@inproceedings{SchicktanzMoqueteGonzalezSalazar, author = {Schicktanz, Matthias and Moquete, Dorothea and Gonzalez-Salazar, Miguel}, title = {Designing a Fully Renewable Urban Energy System: The Meaning of Sector Coupling and Hydrogen}, series = {Proceedings of the 38th International Conference on Efficiency, Cost, Optimization, Simulation and Environmental Impact of Energy Systems (ECOS 2025), 2025, Paris}, booktitle = {Proceedings of the 38th International Conference on Efficiency, Cost, Optimization, Simulation and Environmental Impact of Energy Systems (ECOS 2025), 2025, Paris}, editor = {ECOS International Society,}, abstract = {This study is the first in a two-part series focused on establishing a fully renewable and energy-autonomous supply system for a small city. Part 1 explores comprehensive energy modelling, while Part 2 introduces an innovative graphical representation that clarifies the operational management strategies of the city's energy hub. In this initial part, we conduct an exhaustive analysis of the city's energy needs across all sectors, including residential and commercial electricity demand, heating, and mobility, which provides an almost complete depiction of the urban energy landscape. The city is divided into two clusters: Cluster 1 features decentralized heating primarily through air-to-water heat pumps for low density residential buildings, while Cluster 2 employs a district heating grid for multi-family-buildings. Our analysis indicates that approximately 9 kW of wind and solar power capacity per inhabitant is necessary to entirely meet energy demands through renewable resources, with wind power contributing the majority. Hydrogen storage plays a crucial role in mitigating seasonal energy fluctuations by leveraging existing capacities within Germany. The study finds that utilizing waste heat from hydrogen production in district heating networks is more efficient, highlighting the advantages of smaller, community-scale hydrogen power plants over larger facilities that lack thermal integration. Furthermore, the study concludes that additional battery and thermal storages are unnecessary when hydrogen storage is implemented. An investment of 11.5 k€ per capita in energy converter facilities is required.}, language = {en} }