Abstract
There is a debate regarding the suitability of global integrated assessment models (IAMs) for long-term planning exercises of the global energy system. This study informs this debate from a power system perspective and proposes a methodological framework for soft-linking of global IAMs with detailed global power system models. With the proposed open-source framework, the scenario results from IAMs can be fed into a power system model to assess given scenarios with enhanced modelling resolution. Results from these simulations can be redirected to the IAM through iterative bi-directional soft-linking. A proof of concept application is presented by linking global IAM MESSAGEix-GLOBIOM with global power system model PLEXOS-World. Among others, the results suggest that the assumption of unconstrained electricity flows inside large regional copperplates without internal network constraints causes an overestimation of the potential of variable renewables within MESSAGEix-GLOBIOM. We propose areas for informed improvements in MESSAGEix-GLOBIOM and for IAMs in general.
Highlights
Sections 3.4.1-3.4.4 are focused on simulations based on the first iteration in MESSAGEixGLOBIOM whereas section 3.4.5 analyses the differences for both iterations in MESSAGEix-GLOBIOM related to inter-regional electricity trade
The main observation is that for both the ‘Baseline’- as the other simulations in PLEXOS-World the total generation output is lower compared to the MESSAGEix-GLOBIOM scenario output
Following the given scenario in MESSAGEix-GLOBIOM the 2050 electricity generation in the CPA region – consisting of China and a number of neighbouring countries – equals approximately 55.5 EJ whereas generation in the PLEXOS-World simulations ranges between 43-45 EJ
Summary
Integrated Assessment Models (IAMs) are widely used to assess scenarios for the long-term evolution of the global energy system over multiple decades [1,2]. Pietzcker et al [1] developed a set of qualitative and quantitative criteria which allows for critical scrutiny of power system representation in IAMS Based on these criteria additional required improvements for future versions of global IAMs have been identified. This includes the overall modelling of electricity transmission infrastructure with a focus on the general pooling effect of shared generation resources through transmission integration as well as limitations on internal electricity flows in large model regions like Latin America due to power transmission constraints [1,19,20,21,22]. Due to the dedicated sectoral scope, a range of state of the art power system models such as Artelys Crystal Super Grid [25,26,27], LUSYM [28,29], LUT Energy System Transition model [30], PLEXOS [31,32,33,34,35] and PyPSA [36,37] have proven ability to simulate spatially rich continental- or global-scale models with hourly temporal resolution at minimum
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
