The Energy Modelling Laboratory

In this paper, the authors present an approach to simulate climate and energy policy for the European Union (EU), using a flexible and modular agent-based modelling approach and a toolbox, called the Energy Modelling Laboratory (EMLab). The paper shortly reviews core challenges and approaches for modelling climate and energy policy in light of the energy transition. Furthermore, it presents an agent-based model of investment in power generation that has addressed a variety of European energy policy questions. The development of a flexible model core as well as modules on carbon and renewables policies, capacity mechanisms, investment behaviour, and representation of intermittent renewables is described. The authors present an overview of modelling results, ongoing projects, a case study on current reforms of the EU ETS (European Union Emissions Trading System), and they show their relevance in the EU context.

The paper "Simulating climate and energy policy with agend-based modelling: The Energy Modelling Laboratory (EMLab)" by Dr. Emile J. L. Chappin (visiting researcher at the Wuppertal Institute), Dr. Laurens J. de Vries, Dr. Joern C. Richstein, Dr. Pradyumna C. Bhagwat, Kaveri Iychettira, and Salman Khan (all Delft University of Technology) was published in "Environmental Modelling & Software", volume 96, and is available for purchase via ScienceDirect.