Using Co-Simulation to Capture Sector Coupling Dynamics in Low-Temperature Anergy Systems

Anergy networks offer efficient and sustainable district heating and cooling through low operating temperatures. They facilitate flexible decentralized topologies. Because of their inherent need for heat pumps, they create strong dynamic links with electricity infrastructure. Simulating sector-coupled anergy systems is therefore challenging. This paper advocates for co-simulation as a critical enabler for holistically analyzing anergy networks. With co-simulation, independent subsystem simulators are jointly executed. Using a design science-based approach, we create a proof-of-concept simulation setup that incorporates the unique properties of anergy systems. It includes thermal and electrical networks, strong sector coupling via heat pumps and renewable-based power-to-heat, and decentralized producers in a flexible topology. The results highlight the ability of co-simulation to capture complex cross-domain interactions between the thermal and electrical domain. The approach allows for easy scaling of simulation scenarios and seamless integration of new simulation tools. However, validating composite co-simulation models on the system-of-systems level remains challenging. Co-simulation is a crucial tool for exploiting the potential of anergy systems, without sacrificing the dependability of power grids, paving the way for reliable, sector-coupled energy systems.