therefore it is of major interest – especially in terms of “security of supply” – to pay attention to the geographical deviation of renewable energy supply and energy demand. Although the utility providers have been and still are using GIS systems in a very severe manner at central locations within their business chains GIScience did not emphasize energy significantly (BIBERACHER 2007, DOMINGUEZ & AMADOR 2007, RAMACHANDRA