DWG's mission is to materially contribute to the effective formulation of national and regional energy policies that will support economic growth, energy security and environmental protection. 

DWG provides policy analysis, model development, training and capacity building in the field of integrated energy system planning. 

Expertise and Experience

POLICY

ANALYSIS

US MODEL

DEVELOPMENT

INTERNATIONAL

WORK

MARKAL/TIMES

MODEL &

COLLABORATION

Policy Analysis

Center for Climate Strategies: Strategic Investment Project

DWG provided the analytic foundation to support a CCS study on the “Impacts of Comprehensive Climate and Energy Policy Options on the U.S. Economy.”  The study used the DWG US National MARKAL model to analyze national-level costs and benefits of implementing clean energy policies that are popular at the state level.  The study identified policy actions designed to simultaneously achieve overlapping, net positive economic, security, and environmental benefits.  The study also identified the investment requirements for each and the likely sources of public and private financing that would benefit from these specific public sector actions. 

DWG assisted the DOE Office of Program Analysis and Evaluation to perform an integrated analysis of the costs and benefits of the various DOE advanced energy programs as part of the Budget development process.  DWG developed a tailored version of its US national MARKAL model for this work.  The analyses, involving hundreds of model runs, explored the impacts of increasing or decreasing funding to various programs to help identify a more optimal mix of agency resources.  DWG also performed specific model analyses based on policy questions of importance to DOE.  This work was performed as part of advising the FY2012, FY2013 and FY2014 budgets. 

Over a 3-year period, the DWG team worked with NRDC to conduct analyses of proposed CO2 Cap and Trade legislation under consideration in the US Congress.  Analyses focused on various legislative initiatives, including the Waxman-Markey bill, the Lieberman-Warner bill, and the Sanders-Boxer bill.  The analyses were performed using an improved and updated version of the US national MARKAL model originally developed by the Environmental Protection Agency’s Office of Research and Development with support from the DWG principals.  The analysis shows that the proposed CO2 reduction targets are achievable with minimal increase in the overall cost of the energy system. 

US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Office of Research and Development (ORD), Nine Region US Model (US9r)

The DWG team, supported by OnLocation, Inc., developed the key components the 1st multi-region USMARKALS model, US9r, which models the US energy system according to the nine census divisions.  US9r is used by EPA-ORD to look at climate change and longer term clean air issues out to 2050.  EPA-ORD has made US9r available to interested parties through the Environmental Science Connector website (https://ssoprod.epa.gov/sso/jsp/obloginESCNew.jsp). 

Northeast States for Coordinated Air Use Management: NE-12 Model Development

The DWG team, supported by OnLocation, Inc. designed and implemented the first multi-state MARKAL/TIMES model of the US.  Initially a 6-state New England MARKAL model was prepared as part of the New England Governors/Eastern Canadian Premier climate initiative.  Later the model was expanded to a 12-state model of the Northeast covering the states from Maine to Washington, DC.  The framework has been used to examine issues for numerous states in the Northeast including New York, Maryland, Massachusetts, and Connecticut.  More information on NE-12 can be found at http://www.nescaum.org/topics/ne-markal-model. 

US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Office of Research and Development (ORD): National MARKAL Model Development

DWG experts provided basic and advanced training to EPA-ORD and supported the development, improvement and expansion of a national MARKAL model.  DWG supported the Atmospheric Protection Branch to develop and assess the environmental and economic consequences of energy technology futures scenarios for the U.S. as part of a study on the air quality impacts of climate change DWG also developed a methane emissions module for the national MARKAL model which was used by the EPA Methane to markets program..

Between 2005 and 2012, the DWG team supported two major USAID projects for the Energy Community Treaty countries of Southeast Europe and Eurasia to develop a consistent regional approach for assessing energy demand, investment requirements and cooperation opportunities by building national energy system planning models and capability.  As part of the first project, Southeast Europe Regional Energy Demand Planning Project (SEE-REDP), which was conducted from 2005 to 2007, the DWG team created energy system planning capability by organizing and training teams from eight South East European countries, and worked closely with them to develop MARKAL-based national energy planning models for each country.  The data for each model was assembled by the country experts, who were trained by the DWG team to understand and use their models to analyze a range of planning scenarios and priority issues facing the countries.  Specific analyses focused on future energy requirements and the implications of economic growth in the region within the framework of the Energy Community. 

