Air quality (AQ) and energy are two important topics, both socio-economically and politically. Energy and the environment are often 'competitive' in nature. The evolution of energy networks and the implementation of emission standards are simultaneous global concerns. This thesis work will explore the possibilities of air quality improvement in Luxembourg using a coupled energy - air quality model. It will analyse concentration levels of the most problematic pollutants in Luxembourg and surroundings, including SO2, NOx, VOC, CO, CO2, O3, PM10 and PM2.5. Air quality modelling has been adapted to these problematic gases and physical pollutants. We use the model AYLTP (AsYmptotic Level Transport Pollution Model), designed and adopted to specifically explore urban ozone levels using a fast reduced-order ozone calculator and pollutant transport model, appropriate for the optimization framework for which it is designed.

The doctoral project is divided in two parts; first, an air quality model will be developed and upgraded from a simpler prototype (TAPOM-Lite) and secondly, the model will be integrated and used in a larger meta-model LEAQ (Luxembourg Energy Air Quality). LEAQ embodies a dynamic optimisation approach, compelling mathematical programming models developed and implemented for the search of cost-effective energy policies and the air quality model AYLTP.

The coupling of these two models is one of the principle concerns in this project. The energy and air quality models are inherently different in their function, scope and scales. Coupling these models in a meaningful way and solving for best (lowest cost) energy solution is a systems analysis challenge and extremely important for integrated assessment work and environmental policy decision-making.