e3mlab

CASCADE-MINTS: Case Study Comparisons And Development of Energy Models for Integrated Technology Systems, for European Commission, DG Research 

CASCADE-MINTS is a modelling and technology analysis project in two parts.

Part 1

The prospect of a hydrogen economy touches on just about all aspects of the energy economy and requires integrated analytical treatment. Existing models will be extended and radically re-designed so as to describe all possible configurations of a hydrogen economy. This will include all demand categories where fuel cells can be used as well as the different options for distributing, storing and producing hydrogen from different primary sources. The models will be used to analyse scenarios assuming favourable trajectories for the technical and economic characteristics of hydrogen related technologies (both on the demand and supply side). Special attention will be given to technology clusters where particular breakthroughs may produce cumulative effects. In evaluating the scenarios emphasis will be given to the investment requirements, particularly infrastructure investments implied by them. The models used are specifically designed to describe analytically the whole energy system and will explicitly address issues of competition and complementarity of hydrogen with other energy system configurations and notably alternative futures for the power generation sector. Technology dynamics mechanisms will be incorporated in the models to enable them to perform R&D policy simulations in a dynamic environment where an increase in R&D effort produces improvements leading to higher technology adoption and hence to further improvements through experience gained in a virtuous learning circle. Stochastic modelling will be undertaken to allow a systematic assessment of the likelihood of different paths towards a hydrogen dominated energy system.

Part 2

In tackling climate change and security of supply the medium and long term, hydrogen and fuel cells, CO2 capture and storage, renewables and possibly nuclear energy could play a key role. The question is to what extent these technologies can contribute to lowering GHG emissions and import dependency, and to what extent appropriate policies can foster their development and subsequent deployment. In the analysis of the potential impact of new technologies and the evaluation of possible policy options, energy-economy-environment (E3) models can provide useful insights. Aiming at the most thorough analysis and the most robust policy responses the proposed project brings together experts on different E3 models to jointly analyse key issues on the energy policy agenda. PART 2 intends to enhance the communication between model experts and policy-makers and build consensus among modellers, i.e. strengthen ERA. Main outcomes of PART 2 are policy reports that address the potential role of technologies in promoting sustainable development.

 

Project coordinator

E3M-Lab, Institute of Communication and Computer Systems

Partners
  • Energy Research Centre of Netherlands
  • Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique – LEPII/EPE
  • International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis
  • Institute for Prospective Technological Studies – Joint Research Centre
  • Paul Scherrer Institut
  • Zentrum fur Europaische Wirtschaftsforschung
  • Deutsches Zentrum fuer Luft-und Raumfaht (German Aerospace Center)
  • Universitaet Stuttgart -Institute of Energy Economics and the Rational Use of Energy
  • Centrale Recherche SA - Ecole Centrale Paris, Lab. Erasme

 

For more information you can download the following related file(s):