Models
U.S. Regional Economy, Greenhouse Gas, and Energy (US-REGEN)
The US Regional Economy, Greenhouse Gas, and Energy Model (US-REGEN) is a new model developed by the Electric Power Research Institute. It combines a detailed dispatch and capacity expansion model of the United States electric sector with a high-level dynamic computable general equilibrium (CGE) model of the United States economy, including sectoral detail in electric power production, energy demand, and transportation. The two models are solved iteratively to convergence, allowing analysis of policy impacts on the electric sector taking into account economy level responses. This makes US-REGEN capable of modeling a wide range of environmental and energy policies in both the electric and non-electric sectors.
EPRI Reports
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Current Documentation
Full documentation of US-REGEN is available via the reports below or online at https://us-regen-docs.epri.com.
| Product ID | Name | Published | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3002016601 | US-REGEN Model Documentation | 31-Jan-2020 | Technical Update |
| 3002004748 | US-REGEN Unit Commitment Model Documentation | 31-Mar-2015 | Technical Results |
Methodology
Analysis
Peer Reviewed Publications
| Name | Author | Published | Size |
|---|---|---|---|
Deep Decarbonization Impacts on Electric Load Shapes and Peak Demand  |
John Bistline, Chris Roney, David, McCollum, and Geoff Blanford | September 2021 | |
| The Costs and Value of Renewable Portfolio Standards in Meeting Decarbonization Goals |
David Young, John Bistline | June 2018 | |
| Simulating Annual Variation in Load, Wind, and Solar by Representative Hour Selection |
Geoff Blanford, James Merrick, John Bistline, David Young | May 2018 | |
| A Clean Energy Standard Analysis with the US-REGEN Model |
Geoff Blanford, James Merrick, David Young | June 2014 |
Model for Estimating the Regional and Global Effects of Greenhouse Gas Reductions (MERGE)
MERGE is an intertemporal general equilibrium model with a reduced-form representation of the economy, the energy sector, related emissions and concentrations of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases, and the climate system. It is designed to be sufficiently transparent to allow exploration of the implications of alternative viewpoints in the greenhouse debate.
EPRI Reports
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| Product ID | Name | Published | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1020389 | The Power to Reduce CO2 Emissions: The Full Portfolio 2009 | 26-Oct-2009 | Corporate |
| 1015461 | The Power to Reduce CO2 Emissions: The Full Portfolio Discussion Paper | 5-Sep-2007 | Corporate |
Articles / Presentations
| Name | Author | Published | Size |
|---|---|---|---|
International Offsets: The potential role of the energy sector  |
Geoff Blanford | May 2010 | 809 KB |
| Stabilization and the Energy Sector |
Geoff Blanford | May 2010 | 410 KB |
| Feasible climate targets: The roles of economic growth, coalition development and expectations |
Geoff Blanford | December 2009 | |
| Breaking the climate stalemate? |
Geoff Blanford | December 2009 | |
| The value of technological advance in decarbonizing the U.S. economy |
Rich Richels | July 2008 |
Forestry and Agricultural Sector Optimization Model with Greenhouse Gases (FASOM-GHG) Description / Results List
The Forestry and Agricultural Sector Optimization Model with Greenhouse Gases (FASOM-GHG) is an intertemporal partial equilibrium model of the U.S. forestry and agricultural economic sectors, including biomass production for bioenergy. It is designed for detailed evaluation of potential changes in future U.S. forestry and agriculture commodity production and consumption, land management, land allocation, and greenhouse gases with respect to alternative economic, technological, biophysical, and policy scenarios.
Articles / Presentations
| Name | Author | Published | Size |
|---|---|---|---|
| U.S. Biomass Supply for Power & Environmental Implications (Draft Results) | Steven Rose | June 2011 | 684 KB |
| Net Farm Income and Land Use under a U.S. Greenhouse Gas Cap and Trade | Geoff Blanford | April 2011 | 910 KB |
Electric Generation Expansion Analysis System
The Electric Generation Expansion Analysis System (EGEAS) is a modular state-of-the-art generation expansion software package. EGEAS is used by utility planners to produce integrated resource plans, evaluate independent power producers, develop avoided costs and environmental compliance plans, and analyze life extension alternatives. EGEAS is a set of computer modules that determine an optimum expansion plan or simulate detailed production costs for a prespecified plan. Expansion plans are defined by the type, size, and installation date for each new generating facility or demand-side management resource. Optimum expansion plans are developed in terms of annual costs, operating expenses, and carrying charges on investment. The objective is to find an integrated resource plan that meets the objective function specified by the user. The two objective functions in EGEAS include: minimizing total present worth costs and minimizing levelized annual customer rates. Click here for more information about EGEAS and how to obtain an EGEAS license from EPRI.
EGEAS Software
| Product ID | Name | Published | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3002009567 | EGEAS Version 13.1 Software | 05-Nov-2018 | Software |
EGEAS Documentation
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| Product ID | Name | Published | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3002014878 | EGEAS Users Guide, Version 13.1 | 20-Nov-2018 | Technical Results |
| 3002014877 | EGEAS Capabilities Manual, Version 13.1 | 20-Nov-2018 | Technical Results |
EGEAS Presentations
TAGWeb™
The TAGWeb™ (Technical Assessment Guide Web) software is an integrated, web-based software that provides current cost and performance data and technology trends for:
- Fossil–fuel generation technologies (e.g., pulverized coal, coal gasification/combined cycle, fluidized-bed combustion, and natural gas combustion turbines and combined cycles)
- Nuclear technologies
- Variable renewable energy in the form of wind, solar thermal, photovoltaic, geothermal, and biomass technologies
- Small-scale generation, including fuel cell, internal combustion engines (diesel), small combustion turbines less than 25 MW, and microturbines
- Storage technologies represented by compressed air energy, batteries, pumped hydro, flywheels, and superconducting magnetic energy technologies
The TAGWeb™ serves as a source for technology information and data that can be customized to individual company needs for input into simulation models for integrated resource plans, leading to selection of least-cost technology and fuel choice for the benefit of the public. TAGWeb™ benefits society by providing a foundation for more informed decision making by electric companies and regulatory authorities related to electric power resource plannig. EPRI's Energy and Environmental Strategic Analysis group uses TAGWeb™ derived data for informing on public-domain technical analyses and assessments of energy technologies, energy-economic analyses, and potential for emissions reductions, including CO2.
TAGWeb™ Documentation
- TAGWeb™ Supplemental Project Notice. EPRI, Palo Alto, CA: 2018. 3002002230.
- TAGWeb™ Usage Guidelines. EPRI, Palo Alto, CA: 2018. 3002014379.
TAGWeb™ Presentations
- Introduction to EPRI's Technical Assessment Guide for the Web (TAGWeb™), October 16, 2014.
- Introduction to TAGWeb™ — EPRI's Power Plant Cost and Performance Software
TAGWeb™ Training
- TAGWeb™ Software Training Presentation (June 18, 2019)
- TAGWeb™ Software Training Webex Recording (June 18, 2019)
EPRI Contacts
For information about TAGWeb™, please contact Mr. Neil Kern, Sr. Technical Leader, Electric Power Research Institute (email: NKern@epri.com; phone: (704) 595-2801).
