---
title: Shaping Tomorrow’s Energy - Assessing Climate Change Impacts on Energy Systems
categories:
  - Master Thesis
  - Climate Change
  - Energy Systems
  - Uncertainty Analysis
  - Interdisciplinary Research
---

![Glacier d'Aletsch ©Valais/Wallis Promotion - Pascal Gertschen](figures/aletsch.png)

### What?

Master Thesis Project

### Where?

IPESE Lab, EPFL Valais Campus (Sion) with possibilities for partial remote work. High-frequency exchanges within a dynamic research community.

### When?

Flexible start and end dates according to personal preference—mutually agreeable scheduling.

### Context

The global energy sector is at a pivotal crossroads, necessitating a shift towards renewable energy sources while grappling with the impacts of climate change. 

Our energy system models, [REHO](https://reho.readthedocs.io/en/main/) & [EnergyScope](https://library.energyscope.ch/latest/explanation/conceptual_foundations/#key-concepts-and-terminologies), optimizes the balance between energy resources and demands by determining the optimal mix of installed technologies at the district and national level, repectively. The interconnection of those two models allows us to identify optima that aligne all actors (such as consumers, government, etc.) objectives to ensure a systemic energy transition.
As climate change alters exogenous parameters like energy demand profiles (e.g., reduced heating days, increased cooling needs) and renewable energy resources (e.g., hydro power availability, wind patterns, solar irradiance), it’s crucial to assess how these changes affect the energy system’s operation and planning.

This project aims to evaluate the impact of climate change on Switzerland’s energy system by:

  - Integrating SSP scenarios into our energy model.
  - Assessing variations in energy demands and renewable resources.
  - Analyzing the implications on infrastructure, decentralization.
  - Proposing adaptive strategies for a resilient and sustainable energy future.

### Skills and Background

  - Strong understanding of energy system modeling (e.g., courses like Modeling and Optimization of Energy Systems).
  - Knowledge of energy conversion processes.
  - Proficiency or keen interest in Python coding.
  - Analytical skills for data interpretation and scenario analysis.
  - Interdisciplinary mindset to integrate environmental, technical, and socio-economic aspects.

### Recommended courses:

  - Energy conversion and renewable energy
  - Modelling and optimization of energy systems
  - Convex optimization
  - Applied data analysis

### Objectives

  - Modeling Climate Impacts: Incorporate SSP scenarios into REHO and EnergyScope to evaluate impacts on energy resources and demands (heating and cooling).
  - Social Behaviors Impacts: Identify and model the different social behaviors related to the SSP scenarios.
  - Evaluate Infrastructure Evolution: Assess how climate change influences grid and storage requirements.
  - Analyze Decentralization Effects: Examine the impact on decentralized energy production, building-level adaptations, and centralized management strategies.

### Contacts

  - [Arthur Chuat](arthur.chuat@epfl.ch)
  - [Jonas Schnidrig](jonas.schnidrig@epfl.ch)
  - [Cédric Terrier](cedric.terrier@epfl.ch)

### Additional Information

For further reading and context, consider exploring the following references:

  - https://doi.org/10.5075/epfl-thesis-11101
  - https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/17/7/1718#
  - https://doi.org/10.3389/fenrg.2023.1164813
  - https://doi.org/10.3389/fenrg.2024.1433921
  - https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvman.2024.122537

Join us in shaping a sustainable energy future by assessing and adapting to the impacts of climate change on our energy systems. Your contribution could be pivotal in guiding strategic decisions for resilience and sustainability.