Application of a Multi-Horizon Multi-Energy Optimization Model for a European Case Study

The European Union plans to change towards a climate-neutral energy system. In planning for this change, long-term energy system modeling is necessary. Current energy system optimization models often lack spatial, temporal, or technical resolution or may lead to stranded investments. This research aims to account for a high spatial and temporal resolution while avoiding stranded investments and representing high technical detail. Therefore, the sector-integrated model in this work is a holistic model representing electricity, hydrogen, natural gas, and liquid fuels. Myopic backcasting is chosen to model the transformation of the European energy system from 2030 to 2050. A case study identifies trends in the shift of the European energy system. In the scenario, gaseous energy carriers are produced in Europe, while liquid energy carriers are mostly imported. Large Power-to-X capacities are installed at locations with high wind capacity, such as coastal regions in Denmark, France, and UK.