Energy Modelling in Rural Areas with Spatial and Temporal Data in Germany and Czech Republic

One of the major challenges for the energy transition is to reconcile variable renewable energy production with stochastically changing energy demand including the pursued changes in e.g. transport like electro mobility. This requires smart systems that should be designed to minimize balancing and transmission costs. The design and modelling of such systems requires high resolution energy generation and demand data, which usually either do not exist or is not available. Methodologies to address this lack of data populate scientific literature but its replicability is limited by an inadequate level of detail in the description of the methodologies and to a larger extent by the absence or low quality of basic data. This manuscript summarizes several years of research in energy modelling using Geographical Information Systems as well as spatial and temporal data of the rural areas in Bavaria (Germany) and the Czech Republic. Data requirements for energy demand and energy supply including different types of users and technologies are addressed. Irreconcilable data gaps are presented, examples to fill data gaps as well as recommendations for future necessary developments are provided.