The DWG team developed a TIMES energy system planning model that integrates Pakistan’s energy demand and supply situation for all sectors of the country.  The DWG team worked with local experts and the Planning Commission of the Government of Pakistan to develop needed data, including resource cost-supply curves and useful energy demand projections for Pakistan.  Training and capacity building was provided for a local energy planning team, comprised of seven institutions, that enabled them to analyze possible energy futures, assess the impacts of various policy scenarios and support more informed decision-making. 

The need to understand the interactions between energy and water use is growing relative to the planning and development challenges surrounding sustainable access to water, land, food, energy and a clean environment – especially as the stresses created by population, economic development and climate change impacts increase.  The World Bank engaged DWG to assess the current state of knowledge and methods for addressing the energy-water nexus, as well as the economic impacts, and to provide World Bank project leaders with a better understanding of the available methodologies and approaches that can provide quantitative information on energy-water trade-offs. 

In the second phase of this initiative, DWG is supporting the Bank as it looks for candidate countries to actually undertake the linking of appropriate energy, water and economic models to demonstrate various platforms for examine the nexus.  The intention is to use these a case studies that will be transferable to other interested countries.  One such case study is under development with the University of Cape Town, Energy Research Centre.  The Bank is also in discussions with China and Morocco, both of which are enthusiastic about the Thirsty Energy initiative. 

The DWG team performed three studies for Kuwait institutions between 2010 and 2012.  The first study, done for the Kuwait National Nuclear Energy Committee (KNNEC), developed a Power and Water Model for the State of Kuwait (KPW), which covered electricity generation and desalinated water production.  This initial KPW model was used to analyze the economic value of Kuwait developing a nuclear power program.  The study found that nuclear power could provide a significant economic savings, in the range of US$20 billion by 2030 and growing to over US$100 billion by 2050. 

The second study, performed for the Kuwait Institute for Scientific Research (KISR), further developed the KPW model through the addition of new renewable energy (RE) supply technologies and evaluated four scenarios for the energy supply system to meet the forecasted power and water demand.  Two scenarios were based on an energy supply mix consisting of fossil, nuclear, and the most economical RE technologies mix, and two scenarios based on an energy supply mix consisting of fossil and the most economical RE technologies mix.  The study found that RE technologies produced their own economic savings and offset some of the projected nuclear capacity. 

The third study, also performed for KISR, updated the projections for future crude oil and natural gas prices as well as the projected cost and performance characteristics of the RE technologies of interest to Kuwait, and analyzed the potential for these RE technologies to cost-effectively meet part of Kuwait’s national energy demand.  The study showed that several RE technologies have the potential to make significant contributions to electricity and water production and to produce a net-back savings to the economy, estimated at between US$12 and $40 billion between now and 2035.  The RE technologies that are projected to have a significant cost-effective impact include Solar Trough Hybrids, Wind Power, Solar Towers with Storage, and Solar PV utility-scale.  The study projected the cost-effective share of RE generation that could be in place by 2035 ranges from 24% to 33%. 

Building on the accomplishments of the RESMD undertaking, that realized MARKAL/TIMES models for seven (7) of the Energy Community (EC), USAID has turned to DWG to link the national model (and create reduced form models for Kosovo and Montenegro) to establish a pan-EC planning frame, EC-TIMES. 

Stanford Program on Energy and Sustainable Development (PESD): China cities

The DWG team members coordinated the design, development and review of greater metropolitan MARKAL models for Beijing, Guangdong, and Shanghai that were used to examine the implications of increased availability of natural gas in these regions.  At the request of PESD, DWG provided training and mentoring of local China experts as they looked to examine the future potential role of natural gas in major metropolitan areas. 

China's Council for International Cooperation on Environment and Development

Dr. DeLaquil was the lead MARKAL analyst working with Princeton and Tsinghua University to determine the impact of advanced technologies to meet China’s future energy demand, improve urban air quality, limit oil and gas imports and reduce GHG emissions.  The results of the studies, which were briefed to the Vice Premier in 2003, indicated an early need to develop renewable energy and energy efficiency, and a longer term need to transition away from coal combustion and towards coal gasification for both electricity generation and liquid fuels production. 

MARKAL/TIMES models are built upon the Reference Energy System concept, which links energy flows through the processes and technologies that provide, transform or consume them across the entire energy system, from "wells to wheels." 

