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Published November 26, 2025 | Version v1.0.0

The Future Energy Market Model (FEM): A Mathematical Description

  • 1. ROR icon ZHAW Zurich University of Applied Sciences
  • 2. ROR icon University of Basel
  • 3. EDMO icon ETH Zürich

Description

This document provides a comprehensive mathematical formulation of the Future Energy Market (FEM) model, a multi-period, multi-scenario energy system optimization model for coupled electricity and district heating systems. The model is formulated as a linear program that minimizes total system costs including investment and operational expenditures, while ensuring energy balance, technical constraints, fuel limitations, etc. The model incorporates detailed representations of generation technologies including renewables, conventional thermal plants, and combined heat and power; storage systems such as batteries, pumped hydro, heat storages, fossil methane and hydrogen; demand-side flexibility from electric vehicles, heat pumps, and demand-side response; as well as transmission networks. This documentation focuses on the essential mathematical structure and is designed to be accessible to energy system modelers and researchers.

Files

The_Future_Energy_Market_Model_(FEM)_-_A_Mathematical_Description.pdf

Files (321.9 kB)

Additional details

Funding

Swiss Federal Office of Energy
STORSUPPORT – Utility-scale storage in Switzerland: Needs assessment and support instruments SI/502888

Software

Repository URL
https://github.com/DerDavidZHAW/FEM_public/tree/v1.0.0
Programming language
Python
Development Status
Active