Possibilities and Applications of System Dynamics as a Modeling and Simulation Concept in the Energy Supply Industry

Like no other technical discipline, power engineering involves parameters from ecology, economics, politics and sociology. Accordingly, power engineering must be considered holistically as a system comprising technical, ecological economic, social and political influencing factors. Especially when introducing a new energy system such as decentralized energy supply, it is expedient to employ system-theoretical tools for investigating the structural characteristics and basic behavioral mechanisms and dynamics of such a complex system. Taking as example a cogeneration plant with heat accumulator and peak load boiler as well as the decentralized energy supply as a new energy system this paper points out the significance of system dynamics as a modeling and simulation concept as well as a planning instrument for the energy supply industry.