IEA-ETSAP is the longest running Implementing Agreement of the IEA, begun in 1976.  The ETSAP Contracting Parties (currently 18) embark on common programs of work looking to advance the state of the art of integrated energy system model through its development, stewardship and application of the MARKAL/TIMES family of models.  The platform has been embraced by nearly 300 institutions in about 70 countries to examine energy policy and strategic planning issues, including climate change mitigation.  In addition, multi-region models have been assembled covering Europe, the US, ASEAN countries, Southeast Europe and Eurasia, Canada, and the Nordic counties.  The global TIMES Integrated Assessment Model (TIAM) includes a simple climate module to enable long-run GHG concentration to be factored into the analysis.  An extensive list of studies undertaken by the IEA-ETSAP partners and collaborating institution using MARKAL/TIMES can be found on the website. 

IEA-ETSAP provides training and support for the global MARKAL/TIMES modeling community.  Evaluation version of MARKAL/TIMES with the supporting model management systems (VEDA and ANSWER) may be obtained by completing the User Registration form and executing the ETSAP Letter of Agreement governing access to the model generators source code. 

Since its inception Mr. Goldstein has been involved in IEA-ETSAP, while at Brookhaven National Laboratory he was responsible for documenting, maintaining and supporting the initial (mainframe-based) incarnation of MARKAL, and later migrating MARKAL, implementing MACRO, and developing the first model management system (MARKAL Users’ Support System) on personal computers.  Since 1992 he has been directly engaged by IEA-ETSAP as first the Primary Systems Coordinator (during the phase of IEA-ETSAP when the most active model and management development was being undertaken) and now as the Liaison Officer (as collaboration and outreach become increasingly a focus of IEA-ETSAP)

GAMS is a modeling language evolving out of the World Bank in the mid-1980s that has become the stalwart platform for the development of advanced optimization models, and has been the acknowledged leader in the field for over 20 years. 

Working with Professor Alan Manne of Stanford University in the early 1990s, Mr. Goldstein moved the MARKAL model generator off mainframe computers and from its original BNL OMNI modeling platform to GAMS.  MARKAL and now TIMES are both written in the GAMS modeling language.  Mr. Goldstein coordinates with ETSAP and the model management “shell” developers (below) to ensure that GAMS works seamlessly with their systems to realize a smooth operating environment for MARKAL/TIMES users.  He works closely with GAMS to advance the modeling platform, and provides world-wide support for MARKAL/TIMES users with respect to GAMS on their behalf. 

Headed by Dr. Amit Kanudia, KanORS is a leader in the advanced application of MARKAL/TIMES and the developer of the VErsatile Data Analysis (VEDA) model management system and web-based VEDA-Visualization system.  The cutting edge models developed and applied by KanORS include the TIMES Integrated Assessment Model (TIAM), pan-European TIMES model (PET), and several detailed country models including for Japan and most recently India and others.  Also, in collaboration with DWG KanORS has spearheaded the development of the highly regionalized US FACETS model, and the EC-TIMES pan Energy Community planning model.  KanORS also plays an ongoing contributing role for the IEA-ETSAP consortium. 

Headed by Dr. Ken Noble, Noblesoft developed and supports the ANSWER model management system for MARKAL and TIMES.  ANSWER, the 1st Windows base interface for MARKAL, was developed by Dr. Noble while at ABARE, has over 100 users world-wide.  Noblesoft also plays an ongoing contributing role for the IEA-ETSAP consortium. 

DWG and REMI have conducted joint research to develop the methodology for bi-directional linking of MARKAL/TIMES and REMI models.  The REMI-2-MARKAL link provides useful energy demand projections to MARKAL and MARKAL feeds investment, expenditure and fuel price/consumption indicators to REMI.  The theoretical foundation was established, an initial partial implementation has been carried out and the linkage process is ready for application. 

Training & Capacity Building

DWG is an acknowledged leader in multi-country and multi-institution capacity building, as noted in the RESMD and Pak-IEM projects.  Mr. Goldstein, serving as the IEA-ETSAP Primary Systems Coordinator and Liaison Officer has provided training to hundreds of individuals from around the world.  He provided in-depth training to experts at US Department of Energy, US Environmental Protection Agency, US national laboratories, and others.  He has also been asked to conduct introductory as well as specialized and advanced MARKAL/TIMES modeling courses by numerous government, research and university institutions from Albania, Armenia, Austria, Australia, Belgium, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Brazil, Bulgaria, Canada, China, Colombia, Croatia, Germany, Georgia, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, Kosovo, Kuwait, Latvia, Macedonia, Moldova, Netherlands, Norway, Pakistan, Puerto Rico, Romania, Serbia, Singapore, South Africa, South Korea, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, Ukraine, United Kingdom, and the United States.