The document discusses the TIMES-Starter Phase II project. It provides an overview of the TIMES-Starter prototype energy system modeling template, which is meant to help new users learn TIMES modeling. It describes the status of the prototype, feedback received, and planned next steps to further develop the templates, documentation, and training materials. The goal is to create an easy to use starting point template that can be adapted for a country's specific energy system, policies, and analysis needs.

1. © OECD/IEA 2011TIMES Model Management Systems Basics
ETSAP R&D Proposals
Analytics Multi-case Comparison XLS
TIMES-Starter Phase II
Gary Goldstein, DecisionWare
ETSAP Semi-annual Workshop
October 22-23, 2015
Sophia-Antipolis, France

2. © OECD/IEA 2011TIMES Model Management Systems Basics
Analytics Multi-case Comparison XLS
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ETSAP R&D - AnalyticsXLS

3. © OECD/IEA 2011TIMES Model Management Systems Basics
Analytics XLS
Overview
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 Excel workbook “linked” to VBE means of the UpdateXLS
feature
 Standards tables have scenario, 1-row qualifier with total, &
periods [though any VBE can be dumped & supplemental
calculations done as well]
 Provides dynamic comparison of 4 (to 6) model runs
 Core features:
 Stacked bar charts of Reference (1st) scenario blow-up, side-by-side
of comparison scenarios, difference from Reference
 1st/last period shares with pie charts, and growth/total over model
horizon
 Metrics sheet with main indicators over the horizon
 Handles multi-region details via a aggregate and separate region
specific workbooks
 Serves as specification mechanism for VedaViz preparation
ETSAP R&D - AnalyticsXLS

4. © OECD/IEA 2011TIMES Model Management Systems Basics
Analytics XLS
VEDA_Dump Sheet
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The VEDA_Dump sheets contain the VBE table data that re automatically updated
using the VBE Update XLS function. The AXLS manages these sheets by adding and
deleting scenarios as needed and ensuring that every scenario data block has the
full number or rows even if the scenario does not generate results for that row.
ETSAP R&D - AnalyticsXLS

5. © OECD/IEA 2011TIMES Model Management Systems Basics
Analytics XLS
Scenario Master Control Sheet
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The Scenario control sheet is used to select the scenarios to be compared and
determine their order of graphing, as well as managing the list of scenarios in the
workbook (to keep them aligned with those in VBE). It also presents the System
Cost values for all scenarios.
ETSAP R&D - AnalyticsXLS

6. © OECD/IEA 2011TIMES Model Management Systems Basics
Analytics XLS
Case Data & Diff Blocks & Graphs
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Graphing sheet displaying the scenario data, Reference (1st) detail graph, 4-
case comparison graphs, difference from the Reference (1st) scenario data,
and trends.
ETSAP R&D - AnalyticsXLS

7. © OECD/IEA 2011TIMES Model Management Systems Basics
Analytics XLS
Shares, Diff, Growth & Change Block
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This portion of each graphing sheet provides relative information on first and last
period shares, difference, growth and cumulative amount over the model horizon.
It also provides relative changes between the Reference and other scenarios.
ETSAP R&D - AnalyticsXLS

8. © OECD/IEA 2011TIMES Model Management Systems Basics
Analytics XLS
Metrics Sheet
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The Metrics presents aggregated results for key model metrics, such as System
Cost, Primary Energy, Final Energy, Electricity Generation, New Power Plant Builds,
Investment in Supply Technologies and Demand devices, Fuel expenditures,
Emissions, etc. It also contains an archive section where summary results from
every scenario can be stored.
ETSAP R&D - AnalyticsXLS

9. © OECD/IEA 2011TIMES Model Management Systems Basics
TIMES-Starter Model Phase II
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ETSAP R&D - AnalyticsXLS

10. © OECD/IEA 2011TIMES Model Management Systems Basics
TIMES-Starter Phase II
Status
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ETSAP R&D – TIMES-Starter Phase II
 Initial Prototype operational
 Demonstrates the Starter concept &
mechanisms
 Model runs reasonably but needs fine-tuning
 VBE & Analytics graphing workbook in place
 Debuted (with some rough edges) at the IEA-
ERI training in China last week [prompting
this late submission to the ExCo]

11. © OECD/IEA 2011TIMES Model Management Systems Basics
TIMES-Starter
IEA Feedback from ERI Workshop
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ETSAP R&D – TIMES-Starter Phase II
"The TIMES-Starter seems to be a valuable tool for
someone with no TIMES experience that wishes to set
up a new model, the structure it provides is certainly a
step forward compared to what is currently available.
We very much appreciate the development of such a
starter model for capacity-building purposes, given the
potential shown at the ERI training in Beijing, and look
forward to collaborate further with ETSAP in possible
future occasions on capacity-building for energy
systems modelling. Furthermore, we will be happy to
test future versions of the TIMES-Starter model to
provide comments and data where possible."

