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Background Article 12 of the Paris Agreement summons the signing parties to co-operate in improving the education of their citizens on climate change and related matters. The article thereby acknowledges the importance of citizens’ support and understanding of climate change and needed measures to fight climate change. This work aims to inform European citizens on how climate change-related policies affect the power sector in Europe. For this purpose, a serious game, based on sound principles of energy systems analysis, has been developed to allow players to explore how key policy decisions affect capacity mix, investment needs, and electricity costs. Results The game is based on more than 1700 scenarios run through an open-source and accessible, yet technologically detailed, myopic energy system optimisation model for the electricity supply in the EU27 + 3. The game allows the user to take the role of a decision-maker and make decisions in 2020, 2030, and 2040 regarding the usage of CCS, biomass imports, cross-border electricity transmission and the pace of emission reductions. The user is then presented with economic, social, and environmental impacts of these choices. These impacts are, for example, measured and illustrated in the development of accumulated CO2 emissions per capita, levelised cost of electricity, and investment need per citizen. Conclusion The Power Decisions Game provides a first-of-its-kind open-source infrastructure that allows non-modellers to explore the impact of key decisions and preferences on the design of the future European power system. Furthermore, it provides insights on the consequences of short-sighted decision making. The game can be used to facilitate policy-science discussions., QC 20240717

This paper presents an innovative approach to addressing critical global challenges in long-term energy planning for low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). The paper proposes and tests an international enabling environment, a delivery ecosystem, and a community of practice. These components are integrated into workflows that yield four self-sustaining capacity-development outcomes. Planning long-term energy strategies in LMICs is particularly challenging due to limited national agency and poor international coordination. While outsourcing energy planning to foreign experts may appear to be a viable solution, it can lead to a reduction in government agency (the ability of a government to make its own informed analysis and decisions). Additionally, studies commissioned by external experts may have conflicting terms of reference, and a lack of familiarity with local conditions can result in misrepresentations of on-the-ground realities. It is argued here that enhancing national agency and analytical capacity can improve coordination and lead to more robust planning across line ministries and technical assistance (TA) providers. Moreover, the prevailing consulting model hampers the release and accessibility of underlying analytics, making it difficult to retrieve, reuse, and reconstruct consultant outputs. The absence of interoperability among outputs from various consultants hinders the ability to combine and audit the insights they provide. To overcome these challenges, five strategic principles for energy planning in LMICs have been introduced and developed in collaboration with 21 international and research organizations, including the AfDB, IEA, IRENA, IAEA, UNDP, UNECA, the World Bank, and WRI. These principles prioritize national ownership, coherence and inclusivity, capacity, robustness, transparency and accessibility. In this enabling environment, a unique delivery ecosystem consisting of knowledge products and activities is established. The paper focuses on, QC 20231128

A significant obstacle to the incorporation of Nexus considerations in planning and policy design is the understanding and acknowledgement of cross-sectoral interdependencies. This chapter explores the importance of disseminating knowledge of the Nexus among key actors from policy, business and civil society, and in formal education contexts. Examples from capacity development activities and Nexus dialogues linked to the implementation of the Climate, Land, Energy and Water systems (CLEWs) framework are presented. Insights from the latter, as well as other initiatives with similar scope of action, are distilled to forward the importance of learning in such an approach. Additionally, the chapter highlights the main aspects to take into account when promoting these types of activities in new Nexus contexts., Part of book: ISBN 978-1-83910-054-3 QC 20231012

The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development calls for the achievement of universal access to affordable, reli-able, sustainable and modern energy for all. To fulfil this ambition, least developed countries need to mobilise enormous investments in a short amount of time. Deciding the extent, priority and timing of these investments is a hard task, for which many governments currently lack internal resources. Development Partners are supporting these efforts by contributing to the national energy planning ecosystems. In this comment, we focus on the role of Development Partners. We reflect on the approach to support strategic energy planning they took so far and on how they may improve it to further - and more effectively -support countries where de-mand arises. We take the example of one recent capacity development effort in Sierra Leone. We highlight that academia is one pillar of the national energy planning ecosystem, and conclude that academic partnerships play a critical role in changing the paradigm from short-term capacity transfer to a more sustainable capacity development. Formalised academic partnerships may increase the retention of capacity and support na-tional planning ecosystems in becoming more self-sustained. Increased knowledge sharing on best open prac-tices for energy data and model infrastructure may further support the ecosystem by improving the communication between academia, government and utilities., QC 20221031

