Abstract Integrated, model-based energy planning particularly in cities and territories involves different planning and modelling activities, which, from a methodological point of view, can be divided into four phases. The analysis and findings of this study focus on planning “phase I”, which is devoted to preparation and orientation. Despite the importance of this planning phase, which is underlined in several papers, only a few studies have addressed planning phase I partially using a systematic methodology. A brief review of planning activities, problems and methods enables mapping the applicability of these methods to their purpose in planning context. The review reveals that no methodological support is provided to fulfil all of the requirements and tasks of this phase. Thus, a methodology for supporting “phase I” activities is presented and illustrated using Singapore as a case study. The methodology combines methods that are either already used in energy planning or borrowed from the area of inventive problem solving, and a specially developed method. The methodology can explicitly reveal problems, key and hidden contradictions, which allows a better understanding of the situation and requirements for the next planning phase especially when looking for solutions beyond common optimality (innovative solutions).