12. © OECD/IEA 2011TIMES Model Management Systems Basics
TIMES-Starter
Organization* & Dependencies
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Energy Balance
[EB_<cnty>(yr)]
Existing &
Calibration
[BY-<sect>]
New
Technologies
[NT-<sect>]
Demand
Projection
[Demand-REF]
Supply
[SUP]
Reference
Guidance
[UC-<sect>]
Industry
Controls
[IND-*]
* All workbooks to be loaded into ANSWER start with ATx_<country>*,
with x=null for ver1 and “2” for ver2 ANSWER “Smart” XLS format
ETSAP R&D – TIMES-Starter Phase II

13. © OECD/IEA 2011TIMES Model Management Systems Basics
TIMES-Starter
Core Templates & Dependency Table
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ETSAP R&D – TIMES-Starter Phase II

14. © OECD/IEA 2011TIMES Model Management Systems Basics
TIMES-Starter
Smart Workbooks Structure
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[1] For v1 templates the Commodities, Process and UC declarations are provided on the Items sheet.
[2] For the v1 templates data is loaded from the TS&TID Data sheet for standard processes and UCs, and from separate TOP/TID/TS_Data
sheets for Supply.
TIMES-Starter Model Overview
Worksheet Description
ANSv6.8/9-Home
ANSWER-TIMES template sheet that is used to add new ANSWER-TIMES smart sheet to the current
workbook, or turn an existing XLS/XLSM into a "smart" workbook. [Note that the v1 workbooks all begin with
AT_ and the v2 workbooks with AT2_.]
SETUP
Mapping of EPA-US9r/other names to TIMES TIMES-Starter names and removal of unwanted items, emission
factors, and USD price conversion factors. The Setup sheet links to the EB workbook for the list of commodities
and emission rates.
EB Information for the Energy Balance workbook for the sector. [BYs only]
Calibration
The calculation sheet where the energy balance is apportioned and the initial year technology stock established
for each sector. [BYs only]
REGIONS
Description of Regions for the Database where this instance of the New Techs will be used. [Only active on
Supply template.]
Commodities
Energy carriers, emissions, materials are defined by their name, description, units and set memberships to be
used in the rest of the sheets. In V1 templates commodity groups may also be declared. These are in turn
controlled by the SETUP sheet, in most cases. [Some v1 templates have an ITEMS sheet that contains both
commodity and process declarations.]
Processes
Process technologies are defined by their name, description, units and set memberships to be used in the rest
of the sheets. These are in turn controlled by the SETUP sheet, in most cases. [Some V1 templates have an
ITEMS sheet that contains both commodity and process declarations.]
CommData
A sheet with the data for commodities in the sector (mostly used for mapping sector emissions to overall
emissions and providing demand levels and load timings.
ProcData_<nature>
One or more sheets with the data for all technologies in the sector. [Note that the V1 templates have separate
TID & TS sheets.]
EPA/ETSAP/PIEM/KIS
R/EC/other_<sheet>
Declaration and data sheets from the EPA-US9r (and perhaps other sources including but not limited to IEA,
ETSAP eTech-DS/Pak-IEM/Kuwait-RE/Energy Community-EE databases) providing the source values for the
technology options.
ETSAP R&D – TIMES-Starter Phase II

15. © OECD/IEA 2011TIMES Model Management Systems Basics
TIMES-Starter
MARKAL US9r to TIMES
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TIMES-Starter Model OverviewETSAP R&D – TIMES-Starter Phase II

16. © OECD/IEA 2011TIMES Model Management Systems Basics
TIMES-Starter
Energy Balance Sheet
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TIMES-Starter Model Overview
Workbook also has region name, periods, timeslices, cost conversion, &
emission factors
ETSAP R&D – TIMES-Starter Phase II

17. © OECD/IEA 2011TIMES Model Management Systems Basics
TIMES-Starter
Residential Naming & Heating Devices
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TIMES-Starter Model OverviewETSAP R&D – TIMES-Starter Phase II

