Combined energy models

Abstract

The electric power industry, which is affected by nearly every major energy policy decision and which is confronted with its own difficult policy and planning problems, has been at the forefront of the development, analysis, and use of large-scale energy models. The research on the methodology of large-scale energy models has improved the capability to understand and manipulate existing models, and has created the capability for efficiently building new models or adapting old models to the study of new problems. Most large-scale models of any type are highly structured, and large-scale energy models are no exception. Typically, the model grows through the combination of several smaller models of individual component sectors. These combined energy models build on the extensive work invested in modeling the separate sectors, adding the capability of the combined system to characterize the sometimes unexpected effects of feedbacks through the interactions of the several model components. An examination of the methodology employed in different combined energy modeling efforts reveals a common framework for organizing the models, establishing the properties of the solutions, and manipulating the model in the study of particular policy and planning problems. Within this general framework, the many modeling techniques found in practice aremore » described, how these techniques can be applied to other models are shown, and an approach to the development and application of combined models is outlined. The results should serve as a guide to the use of the many models developed by and available to energy decision makers in the electric power industry, other energy industries, and the public sector.« less