Energy Systems Analysis - Projects

North European TIMES model

The objective of the project, financed by the Norwegian Research Council, is to investigate the role of Norway and Northern Europe in the future European energy system. Within the project period, 2011 to 2015, the deliverables will include a new high resolution Northern European TIMES model (time period 2006 – 2050), analysis of the Norwegian and the Northern European region, linkage of the Norwegian and North European analysis with global analysis and implementation of stochastic modelling of wind and hydro resources. The project will inter alia examine the consequences on the Norwegian energy prices if we operate our hydropower as a regulator of European wind power and how this will affect optimal investments in renewable energy production in Norway.

Cente for Sustainable Energy Studies (CenSES)

CenSES is a research centre environmentally friendly energy, and is a collaboration between NTNU, UiO, SINTEF, IFE, NHH, SNF and Høgskulen i Sogn og Fjordane. CenSES research objective is to conduct research that supports public and private decision makers in strategic decisions and policies that will promote environment-friendly energy technologies and lead to a sustainable energy system. The research in five integrated areas will result in new policy recommendations, tools and models, strategies and scenarios. CenSES will perform a number of scenario studies and user cases; develop master courses and a PhD school and disseminate results to the public. IFE is responsible for the research area Energy system and markets. For more information: http://www.censes.no

ODYSSEE-MURE

This EU project aims at monitoring energy efficiency trends and policy measures in Europe. It has representatives from the 27 EU Member States plus Norway and Croatia. The project relies on two comprehensive databases: ODYSSEE and MURE. ODYSSEE contains, on the one hand, detailed data on the energy consumption drivers by end-use and sub-sector and, on the other hand, energy efficiency and CO2 related indicators. MURE is a data base on policy measures. For more information see: http://www.odyssee-indicators.org/

ElDek (Electricity Demand Knowledge)

The main objective of the project is to increase the knowledge concerning the electricity demand for different groups of end-users such as household customers and office buildings. The increased knowledge will be achieved through establishing mathematical and statistical methods for calculating both the total electricity demand (bottom-up) and the specific electricity demand for different end-uses (top-down) based on limited metered data. Project leader is SINTEF Energy Research and IFE, NTNU, Enova and NVE are partners in the project. The project period is 2009-2012.

Energy Technology Systems Analysis Program (ETSAP)

IFE is a contributing partner in the Energy Technology Systems Analysis Program (ETSAP), an Implementing Agreement of the International Energy Agency (IEA). ETSAP has members in almost 70 countries where the members mainly use MARKAL / TIMES models that are suitable for long term and technology specific energy and environmental analysis on a local, regional, national and global level. The consortium is cooperating actively to establish, maintain and develop the model tools, and meets twice a year to exchange experiences, discuss ways to improve the tools and manage joint activities. More information is available at: http://www.iea-etsap.org/

Development of a long-term Norwegian Times model

The basis of this development is the existing Norwegian short term Times model (2020) that was developed on commission from the Norwegian Water Resources and Energy Directorate (NVE). The future long-term model, with a time period from 2006 to 2050, will divide Norway into seven regions, with exchange of electricity between regions and with neighbouring countries. The model will include a wide range of demand sectors, where especially the industry will be modelled in great detail. A summary of some of the main remaining tasks for extension to a long-term model is given below:

• Improved modelling of electricity production, electricity transmission and exchange, the offshore sector, transport, bio energy, carbon capture and storage (CCS), energy efficiency, etc
• Include export/import of hydrogen, bio energy, CO₂, and other “commodities” between regions and neighbouring countries
• Improved modelling of natural gas, CO₂, hydrogen, and bio energy infrastructure