The Energy Supply Model MESSAGE

Abstract

This report describes the general form of an energy supply model called MESSAGE (Model for Energy Supply Systems And their General Environmental impact). MESSAGE is a dynamic linear programming model minimizing total costs of energy supply over a given time horizon. It balances secondary energy demand with primary energy supply. The model permits definitions of load regions, distinguishes between indigenous and imported resources, and takes account of the environmental impact of energy supply strategies. The most important application of MESSAGE is in the description of the IIASA global energy scenarios. A set of models and formalized procedures, each describing one part of the energy system, is arranged as a loop. Iterative application of the model loop leads to globally consistent scenarios in the development of the global energy system. The important relation for MESSAGE in this loop is with the energy demand model MEDEE-2 which provides the demand data for MESSAGE. Information on energy costs flows back to the demand model. MESSAGE can be used as a stand-alone model, and can also be applied to geographical regions other than the world regions of the global study.