Energy policy modeling in the 21st century: An introduction

Abstract

The use of model-based analysis and scenarios in energy policy design and assessment has seen phenomenal growth during the past several decades. The primary focus of this modeling activity has been to study energy-economy interactions and impacts. On the other hand, we are witnessing a global trend of energy planning efforts, increasingly focusing on low-carbon-economy interactions. The renewed concerns about climate change and energy security pose unique modeling challenges. Therefore, the primary aim of this book is to disseminate the roles and applications of various modeling approaches aimed at improving the usefulness of energy policy models in public decision making. The key focus is on the development, validation, and applications of system dynamics and agent-based models in the service of energy policy design and assessment in the twenty-first century. In this chapter we present a preview of the 12 contributions we have in this volume. © Springer Science+Business Media New York 2013.