Agent-based simulation for biogas power plant potential in Schwarzwald-Baar-Kreis, Germany: a step towards better economy

Authored by Hafiz Ali Imran, Dietrich Schroeder, Bilal Ahmed Munir

Date Published: 2017

DOI: 10.1080/10106049.2015.1128485

Sponsors: No sponsors listed

Platforms: Agent Analyst

Model Documentation: Other Narrative Flow charts

Model Code URLs: Model code not found

Abstract

Over the past decade, political framework in the energy sector all over the world has provoked a strong focus on the production of renewable energies. The study focuses on agent-based modelling approach to identify the suitable and economical distribution of biogas power plants over time in the area of interest. For sufficient supply of biomass (silage maize) on a regional basis to run biogas power plants economically and smoothly, different thematic layers with defined rules for Agent Analyst used to simulate the future installations of power plants. In conjunction with ArcGIS, the Agent Analyst software generates simulations that prove the robustness of the model in finding the suitable location of power plants. The resultant location from the model is analysed in different aspects. The designed methodology could be implemented in other areas with minor edits as per requirement of the area.

Tags

Agent-based model GIS Biogas power plant Agent analyst