ORDECSYS is a research and consulting company created in 2003 by professors and researchers from the University of Geneva. Since then, it has been providing methods and tools for techno-economic analysis within the framework of international research programmes and consultancy contracts. ORDECSYS specialises in optimisation, game theory and decision making in situations of uncertainty. ORDECSYS applies these methods, in particular to energy transition modelling and climate change economics.

ORDECSYS also assists its clients in assessing the economic impact of major events (trade shows, congresses, events). ORDECSYS participates in the dissemination of sustainable development methods for the design of gravity-based water distribution networks (NGO Agua Para la Vita). Finally, ORDECSYS promotes the use of robust optimization for risk management.

A brief history of the contribution of ORDECSYS to the modeling of economic impacts of climate change policies.

See the summary

Simple Operational Research Model for Direct Air Capture

See the model.

ORDECSYS is particularly active in the analysis of the transition of energy/electric systems towards sustainability in different contexts of interconnection, economic development, penetration of smart grids and intermittent generation technologies.

In particular, ORDECSYS develops short-, medium- and long-term energy production management models. ORDECSYS also implements integrated models for evaluating energy and environmental policies. These models apply at the international, national and urban community levels.

ORDECSYS has developed ETEM-SG, the latest version of the ETEM family of models adapted to the representation of smart grids in regional energy systems. ETEM-SG is a tool to assist in the design of a master plan for the energy system of an urban region. It has been designed by ORDECSYS by adapting the MARKAL-LITE model developed at the LOGILAB of the University of Geneva (HEC).

ETEM-SG optimizes energy options

ETEM-SG represents in details (location and installed capacities) the energy system of a region or agglomeration. The reference energy system is broken down into primary energies (gas, water, wood, coal, geothermal, etc.), final energies (electricity, gas, fuels, heat, hot water, etc.) and useful energies (energy services required, e.g. transport, air conditioning, etc.). A set of technologies (thermal, hydraulic, solar, geothermal, etc.) ensure the transformations along the energy chain in order to satisfy the useful demands. In doing so, ETEM-SG calculates a map of air pollutant and greenhouse gas emissions related to the use and location of these technologies.

ETEM-SG, a decision support tool adapted to an uncertain world

ETEM-SG can deal with the uncertainty of certain data, for example, heating demand, electricity price, performance of the next generation of luminaire, cost of installing a power plant or network, etc. ETEM-SG proposes an optimal cover decision that is robust to the modelled uncertainty.

ETEM-SG is free, adaptable and sustainable

ETEM-SG formulates a linear programming problem (in deterministic or stochastic version).  ETEM-SG is a free software written in a free programming language and uses free optimization programs. The model is written in GMPL, a free algebraic modelling language, a subset of AMPL, and the optimiser used is glpsol. Since it is free and written in a free interpreted language, ETEM-SG is open to any specific addition, as long as the problem addressed remains within the framework of linear programming.

ORDECSYS has participated in several projects of the European programmes and research on the economics of climate change. ORDECSYS contributed to develop a game-theoretic approach for the economic evaluation of possible climate agreements that would be compatible with the objectives of the Paris agreement.
The approach is based on a meta game model, where the gains of different country coalitions are evaluated using econometric methods applied to a large sample of simulations of a global general equilibrium model (see publications section).

ORDECSYS has developed a Bottom-up analysis of the expenses of the different groups of actors involved in major events, such as the Geneva International Motor Show or Telecom. This tool makes it possible to assess the direct economic impact for the canton of Geneva of all the events managed by PALEXPO, the Geneva Exhibition and Convention Centre. Thanks to the use of an "input-output" table, the indirect or induced effect of this expenditure on the Canton's economy is also evaluated.

ORDECSYS develops large-scale optimisation and simulation models in various fields. In particular, it has developed models for smart grids and the integration of variable renewable energies in electrical systems, as well as models for the design of gravity water supply systems and optimization models for the design of gas transmission networks.

In particular, ORDECSYS actively participates in the development and maintenance of Neatwork, a software for the design of gravity-fed drinking water supply systems for the NGO Agua Para La Vida, which works with rural communities in Nicaragua.

More information about Neatwork.

ORDECSYS promotes the use of stochastic and dynamic programming methods coupled with robust optimisation to develop decision models under uncertainty. Areas of application include risk management in finance, development of water resources or renewable energy, and climate risk management.