Enabling FAIR Energy Research Software
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.52825/ocp.v9i.3279Keywords:
Energy Research Software, Software Management Plan, Software Journal, Research Software EngineeringAbstract
Energy Research Software (ERS) is a central cornerstone to facilitate energy research, e.g., by enabling data analytics or simulations of energy systems. However, most ERS does not comply with the FAIR principles and, therefore, is often not reused. To enable FAIR ERS different domain-specific standards are required, e.g., for metadata. Additionally, services can support researchers to make their ERS FAIR. A good understanding of possible helpful and required standards and services is an important first step towards their creation. Therefore, we provide a general definition of ERS and present a vision which services and standards are needed to enable FAIR ERS. We analyze the current state of these services and standards in the energy domain and provide an outlook to further developments.
Downloads
References
[1] A. J. Christe, S. I. Negrashov, P. M. Johnson, D. Nakahodo, D. Badke, and D. Aghalarpour, "OPQ Version 2: An Architecture for Distributed, Real-Time, High Performance Power Data Acquisition, Analysis, and Visualization", in 2017 IEEE 7th Annual International Conference on CYBER Technology in Automation, Control, and Intelligent Systems (CYBER), Jul. 2017, pp. 1415–1419. DOI: 10.1109/CYBER.2017.8446111.
[2] W. Wu, J. S. Partridge, and R. W. G. Bucknall, "Simulation of a Stabilised Control Strategy for PEM Fuel Cell and Supercapacitor Hybrid Propulsion System for a City Bus", International Journal of Hydrogen Energy, vol. 43, no. 42, pp. 19763–19777, Oct. 2018. ISSN: 0360-3199. DOI: 10.1016/j.ijhydene.2018.09.004.
[3] C. Steinbrink, M. Blank-Babazadeh, A. El-Ama et al., "CPES Testing with Mosaik: Co-Simulation Planning, Execution and Analysis", Applied Sciences, vol. 9, no. 5, p. 923, Jan. 2019. DOI: 10.3390/app9050923.
[4] K. Löffler, K. Hainsch, T. Burandt, P. Oei, C. Kemfert, and C. Von Hirschhausen, "Designing a Model for the Global Energy System—GENeSYS-MOD: An Application of the Open-Source Energy Modeling System (OSeMOSYS)", Energies, vol. 10, no. 10, p. 1468, Oct. 2017. DOI: 10.3390/en10101468.
[5] W. Hasselbring, L. Carr, S. Hettrick, H. Packer, and T. Tiropanis, "From FAIR Research Data toward FAIR and Open Research Software", it - Information Technology, vol. 62, no. 1, pp. 39–47, Feb. 2020. ISSN: 1611-2776, 2196-7032. DOI: 10.1515/itit-2019-0040.
[6] H. Anzt, F. Bach, S. Druskat et al., "An Environment for Sustainable Research Software in Germany and beyond: Current State, Open Challenges, and Call for Action", F1000Research, vol. 9, p. 295, Jan. 2021. ISSN: 2046-1402. DOI: 10.12688/f1000research.23224.2.
[7] M. Hoffmann, B. U. Schyska, J. Bartels et al., "A Review of Mixed-Integer Linear Formulations for Framework-Based Energy System Models", Advances in Applied Energy, vol. 16, p. 100190, Dec. 2024. ISSN: 2666-7924. DOI: 10.1016/j.adapen.2024.100190.
[8] S. Ferenz, and A. Nieße, "Towards Improved Findability of Energy Research Software by Introducing a Metadata-based Registry", ing.grid, vol. 1, no. 2, Nov. 2023. ISSN: 2941-1300. DOI: 10.48694/inggrid.3837.
[9] N. P. Chue Hong, D. S. Katz, M. Barker et al., "FAIR Principles for Research Software (FAIR4RS Principles)", FAIR4RS WG, Tech. Rep., May 2022. DOI: 10.15497/RDA00068.
