University College London (UCL) and the Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) have agreed to collaborate to develop an open-source version of the UK TIMES (UKTM) energy model. UKTM is a state-of-the-art energy systems optimisation model that analyses trade-offs between resources, infrastructures, technologies, policies and demand changes in meeting long term policy goals including decarbonisation targets and energy security. 

This project is truly innovative as it will deliver a fully transparent and open-source energy systems model for use by other UK modelling teams and energy policy decision makers. This open-source model will be available in early 2015 and will be managed by an expert user group from leading UK institutions. 

The UKTM model has been developed by the UCL Energy Institute, through the EPSRC funded whole systems energy modelling consortium (wholeSEM). Professor Neil Strachan – wholeSEM’s principal investigator at UCL – said “We are very excited to collaborate with DECC to strengthen evidence based policy making in setting long term energy pathways for the UK.” He added “During this long-term partnership we will further enrich the UKTM model via our research priorities of behavioural change in using energy, the long-term costs of new technologies, spatial requirements of new infrastructures, and macro-economic implications of energy policy”.

Further information: 

• UCL Energy Institute
• Department of Energy and Climate Change
• UCL Energy Models
• wholeSEM Work package 3 - Technology Innovation and Diffusion