Quick TFM_INS Question from DemoS_12

[mbr1818]

Dear Forum,

I have a quick Question. I am working with CO2 taxes by changing the info in the CO2_Tax Scenario excel spread sheet, saving, re-importing, and re-solving. I know there is a better way but for now I am experimenting with this method . One question I have about the ~TFM_INS Table (attached). The COM_TAXNET is 5 in year 0, 0.02 in 2015, and 0.10 in 2050.

My question: Does this mean that the model is using a tax rate of 5 Meuro/kt from 2005-2015, and then .02 from 2015-2045, and .10 in year 2050? I am also wondering why the tax is so high in the beginning? The model years are 2005,2006,2010,2015,2020,2025,2030,2035,2040,2045,2050.

Thank you!

[Antti-L]

Sorry for the confusion about COM_TAXNET being 5 in year 0; however, it seems that you have not been reading the documentation?

The year index 0 is reserved for defining an optional interpolation/extrapolation (I/E) option for any time series input data. I think it is reasonably well documented in the main documentation, Part II, but there is also an older separate PDF (might be a bit out-dated):

http://iea-etsap.org/docs/TIMES-Interpolate.pdf

I confess being responsible for designing this particular detail of TIMES: the interpolation/extrapolation options. Reserving 0 for the I/E option seemed quite convenient to me at that time (maybe over 12 years ago), and the design was accepted into the common code.

The default for the Beginning-of-Time is currently 1850 in TIMES.  It is user-configurable, but should in general not be less than 1000. If you need still earlier years, 1 is unfortunately the absolute minimum in the current design.  You can set your desired BOTIME with the following control parameter:

$SET BOTIME 1000