18. © OECD/IEA 2011TIMES Model Management Systems Basics
TIMES-Starter
RSD&COM EB & Calibration Sheets
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TIMES-Starter Model OverviewETSAP R&D – TIMES-Starter Phase II

19. © OECD/IEA 2011TIMES Model Management Systems Basics
TIMES-Starter
Residential Technology Loadsheet
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TIMES-Starter Model OverviewETSAP R&D – TIMES-Starter Phase II

20. © OECD/IEA 2011TIMES Model Management Systems Basics
TIMES-Starter
REF Guidance for Fuels & Technologies
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TIMES-Starter Model OverviewETSAP R&D – TIMES-Starter Phase II

21. © OECD/IEA 2011TIMES Model Management Systems Basics
TIMES-Starter
ANSWER RES for Electricity
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TIMES-Starter Model OverviewETSAP R&D – TIMES-Starter Phase II

22. © OECD/IEA 2011TIMES Model Management Systems Basics
TIMES-Starter
VBE Sets
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TIMES-Starter Model OverviewETSAP R&D – TIMES-Starter Phase II

23. © OECD/IEA 2011TIMES Model Management Systems Basics
TIMES-Starter
VBE Tables & Cubes
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TIMES-Starter Model OverviewETSAP R&D – TIMES-Starter Phase II

24. © OECD/IEA 2011TIMES Model Management Systems Basics
TIMES-Starter
Analytics Graphing Workbook
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TIMES-Starter Model OverviewETSAP R&D – TIMES-Starter Phase II
Main multi-case comparison graphing worksheets allow interactive selection of
which cases to compare with 4-case stacked bar chart, 3-case diff, 1st/last period
trend blocks, and model horizon metrics

25. © OECD/IEA 2011TIMES Model Management Systems Basics
TIMES-Starter
Adapting for New Application
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TIMES-Starter Model Overview
 Plug in their energy balance
 Tailor the RES to their situation by eliminating and perhaps adding commodities/process not
of interest/relevant or missing
 Adjust the timeslices (setup with 4-seasons, 3 time-of-days)
 Run and refine the calibration
 Adjust their demand drivers
 Pick the future technologies to be allowed, and adjust $/eff/when if necessary
 Adjust the Reference guidance mechanisms (fuel switching, rate of new technology
penetration controls, device types (e.g., small large car))
 Introduce all known coming new builds
 Introduce all future policies on the books
 Introduce all physical limits on resources (e.g., refine the supply curves, set renewable
potentials)
 Run and refine the Reference scenario
 Introduce any force operate lower bounds needed
 Do any necessary refining to the VBE SnT (and Analytics workbook)
 Set the values for the standard policy scenarios provided and run
 Refine model behavior
 To introduce another region (in principle ready – to be further tested)
 “REPLICATE” the EB/BY templates, changing the file name to reflect the NewRegion
 In the NewRegion EB change the region name
 Add the regions to the SUP/NT templates
ETSAP R&D – TIMES-Starter Phase II

26. © OECD/IEA 2011TIMES Model Management Systems Basics
TIMES-Starter
Moving from Prototype to Production
26ETSAP R&D – TIMES-Starter Phase II
 Complete clean-up of the initial TIMES-Starter templates
 Expand VBE & the AXLS for demand sector details
 Provide key technologies not found in US9r (e.g., hydro plants (dam,
RoR, pump stg), CHP, HPLs, motorcycles, biomass cooker)
 Get missing pieces in:
 Industry & Refinery examples
 Load Calibration workbook
 Hurdle rate controls
 Enhance version 2 of the ANSWER-TIMES Smart Excel spreadsheets,
and document {carried over from Phase I without requiring additional
funding}
 Complete the TIMES-Starter Guidance manual
 Test creating a 2-region model
 Adjust the ANSWER-TIMES 3-days training syllabus & presentation
material to cover TIMES foundations, using ANSWER, learning the
TIMES-Starter model, sample policy analysis, and roadmap for adapting
 Noble-Soft Systems believes the importance of the Starter Model concept to ETSAP is such
that – if the ExCo agrees – it is willing to transfer the €7,000 already approved for
enhancing the ANSWER-TIMES Getting Started Manual to TIMES Starter Model Phase II,
thus reducing to €15,650 the additional funding requested.
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27. © OECD/IEA 2011TIMES Model Management Systems Basics
TIMES-Starter
Total Project Budget Estimate
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TIMES-Starter Model OverviewETSAP R&D – TIMES-Starter Phase II