Emulating a Long-Term Energy Scenario with the MERGE2 Model
Abstract
An attempt is made to mimic a long-term global energy scenario, derived with IIASA's MESSAGE III model, with a version of Manne and Richel's MERGE2 model. If successful this would mean that MERGE2 could be used as an easy-to-handle-substitute for the MESSAGE III model to investigate preliminary research questions, meanwhile taking advantage of its relative consistent description the world's environment-energy- economy interactions.
It is concluded that the MERGE2R4 model, based on the MERGE2 model, could be both suitable and useful for investigating preliminary research questions to reduce reduce time spent in exploring new research fields with the MESSAGE III model. The consistent description of interregional trade and feedback of climate damage and energy costs in the MERGE2R4 ensures that long-term energy and climate change issues in a broader research field can be assessed than with MESSAGE III alone.
This limited mimicking effort can be interpreted as a first stage of structural sensitivity analyses.
It is concluded that the MERGE2R4 model, based on the MERGE2 model, could be both suitable and useful for investigating preliminary research questions to reduce reduce time spent in exploring new research fields with the MESSAGE III model. The consistent description of interregional trade and feedback of climate damage and energy costs in the MERGE2R4 ensures that long-term energy and climate change issues in a broader research field can be assessed than with MESSAGE III alone.
This limited mimicking effort can be interpreted as a first stage of structural sensitivity analyses.