EHDO: A free and open‐source webtool for designing and optimizing multi‐energy systems based on MILP

This paper presents a novel webtool, called Energy Hub Design Optimization tool, for designing and optimizing complex multi‐energy systems. The tool determines the optimal technology selection and sizing of all energy conversion units of a supply system while satisfying heat, cold, electricity, and hydrogen demands. A large variety of different technologies including renewable energies (wind power, photovoltaic, solar thermal, and hydroelectricity) and energy carriers like natural gas, hydrogen, biomass, and waste can be considered. Energy demands are provided by the user with an hourly resolution and all technical and economic model parameters can be tailored to specific use cases. The objective functions of the design optimization are total annualized costs, CO2 emissions, or trade‐offs between both objectives (multi‐objective optimization). The calculation is based on mathematical optimization and uses a mixed‐integer linear program. The webtool is accessible online for free and the optimization model is open‐source. The webtool has been developed to support academic teaching in energy engineering courses. With the tool, students understand how energy supply systems with intermittent renewable energies and cross‐sectoral conversion and storage technologies can be designed with innovative planning approaches.