PhD Thesis of Markus Fleschutz (2024)

This thesis addresses the need for large energy consumers with local multi-energy systems (L-MESs) to transition to renewable energy and use demand response (DR) for operational flexibility. DR, where consumers adjust energy use based on incentives, can help integrate renewables and reduce costs and emissions. However, quantifying DR’s economic and environmental potential is challenging. This research introduces tools to evaluate DR’s impacts, including the Elmada and DRAF software, and applies them to real-world case studies. Results show that flexibility reduces decarbonization costs and emissions. The thesis provides valuable methods and insights to promote non-residential DR adoption.

Main papers

1. The effect of price-based demand response on carbon emissions in European electricity markets: The importance of adequate carbon prices [DOI, open access]
2. elmada: Dynamic electricity carbon emission factors and prices for Europe [DOI, open access]
3. Demand Response Analysis Framework (DRAF): An Open-Source Multi-Objective Decision Support Tool for Decarbonizing Local Multi-Energy Systems [DOI, open access]
4. From prosumer to flexumer: Case study on the value of flexibility in decarbonizing the multi-energy system of a manufacturing company [DOI, open access]
5. The hidden cost of using time series aggregation for modeling low-carbon industrial energy systems: An investors' perspective. [DOI, open access]

Key Data

• Dates of Oral Examination: 2024-04-25
• Date of Award: 2024-08
• Document Type: Doctoral Thesis
• Degree Name: Doctor of Philosophy
• Topic: Sustainability > Energy Transition > Energy Flexibility
• University: Munster Technological University (MTU), Cork, Ireland
• Department: Department of Process, Energy, and Transport Engineering
• Author: Markus Fleschutz (LinkedIn, ORCID, Google Scholar) 
• Supervisors: Dr. Michael D. Murphy and Prof. Dr.-Ing. Marco Braun
• Software: Elmada, DRAF
• Dissertation DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.13835113