Comparison of individual and microgrid approaches for a distributed multi energy system with different renewable shares in the grid electricity supply

Abstract The transition to 100% renewable energy systems is an important factor in the transition to sustainable energy systems. A top-down approach is often used to study the design of such energy systems on a country or continental scale. Results of these studies are useful for developing energy roadmaps but they lack the details about how distributed multi energy systems should be designed and operated at local level. An optimisation model of distributed multi energy systems is applied in order to investigate how urban districts should be optimally designed in the (near) future when the goals of energy roadmaps are achieved. The impact of individual and microgrid approaches on distributed multi energy systems is analysed on an urban district level for scenarios with different levels of renewable energy in the electricity grid supply.