• Model Generators and VEDA Downloads
  
• ANSWER Information

ETSAP aims to further improve and extend its tools under the proposed Annex X (2005-2007). It promotes and supports the application of technical economic tools at the global, regional, national and local levels. It aims at preparing sustainable strategies for economic development, energy security, climate change mitigation and environment.

The tools include:

• The model is a set of data files (spreadsheets, databases, simple ASCII files), which fully describes the underlying energy system (technologies, commodities, resources and demands for energy services) in a format compatible with the associated model generator (MARKAL or TIMES, see 2.); for example, instances of global models include the Energy Technology Perspectives (ETP) project MARKAL model of the IEA, the System for Analysis of Global Energy markets (SAGE) model of the US-EIA, the Global MARKAL-Macro of the Paul Scherrer Institute, and the European Fusion Development Agreement TIMES model; the national models of the ETSAP partner institutions; and various regional and municipal models developed by other institutions. Each set of files defines one model (perhaps consisting of a number of regional models) and is "owned" by the developer(s).
• The MARKAL and TIMES Model Generators are the source codes, which process each set of data files (the model, see 1.) and generate a matrix with all the coefficients that specify the economic equilibrium model of the energy system as a mathematical programming problem. The Model Generators also post-process the optimization results. MARKAL and TIMES result from the contributions of the Contracting Parties and the ingenuity of the developers. The source code for either model generator is available free of charge, upon providing a signed copy of the ETSAP Letter of Agreement to the ETSAP Primary Software Coordinator (ETSAP PSC, currently DecisionWare, Inc.).
• The General Algebraic Modeling System (GAMS) is the computer programming language in which the MARKAL and TIMES Model Generators are written. GAMS is the property of GAMS Development Corporation, Washington D.C. Information on GAMS may be found at www.gams.com.
• A solver is a software package integrated with GAMS which solves the mathematical programming problem produced by the Model Generator for a particular instance of the MARKAL or TIMES model. Information on solvers may be found at www.gams.com.
• A "shell" is a user interface which oversees all aspects of working with a model including management of the input data, running of the Model Generator, and examining the results. It thereby makes practical the use of robust models (theoretically simple models can be handled by means of ASCII file editors, if desired). "Shells" include MUSS, developed by DecisionWare Inc. for early MARKAL models; ANSWER originally developed by ABARE and subsequently the property of Noble-Soft Systems Pty Ltd for all MARKAL variants and partly for TIMES; and VEDA developed by KanORS Consulting Inc. for both TIMES and MARKAL. The "shells" were partly developed using ETSAP resources, and as such small group licenses (5 personal computers (PC)) for each are provided on request free of charge to ETSAP contracting parties and their designated representatives.

Through bilateral and multilateral partnerships, the methodologies and tools developed and used by the ETSAP community are utilized in an increasing number of other countries, including developing countries and those with economies in transition as well as the industrialized countries. As a result of numerous successful training and capacity building programs, today over 150 teams in more than 50 countries around the world make use of the MARKAL-MACRO family of Energy/Economy/Environment/Engineering (4E) models.