Regional Optimizer (RegiOpt) - Sustainable energy technology network solutions for regions

Developing energy strategies for the future is an important strategic task for regions and municipalities. Renewable based technologies and decentralized energy supply based on regional resources have the potential to locally and regionally increase added value, provide new jobs, decrease the dependency on limited fossil resources as well as on external energy providers and may have a positive impact on ecological stability. Regional Optimizer (RegiOpt) software tool is based on the concept of Process Network Synthesis (PNS) (Friedler et. al, 1995 and Halasz et. al, 2005) and of the Sustainable Process Index (SPI) (Kotscheck et. al., 1996 and Sandholzer et. al., 2005). Both methodologies are combined in RegiOpt to enable the user to create economically optimal sustainable energy technology networks and at the same time evaluate them with respect to environmental sustainability.

Inputs to the software are (renewable) resources (e.g. amount of crops available for energetic use, biowaste, waste heat, etc.) and regional energy demand profiles. Both resource provision and energy demand can be provided in time dependent form. On top of that the user may supply contextual information like costs and prices of particular resources and services.

Result of the calculation with RegiOpt is the economically optimized technology network that fulfils the energy needs defined by the user and renders the highest regional added value. RegiOpt also provides the ecological footprint according to the SPI methodology. The user is able to calculate different scenarios based on different input data. RegiOpt software tool will be provided in two versions. Web based “Conceptual Planner” as a simple analysis for regional stakeholders and an “Advanced Designer” for a more detailed technology network scenario generation meant for expert use.