The SADE project developed a comprehensive modeling and simulation environment for energy systems that integrates real‑world data streams and supports mixed real/virtual scenarios. Central to the system is a graphical user interface that allows users to assemble plant configurations from a library of generic components, link them structurally, and specify operating schedules for chosen time intervals. The interface includes a button panel that triggers core functions such as saving plant configurations, merging components into a single unit, minimizing visual clutter, defining operating windows, establishing structural connections, and deleting elements. A dedicated editor area provides a drag‑and‑drop workspace where components from the library are positioned and linked, and simulation parameters are set.
A key technical achievement is the dynamic incorporation of environmental data into the simulation models. For photovoltaic and wind power plants, the models require time‑resolved irradiance and wind speed data; for combined heat and power (BHKW) units and water supply systems, load curves that depend on weather conditions are essential. To supply these data, the project integrated web services from the German Meteorological Service (Deutscher Wetterdienst, DWD). The Climate Data Center (CDC) offers hourly observations from 2018 weather stations across Germany, accessible via FTP. The SADE tool downloads the data for a user‑defined UTC time range, using station IDs obtained from the CDC’s station list or an embedded information button. The downloaded values are hourly averages of the preceding hour, providing realistic inputs for the simulation.
In addition, the project established a connection to the European power exchange EPEX SPOT to retrieve electricity market prices. This interface mirrors the DWD integration: data are fetched over FTP, enabling the calculation of electricity demand and surplus relative to market prices for any simulation interval. By combining weather and market data, the simulation can evaluate the economic performance of energy plants under realistic operating conditions.
The SADE environment also supports the creation of hybrid real/virtual scenarios. Using a test bench at the Reutlingen Research Institute (RRI), the project validated simulation models of BHKW units and demonstrated that virtual models can replace physical control hardware in real plant operations. This approach reduces the need for extensive hardware prototyping and expands the applicability of the tool to a wider range of plant types, including solar, wind, and battery storage systems.
Performance metrics are embedded in the simulation outputs, such as energy yield, thermal consumption, and market‑price‑adjusted revenue, although specific numerical values are not disclosed in the report. The integration of high‑frequency environmental data and market prices allows the tool to produce detailed, time‑resolved performance analyses that can inform operational decisions and investment planning.
Collaboration among partners was structured around distinct work packages. The Hochschule Albstadt‑Sigmaringen led the development of component models and the overall simulation framework, while Albstadtwerke GmbH contributed real plant data and operational expertise. GridSysTronic supplied the FTP‑based data import implementation, and the RRI provided experimental validation facilities. The project experienced a staffing change in the second year, prompting a one‑year extension approved by the project sponsor. This extension allowed the completion of all planned tasks, including the refinement of simulation models and the deployment of the mixed real/virtual scenario capability. The SADE project was funded by a German federal project sponsor, and its outcomes are intended for dissemination through academic publications and industry workshops.