Does TIMES can do endogenous technological learning?

[yu03]

Hi everyone,
  
Recently, I have do some analysis  in electricity sector by using TIMES model. I wandered whether the model can achieve endogenous technological learning by itself. For example, when I write one new coal power technology with specific investment cost into the power sector model, will the investment cost of this technology decline along to the cumulative capacity? if so, how does the model achieve it? what variable does the model use? 

Thanks! 

xiaoqi

[Antti-L]

Yes, I have the belief it can, although I have never tried to use the feature myself.

The basic documentation for the model generator describes such an extension for TIMES: The Endogenous Technological Learning extension. You could thus consider taking a look at the docs:

For basic info, see Part I, pages 110─120:
Documentation_for_the_TIMES_Model-Part-I_July-2016.pdf

For more details, see Part II, Appendix C:
Documentation_for_the_TIMES_Model-Part-II_July-2016.pdf

To my knowledge, the TIMES implementation was directly adopted from the similar MARKAL implementation. However, I am not aware of any demo models for ETL, and that's perhaps the main reason for not ever having tried to use it myself, but I think at least the UCL Energy Institute has been experimenting with it.

[yu03]

Yes, I have the belief it can, although I have never tried to use the feature myself.

The basic documentation for the model generator describes such an extension for TIMES: The Endogenous Technological Learning extension. You could thus consider taking a look at the docs:

For basic info, see Part I, pages 110─120:
Documentation_for_the_TIMES_Model-Part-I_July-2016.pdf

For more details, see Part II, Appendix C:
Documentation_for_the_TIMES_Model-Part-II_July-2016.pdf

To my knowledge, the TIMES implementation was directly adopted from the similar MARKAL implementation. However, I am not aware of any demo models for ETL, and that's perhaps the main reason for not ever having tried to use it myself, but I think at least the UCL Energy Institute has been experimenting with it.

Many thanks for Antti, I will have a look at the docs. by the way, I am not familiar with UCL energy institute, so, I have to do learn it by myself. thanks again. 
xiaoqi

[Antti-L]

Well, you could also have a look what others have done with the ETSAP tools.

I looked up a couple of UCL studies on ETL for you, in case you might be interested:

• G. Anandarajah et al. 2011: Economics of hydrogen: Applying global technology learning in TIAM-UCL
  


• G. Anandarajah 2011: Applications of Multi-cluster Technology Learning in TIAM-UCL
  


• G. Anandarajah et al. 2013: Decarbonising road transport with hydrogen and electricity: Long term global technology learning scenarios. International Journal of Hydrogen Energy
  


• G. Anandarajah & W McDowall 2015: Multi-cluster Technology Learning in TIMES: A Transport Sector Case Study with TIAM-UCL. In: Informing Energy and Climate Policies Using Energy Systems Models, edited by G. Giannakidis, et al.: Springer International Publishing.