The Climate, Land, Energy and Water systems (CLEWs) approach guides the development of integrated assess-ments. The approach includes an analytical component that can be performed using simple accounting methods, soft-linking tools, incorporating cross-systems considerations in sectoral models, or using one modelling tool to represent CLEW systems. This paper describes how a CLEWs quantitative analysis can be performed using one single modelling tool, the Open Source Energy Modelling System (OSeMOSYS). Although OSeMOSYS was pri-marily developed for energy systems analysis, the tool's functionality and flexibility allow for its application to CLEWs. A step-by-step explanation of how climate, land, energy, and water systems can be represented with OSeMOSYS, complemented with the interpretation of sets, parameters, and variables in the OSeMOSYS code, is provided. A hypothetical case serves as the basis for developing a modelling exercise that exemplifies the building of a CLEWs model in OSeMOSYS. System-centred scenario analysis is performed with the integrated model example to illustrate its application. The analysis of results shows how integrated insights can be derived from the quantitative exercise in the form of conflicts, trade-offs, opportunities, and synergies. In addition to the modelling exercise, using the OSeMOSYS-CLEWs example in teaching, training and open science is explored to support knowledge transfer and advancement in the field., QC 20221018

With the publication of the European Green Deal, the European Union has committed to reaching carbon neutrality by 2050. The envisaged reductions of direct greenhouse gases emissions are seen as technically feasible, but if a wrong path is pursued, significant unintended impacts across borders, sectors, societies and ecosystems may follow. Without the insights gained from an impact assessment framework reaching beyond the techno-economic perspective, the pursuit of direct emission reductions may lead to counterproductive outcomes in the long run. We discuss the opportunities and challenges related to the creation and use of an integrated assessment framework built to inform the European Commission on the path to decarbonisation. The framework is peculiar in that it goes beyond existing ones in its scope, depth and cross-scale coverage, by use of numerous specialised models and case studies. We find challenges of consistency that can be overcome by linking modelling tools iteratively in some cases, harmonising modelling assumptions in others, comparing model outputs in others. We find the highest added value of the framework in additional insights it provides on the technical feasibility of decarbonisation pathways, on vulnerability aspects and on unintended environmental and health impacts on national and sub-national scale., QC 20220831, REEEM

The development of the electricity supply sector needs data and energy system models to aid government instances to achieve optimal decision-making. Since 2006, Ecuador has faced gradual changes in the electricity sector and invested more than 11 billion dollars in expanding the generation. We use an open-source model generator in the present study and develop the first long-term generation expansion model for Ecuador. We select specific social and hurdle rates to represent the government's decision to mobilize private energy infrastructure investments. We build scenarios for social and hurdle rates to evaluate the sensitivity of renewable and conventional generation technologies to such rates. Results show that medium and large hydropower have a low sensitivity to discount rates. Medium and large hydropower plays a significant role in the energy mix in the mid and long-term, regardless of the discount rate. Results from this model find no significant contribution of non-hydro renewables. Among these, only geothermal reaches around 160 MW for all scenarios. Installing geothermal and hydropower minimizes generation from conventional technologies until 2034; then, CCGT installations increase CO2 emissions above 2020 levels., QC 20220601

Renewable energy potential at a local level is important if communities are to play a role in the wider global energy transition. The following thesis studies the ongoing transition on the island of Lewis and Harris, part of the Western Isles, Scotland. A PLEXOS energy model is constructed, focusing on the island’s electricity system. Future local renewable potential is investigated through several scenarios. Electrification of heating and transportation sectors is assumed, via high uptake of heat pumps and electric vehicles, as the replacement of the failed subsea mainland interconnection and the future of the island’s diesel power station are explored. Battery energy storage systems provide a potential solution to the decommissioning of the diesel power station, coupled with additional solar photovoltaics to complement already installed wind resources. The importance of interconnection capacity is highlighted if the island is to become a major exporter of wind power, although through sensitivity analysis it was found that the economic viability of new wind turbines is uncertain due to falling mainland electricity prices. The representation of the mainland is identified as a key limitation within the study, in particular the projection of future electricity prices and their potential temporal relationship with local wind production. Greater consideration here would be beneficial. Expansion of the modelling to include heating demands at a wider level, alongside potential hydrogen production, could be interesting areas to explore further.

