Model for Energy Supply Strategy Alternatives and their General Environmental Impacts (MESSAGE)

Scale
National
Sub-national
Resource Type
Analysis Tools
Expertise Level
Specialist
Language
English
French
Spanish
Guidance

E-learning (available in English, French and Spanish)

Inputs Needed
Technological and economic data for the energy system
including energy commodities used
energy services
technological efficiencies
technological limitations
existing technologies
investment requirements
Outputs Provided
Energy chains, showing energy flows from supply to demand
GHG emissions for all steps of the energy chain
Developer or Source
International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)

A model designed to formulate and evaluate long term strategies by analyzing cost optimal energy mixes consonant with user defined constraints on new investment, market penetration rates for new technologies, fuel availability and trade, environmental emissions, energy supply security, etc. MESSAGE was designed to help energy analysts and decision makers in analyzing different supply strategies for building sustainable energy systems. It is an optimization model, applicable for medium and long term analysis at country or regional levels. It can help design long term strategies by analyzing cost optimal energy mixes, investment needs and other costs, energy supply security, energy resource utilization, introduction of new technologies, environmental policies, etc.