Results¶
Some results based on test data are presented below. This data does not yet constitute a final result, it is merely intended to show what is possible with the help of the GUI, which representations can be used and which interpretations can be drawn.
Data based on the TIMES model¶
The following diagrams are created out of the test data based on the TIMES model.
Changes in technology¶
One interesting question is how the technologies used in the industry will change over the decades. The two sub-sectors of copper and aluminum were selected for a closer look at this development. The following diagrams show the installed capacity per year in each case, with the coloring describing the technology used.
Copper Industry Transition
Aluminium Industry Transition
The diagrams demonstrate the increasing prevalence of advanced technologies in the installed capacity of both the copper and aluminum industries over time.
In the copper industry, the first diagram illustrates a clear transition: by 2050, the entire installed capacity is composed of the most recent and innovative technologies, signifying a complete shift away from older methods. The gradual introduction of these advanced systems, especially visible after 2035, shows a clear industry-wide adaptation to newer production technologies.
The second diagram, which focuses on the aluminum industry, similarly shows that from 2045 onwards, only new technologies constitute the total installed capacity. Interestingly, the adoption of newer technologies in the secondary aluminum production sector begins as early as 2025. This early transition in secondary production paves the way for these technologies to dominate by mid-century, effectively replacing outdated systems. In the primary aluminum production sector, a breakthrough occurs in 2035 with the introduction of a highly innovative technology, which rapidly supplants the older methods within a decade.
Energy supply of the energy-intensive industry sectors¶
The diagrams illustrate the models transformation of energy supply within various industrial subsectors between 2021 and 2050, with a particular focus on the integration of hydrogen.
In 2021, the industrial sector heavily relied on traditional energy sources such as coal and methane, as depicted in the left diagram. Coal plays a significant role in powering steel production, while methane and other fossil fuels are prominent across various subsectors.
In comparison, the 2050 diagram presents a drastically different energy landscape. Hydrogen emerges as a pivotal energy source, especially in the steel sector, where it completely replaces coal. The reduction of methane usage is also evident as the transition toward cleaner energy sources reshapes the entire industry. This shift underscores the declining relevance of coal in industrial processes and highlights hydrogen’s growing importance in decarbonizing energy-intensive industries.
Industry Energy Supply 2021
Industry Energy Supply 2050
More complex sankey variations:
- primary/secondary inputs to specifications (no outputs):
Representations of the energy flow¶
In the following, the energy flow of the primary/secondary inputs between the different categories is to be illustrated with the help of Sankey diagrams. As before, the years 2021, 2030 and 2050 are considered in order to be able to recognize a development over the years.
Year 2021:
Year 2030:
Year 2050:
Here, too, it can be observed that the demand of hydrogen will increase significantly over the years and plays an especially important role in the steel sector. This development in the steel sector is illustrated in detail in the following two diagrams, where the demand of the primary/secondary inputs of the respective processes is shown.
Year 2021
Year 2050
Flow of Imports¶
The following diagrams show the import flows for 2021 and 2050 to see which imports are used where and how the import changes over the years.
Imports 2021
Imports 2050
The sharp increase in hydrogen consumption is also particularly striking here, which will be the most imported energy source in 2050 and, as previously stated, will play a major role in the steel sector in particular or will be used in combustion.
Data based on the Oemof model¶
The following diagrams are created out of the test data based on the Oemof model with focus on the steel category.
The diagram below describes the consumption of sec-inputs per year:
Here, too, the trend away from fossil fuels and particularly the increase in the use of hydrogen (es-pecially in the years 2045 and 2050) is clear, while biogas will no longer be consumed as early as 2035.
The next diagram describes the additional installed capacity per year in the steel category:
This shows that there will be a strong expansion of newer technologies, particularly in the years 2035 and 2045.