Caps on GHG not meeting targets

[clenox]

I am trying to put a cap on the sum of CO2 emissions from our electric sector (ELCCO2) and transportation sector (TRNCO2).  I used a setup for this from the TIMES demo model (see attached spreadsheet), but when I run it, the result meets the caps in a few of the years (see the results highlighted in yellow on the attached spreadsheet), but then in later model years no longer meets the caps (see the numbers in red).  Any ideas as to why this is happening?

[Antti-L]

You are bounding the sum of the VAR_COMNETs of the two emission commodities, but in the results you tabulate VAR_Fout, i.e. gross emissions.  I guess that is the most likely reason for the difference (gross emissions exceeding the limits for the net emissions).

I can see that the total gross emissions are larger than the bounded value in 2045 and 2050 for R1 and in 2050 for R2.  Therefore, it would seem possible that you may have some processes consuming ELCCO2 or TRNCO2 in those later years, such as Carbon capture/storage/sequestration processes (or possibly exports). So, I would suggest to check if there is any VAR_Fin of ELCCO2,TRNCO2 in those years.

[clenox]

There are no results for VAR_FIn as no technologies take in these emissions.  In addition, the VAR_Comnet results are identical to the VAR_FOut results.

[Antti-L]

Ok, thanks for checking / confirming that.  
Then it seems I am out of explanations (unless you provide me the full model for letting me find the explanation).  

But if you can at least provide the *.DD file for the scenario which defines the constraint, there is a chance it might reveal the explanation.

[clenox]

Here is the .dd file.

[Antti-L]

Thanks.  
It does reveal one additional candidate explanation: dummy imports.  You have activated dummy imports for UC constraints, which means that you specifically allow that these constraints need not be met, as long as a certain penalty cost is paid (as defined by you).

Therefore, for the next thing to check I would suggest looking at any dummy import flows, for the commodities GHGCAP- and GHGCAP_ from the process IMPNRGZ.  However, other than that, I could not find anything else suspicious in the DD file.

[clenox]

Ahh yes, that is what it is. I didn't realize that constraints could dummy out. I only looked to see if there were any dummy technologies coming in. Thank you!!