Q-System comprises a wide range of energy components modeled in cooperation with major equipment manufacturers. It can represent almost any energy system combining:

• Solar power
• Wind power
• Hydro power
• Gensets (gas and diesel engines)
• CHP, including heaters, heat pumps, and thermal storage
• Electrolyzers
• Consumers (e.g. industry, electric vehicles)

Q-System is not limited to lithium batteries and can also model long-duration storage technologies such as redox flow batteries. Furthermore, it can model grid connections including complex grid constraints (e.g. FCA).

Yes. Q-System can model sector coupling between electricity production, the heat sector, and hydrogen.

Q-System performs two types of optimization.

First, dispatch optimization determines the optimal operation of all controllable generators and batteries. Q-System applies mixed-integer linear programming and, optionally, an approximate dynamic programming approach to determine the operation that minimizes costs or maximizes revenues, subject to all relevant technical system constraints.

In a second (optional) step, Q-System performs sizing optimization. It determines the optimal system design within a defined search space that maximizes the project’s lifetime net present value (NPV) or internal rate of return (IRR).

Q-System optimizes operation and trading strategies when stacking revenues from day-ahead, intraday, and ancillary services markets (e.g. FCR, aFRR).

The optimization realistically models the sequence of auctions and gate closure times, taking into account the information available and expectations at each respective time stage.

In addition to perfect foresight simulations, Q-System’s unique limited foresight approach significantly improves the realism of results.

Our highly realistic trading simulation, based on Q-System’s unique limited foresight approach, has been extensively tested and refined to match observed real-world performance in multi-market optimization.

When backtesting our approach against the actual performance of a battery asset in Germany in 2024, we observed a revenue deviation of only around 1.7%.

Q-System can model complex degradation behavior of batteries (in particular lithium-ion technologies) based on actual operational patterns (e.g. depth of discharge) as well as calendar aging effects.

It accounts for the continuous reduction of battery capacity over time. Battery aging is also considered in the dispatch decision to avoid market transactions that generate revenues insufficient to compensate for the expected reduction in battery lifetime.

Q-System is primarily configured to optimize the design of energy systems and to simulate and value planned or existing systems.

However, it can also be used to model complex trading products or tolling agreements. Via its API, Q-System can be connected to other infrastructure, such as trading systems or energy management systems (EMS). This allows Q-System to be integrated into operational processes.

Q-System is highly configurable and was designed to be adaptable to almost any market design. It has been used in project valuations worldwide, including projects in Asia, Africa, South and North America.

However, Q-System is particularly well suited to represent regulation and trading rules in European energy markets, where it is extensively used by key clients. It comes with price data sets for all major markets within the ENTSO-E area.

The development of Q-System dates back to 2018, when it was created as a pioneering solution for modeling battery hybrid systems in cooperation with a major German energy equipment manufacturer.

Since then, it has evolved into a standard software solution and has continuously been expanded to reflect the evolving business models of our clients (e.g. multi-market operation).

It has been used globally for the design of energy systems across all continents, representing multiple gigawatts of installed energy infrastructure capacity. Today, it is a trusted solution for energy equipment manufacturers, EPCs, project developers, and energy companies.

Q-System is designed to achieve maximum accuracy in energy system modeling, both in terms of technical simulation and the representation of market design, business cases, and operational strategies.

Our models have been refined over nearly a decade to meet the highest client expectations for accuracy and realism. Continuous backtesting against real-world performance ensures that we meet our claim of being one of the most realistic energy system modeling and valuation solutions available.

Despite its high level of detail, Q-System is designed with flexibility in mind. It adapts to your business strategy and is future-ready, allowing expansion into new markets, technologies, and evolving business models.