Further information
Research
work
Research
undertaken by the group has incorporated a wide variety of aspects
including cost, economic interactions, pricing, environmental accounting
and behavioural aspects of energy demand and supply. Such research has
included the identification and quantification of large investments,
possibilities for trade, the impact on greenhouse gas emissions and
other socio-economic effects of single or multi-country energy systems.
Research for site specific industrial plants or small communities with
the focus on more sustainable and efficent use of resources is another
area of group’s expertise.
Single
segments of the energy system, such least cost expansion planning or
renewable energy strategies for the electricity sector have been
continuous interest areas and components of the wider energy modelling
performed by the group.
Key to the
approaches utilised is the identification of trade offs, costs and
benefits and recommending optimal and acceptable solutions.
Research
tools
The group
has expertise in a number of modelling tools and techniques which
include least-cost energy-environment-economic software and systems
dynamics tools. These include MARKAL, TIMES, MESSAGE, LEAP, MAED,
Vensimm and Analytica. In addition to the use of these tools the group
develops analysis tools such as SNAPP
and endeavours towards better information management of energy data. The
group has populated a number of technology databases for analysis at
city, national and regional level and has these available for further
research in these areas.
Collaborations
The modelling work of the group is generally performed as part of close
collaborations with other research groups at the ERC and other energy
research groups around the world from whom useful knowledge is drawn and
experience exchanged. The international groups include:
The modelling work of the group is generally
performed as part of close collaborations with other research groups at
the ERC and other energy research groups around the world from whom
useful knowledge is drawn and experience exchanged. The international
groups include:
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The Programme
for Energy and Sustainable Development (PESD) at the Freeman Spogli
Institute for International Studies at Stanford University, USA |
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The Institute for the Rational Use of
Energy (IER) at the University of
Stuttgart, Germany |
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The Department of Energy Technology at
the Royal Institute of Technology (KTH), Sweden
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The group has also collaborated
on economics, statistics and engineering groups at UCT as well as other
South African based groups such as Sustainable Energy Africa (SEA) and
the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR).
Members of the group are active
participants in energy model development forums and workshops Examples
of these include the International Energy Workshop (IEW), the
International Energy Agency’s Energy Technology Systems and Planning
Programme (ETSAP), the community for Energy the envirnoment and
Development (COMMEND).
Professional
affiliations
The group is an acknowledged
International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Designated Training Centre and
part of The South African National Energy Research Institute’s (SANERI)
Centre for Energy Systems Analysis and Research (CESAR).
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Regional
Designated Training Centre
In 2009 the
ERC became a Regional Designated Training Centre (RDC) for the
International Atomic Energy Agency. As an RDC the ERC is responsible for
building capacity in modelling and planning within governments
throughout Africa through internships and courses. |
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Centre for Energy Systems Analysis Research
SANERI recognised the leading role the ERC plays in South Africa’s
energy planning and capacity building when establishing its Centre for
Energy Systems Analysis Research (CESAR) of which ERC is a founding
partner.
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Training
UCT is the only South African
University that has built (and continues to build) capacity to carry out
Integrated Energy Modelling and the only University to have completed
national modelling and planning initiatives.
In 2004, the ERC introduced an
energy modelling and planning course into the curriculum of Energy
Research Centre’s taught Masters degree offering. The course introduces
students to the integrated energy planning process and tools and
modelling platforms for integrated energy planning. In addition ERC has
played a role in training government energy officials both through
participation in the Masters courses and through the development of
specialised training programmes. The ERC is currently the only
University in South Africa to offer energy modelling and planning
courses. |
