Suitability assessment of models in the industrial energy system design

Abstract This article reviews models in the scientific literature for industrial final-energy generation system design to evaluate their applicability in practice. Since energy efficiency has top priority worldwide and industry accounts for half of the world's energy consumption, it would be important to use state-of-the-art methodologies in real life applications. The contribution of the presented article to this matter is threefold. First, to facilitate the understanding of existing models', we developed a model evaluation method based on the attributes of industrial energy systems. We applied it to the reviewed scientific energy system models, providing the reader an overview of considered modelling approaches, design process steps, energy types, technological, economic and ecological aspects. Second, we conclude based on the results that current models for industrial cases are not completely suitable for wide practical implementation, among others because of the way they evaluate system operation and they do not incorporate every discussed requirement aspect. Third, this article draws up a potential modelling approach to fill these gaps, considering the missing points and omissions.