FORUM - Establishment of a forum for the comparison of the TIMES-MARKAL and SEPIA-LEAP model as a support for Belgian long-term energy policy

Ever since the oil crisis of 1973 policy makers have expressed a growing need for reliable projections of future energy demand, energy technology development, and related emissions and costs. This need has been met by a widespread development of energy models. The ability to apply the models effectively and efficiently in the context of energy-, climate- and/or sustainability-related policy questions still leaves somewhat to be desired. The gap between modelers and potential users of the models remains large, due to in-built characteristics of energy models (e.g. assumptions w.r.t. the adoption of energy-saving behaviour, the functioning of markets, etc.) which often remain 'hidden' for policy makers.

This project develops and tests relevant criteria for the evaluation and comparison of two energy modeling tools (SEPIA-LEAP - an energy accounting simulation model and MARKAL-TIMES - a partial equilibrium energy optimisation model) as a support for deliberations on long-term sustainable energy and climate change policies in the Belgian context. Both tools were used in two projects funded under the BELSPO programme 'Science for Sustainable Development' (2008-2010). 

Project lead: Aviel Verbruggen (UA - coordinator);  Pieter Lodewijks (VITO)

Collaborators: Erik Laes, Wouter Nijs (VITO); Johan Couder (UA) 

Period: 15/12/2009 - 31/01/2012 

Funded by: BELSPO, Belgian Science Policy. Research project SD/CL/006 (Research action SD)  Program manager Igor Struyf.

For further information, please contact Johan Couder by e-mail johan.couder@ua.ac.be or phone 03 265 49 02

Last updated on 21st December, 2011.