Eskom needed a visually interactive energy flow model, with forecasting, impact simulation and optimisation algorithms to enable planning engineers to model and determine the effects of different demand and supply side options on primary fuel costs and system profile impacts.

Development of the Eskom Energy Flow Simulator was a highly successful four-year research assignment aimed as a decision-support system in the goal towards keeping the lights on and making Eskom a high performance organisation.

The model started off as a technical Energy Flow Simulator, including modelling for demand side initiatives and renewable generation, but has been expanded to provide visual and interactive feedback on decision effects in terms of the Eskom income statement, Eskom’s financial sustainability and its financial performance. This specifically was achieved regarding fuel costs (from a production cost minimising LP solver), and revenue derived from a sales perspective.