[10] M. D. Wilkinson, M. Dumontier, I. J. Aalbersberg et al., "The FAIR Guiding Principles for Scientific Data Management and Stewardship", Scientific Data, vol. 3, no. 1, pp. 1–9, Mar. 2016. ISSN: 2052-4463. DOI: 10.1038/sdata.2016.18.
[11] F. Belliard, A. M. Maineri, E. Plomp, A. F. R. Padilla, J. Sun, and M. Z. Jeddi, "Ten Simple Rules for Starting FAIR Discussions in Your Community", PLOS Computational Biology, vol. 19, no. 12, p. e1011668, Dec. 2023. ISSN: 1553-7358. DOI: 10.1371/journal.pcbi.1011668.
[12] M. Barker, "FAIR4RS Roadmap Report", Tech. Rep., Feb. 2022. DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.6239373.
[13] M. Gruenpeter, D. S. Katz, A. Lamprecht et al., "Defining Research Software: A Controversial Discussion", Zenodo, Tech. Rep., Sep. 2021. DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.5504016.
[14] P. J. Runci, and J. J. Dooley, "Research and Development Trends for Energy", in Encyclopedia of Energy, C. J. Cleveland, Ed., New York: Elsevier, Jan. 2004, pp. 443–449. ISBN: 978-0-12-176480-7. DOI: 10.1016/B0-12-176480-X/00477-0.
[15] Bundesministerium für Wirtschaft und Klimaschutz (BMWK), "8. Energieforschungsprogramm Zur Angewandten Energieforschung – Forschungsmissionen Für Die Energiewende", Tech. Rep., Oct. 2023. Accessed: Sep. 5, 2025. [Online]. Available: https://www.bundeswirtschaftsministerium.de/Redaktion/DE/Publikationen/Energie/8-energieforschungsprogramm-zur-angewandten-energieforschung.html.
[16] D. Garijo, H. Ménager, L. Hwang et al., "Nine Best Practices for Research Software Registries and Repositories", PeerJ Computer Science, vol. 8, p. e1023, Aug. 2022. ISSN: 2376-5992. DOI: 10.7717/peerj-cs.1023.
[17] J. Ison, H. Ienasescu, P. Chmura et al., "The Bio.Tools Registry of Software Tools and Data Resources for the Life Sciences", Genome Biology, vol. 20, no. 1, p. 164, Aug. 2019. ISSN: 1474-760X. DOI: 10.1186/s13059-019-1772-6.
[18] J. Ison, H. Ienasescu, E. Rydza et al., "BiotoolsSchema: A Formalized Schema for Bioinformatics Software Description", GigaScience, vol. 10, no. 1, 2021. ISSN: 2047-217X. DOI: 10.1093/gigascience/giaa157.
[19] A. Johanson, and W. Hasselbring, "Software Engineering for Computational Science: Past, Present, Future", Computing in Science & Engineering, vol. 20, no. 2, pp. 90–109, Mar. 2018. ISSN: 1558-366X. DOI: 10.1109/MCSE.2018.021651343.
[20] S. Druskat, M. Felderer, and C. Haupt, "Software Engineering, Research Software and Requirements Engineering", in Softwaretechnik-Trends Band 44, Heft 1, Gesellschaft für Informatik e.V., 2024. ISSN: 0720-8928. Accessed: Jan. 2, 2025. [Online]. Available: https://dl.gi.de/handle/20.500.12116/44043.
[21] M. List, P. Ebert, and F. Albrecht, "Ten Simple Rules for Developing Usable Software in Computational Biology", PLOS Computational Biology, vol. 13, no. 1, p. e1005265, Jan. 2017. ISSN: 1553-7358. DOI: 10.1371/journal.pcbi.1005265.
[22] R. Alves, D. Bampalikis, L. J. Castro et al., "ELIXIR Software Management Plan for Life Sciences", OSF, Oct. 2021. DOI: 10.37044/osf.io/k8znb.
[23] A. Smith, K. Niemeyer, D. Katz et al., "Journal of Open Source Software (JOSS): Design and First-Year Review", PeerJ Computer Science, vol. 2018, no. 2, 2018. DOI: 10.7717/peerj-cs.147.
