407
water supply necessary for power generation at the upstream planning stage is typically assumed to exist and is often not considered to be a limiting factor in operations although it is accepted that potential constraints will be an important factor.
The consumptive use of water necessary for the generation of energy production required by water infrastructure is not considered dynamically within models.
In these situations, there is an inherent multiplier on both energy and water
demands that may be overlooked when employing the traditional approach to
modeling and analysis. While this effect may be quite marginal in regions with
ample supplies of both water and energy, it could become a central cross-sector
constraint in regions with resource scarcity and will require accurate evaluation
and analysis.
Energy sector models have advanced substantially over the past decades, and
these can also incorporate estimates of water demand for energy production through
simple coefficients of water utilization per unit of output. A wide range of models is
available, from fairly basic electricity capacity expansion models to very detailed
electricity network models to economy-wide general equilibrium models with representations of various types of energy supply and demand. However, the energy
models do not address total water availability, and its dynamic nature or (economic
as well as volumetric) trade-offs among water uses.
In some advanced models, water availability and variability is taken into account
as it affects hydropower production and with that other supply options to the system. The linkages of such water availability and variability with other sectors are
usually handled by incorporating exogenous constraints or parameters in the energy
models (e.g., minimum environmental or navigation outflows, quotas for irrigations, among others).
LEAP (Long-range Energy Alternatives Planning) is a widely used energy
systems model used for energy policy analysis and climate change mitigation
assessment developed at the Stockholm Environment Institute. LEAP is an integrated, scenario-based modeling tool that can be used to track energy consumption,
production and resource extraction in all sectors of an economy. It is typically used
to account for both energy sector and non-energy sector greenhouse gas (GHG)
emission sources and sinks. LEAP has been used together with WEAP to analyze
trade-offs in the energy–water nexus.
TIMES (The Integrated MARKAL-EFOM System) model generator was
developed as part of the IEA-ETSAP (International Energy Agency Energy
Technology Systems Analysis Program), an international community which uses
long-term energy scenarios to conduct in-depth energy and environmental analyses.
The TIMES model combines two different components to model energy systems: a
technical engineering approach (energy technologies) and an economic (least cost
optimization) approach. TIMES uses linear-programming to produce a least-cost
energy system, optimized according to a number of user constraints, over medium
to long-term time horizons. TIMES is used for the exploration of possible energy
futures based on contrasted scenarios.
15 Modeling
water supply necessary for power generation at the upstream planning stage is typically assumed to exist and is often not considered to be a limiting factor in operations although it is accepted that potential constraints will be an important factor.
The consumptive use of water necessary for the generation of energy production required by water infrastructure is not considered dynamically within models.
In these situations, there is an inherent multiplier on both energy and water
demands that may be overlooked when employing the traditional approach to
modeling and analysis. While this effect may be quite marginal in regions with
ample supplies of both water and energy, it could become a central cross-sector
constraint in regions with resource scarcity and will require accurate evaluation
and analysis.
Energy sector models have advanced substantially over the past decades, and
these can also incorporate estimates of water demand for energy production through
simple coefficients of water utilization per unit of output. A wide range of models is
available, from fairly basic electricity capacity expansion models to very detailed
electricity network models to economy-wide general equilibrium models with representations of various types of energy supply and demand. However, the energy
models do not address total water availability, and its dynamic nature or (economic
as well as volumetric) trade-offs among water uses.
In some advanced models, water availability and variability is taken into account
as it affects hydropower production and with that other supply options to the system. The linkages of such water availability and variability with other sectors are
usually handled by incorporating exogenous constraints or parameters in the energy
models (e.g., minimum environmental or navigation outflows, quotas for irrigations, among others).
LEAP (Long-range Energy Alternatives Planning) is a widely used energy
systems model used for energy policy analysis and climate change mitigation
assessment developed at the Stockholm Environment Institute. LEAP is an integrated, scenario-based modeling tool that can be used to track energy consumption,
production and resource extraction in all sectors of an economy. It is typically used
to account for both energy sector and non-energy sector greenhouse gas (GHG)
emission sources and sinks. LEAP has been used together with WEAP to analyze
trade-offs in the energy–water nexus.
TIMES (The Integrated MARKAL-EFOM System) model generator was
developed as part of the IEA-ETSAP (International Energy Agency Energy
Technology Systems Analysis Program), an international community which uses
long-term energy scenarios to conduct in-depth energy and environmental analyses.
The TIMES model combines two different components to model energy systems: a
technical engineering approach (energy technologies) and an economic (least cost
optimization) approach. TIMES uses linear-programming to produce a least-cost
energy system, optimized according to a number of user constraints, over medium
to long-term time horizons. TIMES is used for the exploration of possible energy
futures based on contrasted scenarios.
15 Modeling