In order to achieve sustainable development, Bangladesh needs to develop its electricity systems to guarantee its citizens access to modern energy services and achieve economic development, while not compromising the global climate. This study aims to examine what mix of technologies leads to the least costs for the electricity system under different scenario assumptions. This is done by creating a model of the electricity system of Bangladesh, using the linear optimisation tool OSeMOSYS. The results show a prominence of ultra-supercritical coal power as the lowest cost option for baseload generation in the business as usual and most other scenarios. Unlike in previous studies, solar power is economically competitive in every single scenario, and only limited by the amount of land available for new capacity additions. However, by following a cost minimisation strategy, without emissions restrictions or high carbon prices, the CO2 emissions of the Bangladeshi electricity sector may increase significantly by the end of the model period in 2045., QC 20220120

The transition to a low carbon energy system as laid out in the Paris Agreement and the European GreenDeal presents challenges that involve society at all levels from planners to consumers. A key challenge isthe communication across these levels. Tools to foster engagement and discussion between the differentactors are open-source models with a low threshold for uptake. This paper presents the Open-Sourceelectricity Model Base for Europe an electricity sector engagement model covering all member statesof the EU, Norway, Switzerland and the United Kingdom. Built in OSeMOSYS and available on GitHub, themodel provides a starting point into energy systems modelling and can be further developed in acollaborative manner. It enables non-experts to develop an understanding of energy systems models andenergy planning. Thereby, it can serve as an engagement tool to carry the debate on the future of theEuropean power system beyond the academy, which might contribute to finding societal consensus onhow to decarbonise our energy system. The model allows dynamic power sector expansion analysis ofthe European power system till 2050. It can be used for scenario analysis and is expandable to othersectors to analyse the benefits of sector coupling., QC 20211028

Energy modelling is critical for addressing challenges such as integrating variable renewable energy and addressing climate impacts. This paper describes the updated code management structure and code updates, the revised community forum and the outreach activities that have built a vibrant community of practice around OSeMOSYS. The code management structure has allowed code improvements to be incorporated into the model, the community forum provides users with a place to ask and answer questions, and the outreach activities connect members of the community. Overall, these three pillars show how a community of practice can be built around an open source tool and provides an example for other developers and users of open source software wanting to build a community of practice., QC 20210710

Population growth, urbanization and economic development drive the use of resources. Securing access to essential services such as energy, water, and food, while achieving sustainable development, require that policy and planning processes follow an integrated approach. The 'Climate-, Land-, Energy- and Water-systems' (CLEWs) framework assists the exploration of interactions between (and within) CLEW systems via quantitative means. The approach was first introduced by the International Atomic Energy Agency to conduct an integrated systems analysis of a biofuel chain. The framework assists the exploration of interactions between (and within) CLEW systems via quantitative means. Its multi-institutional application to the case of Mauritius in 2012 initiated the deployment of the framework. A vast number of completed and ongoing applications of CLEWs span different spatial and temporal scales, discussing two or more resource interactions under different political contexts. Also, the studies vary in purpose. This shapes the methods that support CLEWs-type analyses. In this paper, we detail the main steps of the CLEWs framework in perspective to its application over the years. We summarise and compare key applications, both published in the scientific literature, as working papers and reports by international organizations. We discuss differences in terms of geographic scope, purpose, interactions represented, analytical approach and stakeholder involvement. In addition, we review other assessments, which contributed to the advancement of the CLEWs framework. The paper delivers recommendations for the future development of the framework, as well as keys to success in this type of evaluations., QC 20210401

Decarbonisation of national economies to mitigate climate change requires transformation of the entire energy system. Investments in renewable energy technologies in the electricity supply system are increasing, but substantial effort is called for in other sectors, such as transport. While European Union member states have submitted their integrated National Energy and Climate Plans, this paper focuses on partial electrification of the transport sector as a measure to reduce carbon dioxide emissions in the isolated grid system of Cyprus in a cost-effective manner. The present work assesses the impact of electric vehicle deployment on the share of renewable electricity generation, electricity costs and carbon dioxide emissions. Quantification of these aspects is provided with an outlook until 2035. A cost-optimisation model (OSeMOSYS) is used that takes into account the electricity supply, road transport, and heating and cooling sectors. Smart charging option is also evaluated as a possibility., QC 20201006