[24] E. Martín del Pico, J. L. Gelpí, and S. Capella-Gutierrez, "FAIRsoft—a Practical Implementation of FAIR Principles for Research Software", Bioinformatics, vol. 40, no. 8, p. btae464, Jul. 2024. ISSN: 1367-4803. DOI: 10.1093/bioinformatics/btae464.
[25] Deekshitha, S. Farshidi, J. Maassen, R. Bakhshi, R. Van Nieuwpoort, and S. Jansen, "FAIRSECO: An Extensible Framework for Impact Measurement of Research Software", in 2023 IEEE 19th International Conference on E-Science (e-Science), Limassol, Cyprus: IEEE, Oct. 2023, pp. 1–10. ISBN: 979-8-3503-2223-1. DOI: 10.1109/e-Science58273.2023.10254664.
[26] S. Ferenz, O. Werth, and A. Nieße, "Requirements for a Metadata Scheme to Enable FAIR Energy Research Software", Electronic Communications of the EASST, vol. 83, Feb. 2025. ISSN: 1863-2122. DOI: 10.14279/eceasst.v83.2594.
[27] S. Ferenz, E. Frost, R. Schrage et al., "Ten Recommendations for Engineering Research Software in Energy Research", in Proceedings of the 16th ACM International Conference on Future and Sustainable Energy Systems, ser. E-Energy '25, New York, NY, USA: Association for Computing Machinery, Jun. 2025, pp. 446–459. ISBN: 979-8-4007-1125-1. DOI: 10.1145/3679240.3734606.
[28] T. Brown, J. Hörsch, and D. Schlachtberger, "PyPSA: Python for Power System Analysis", Journal of Open Research Software, vol. 6, no. 1, Jan. 2018. ISSN: 2049-9647. DOI: 10.5334/jors.188.
[29] P. Kuckertz, J. Göpfert, O. Karras et al., "DataDesc: A Framework for Creating and Sharing Technical Metadata for Research Software Interfaces", Patterns, p. 101064, Oct. 2024. ISSN: 2666-3899. DOI: 10.1016/j.patter.2024.101064.
[30] J. Klar, O. Michaelis, D. Wallace et al., "Research Data Management Organiser (RDMO)", Zenodo, Jul. 2025. DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.15807655.
[31] L. J. Castro, K. Diederichs, M. Gonzalez-Ocanto et al., "DMP4NFDI - NFDI Basic Service for Data Management Plans. Proposal Integration Phase", May 2025. DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.15482168.
[32] D. Nüst, and S. J. Eglen, "CODECHECK: An Open Science Initiative for the Independent Execution of Computations Underlying Research Articles during Peer Review to Improve Reproducibility", F1000Research, Jul. 2021. DOI: 10.12688/f1000research.51738.2.
[33] "Auto CodeMeta Generator", Ontology Engineering Group (UPM), Jun. 2025. Accessed: Jul. 17, 2025. [Online]. Available: https://github.com/oeg-upm/auto-codemeta-generator.
[34] S. Ferenz, A. Jafarbigloo, O. Werth, and A. Nieße, SMECS: A Software Metadata Extraction and Curation Software, Jul. 2025. DOI: 10.48550/arXiv.2507.18159, arXiv: 2507.18159 [cs].
[35] L. J. Castro, B. Mathiak, and A. Nieße, "Connected Open Source Software - ConnOSS - Proposal", Jun. 2025. DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.15616384.
[36] W. Hasselbring, S. Druskat, J. Bernoth et al., "Multi-Dimensional Research Software Categorization", Computing in Science & Engineering, pp. 1–10, 2025. ISSN: 1558-366X. DOI: 10.1109/MCSE.2025.3555023.
Downloads
Published
How to Cite
Conference Proceedings Volume
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2026 Stephan Ferenz, Oliver Werth, Astrid Nieße

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
Funding data
-
Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft
Grant numbers 501865131