National Renewable Energy Laboratory

Energy Analysis: Energy Collaborative Analysis Initiative

Web Forum Archive

This page features meetings or seminars related to the Energy Collaborative Analysis Initiative (ECAI) and includes presentations and other documents.

Improving Behavior Modeling

August 28, 2008
The Energy Collaborative Analysis Initiative (ECAI) presented its sixth Web forum, "Improving Behavior Modeling," on August 28, 2008.

This forum focused on the issues of consumer decision making and behavior modification in relation to energy efficiency. Speakers addressed how research findings from the social sciences can be applied to improve demand-side energy modeling. In particular, this forum provided a good opportunity to learn and discuss the findings of the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE) conference on the subject of behavior and energy efficiency that took place in November 2007.

Speakers included:

  • Karen Ehrhardt-Martinez, research associate with ACEEE, who opened with a discussion of outcomes of the 2007 Behavior, Energy and Climate Change Conference and relevant insights on behavioral components drawn from social science literature. (PowerPoint 1.2 MB)
  • Marvin Horowitz, president of Demand Research, who discussed his work on econometric assessments of state adoption of voluntary energy programs and the influence of consumer behavior. (PowerPoint 232 KB)
  • Skip Laitner, economic analysis director for ACEEE, who concluded with a discussion of how these behavioral components shape standard economic assessments, including how they could be mapped into a modeling context to develop "plug-and-play" algorithms. (PowerPoint 536 KB)

The ECAI Web Forums are Internet-based to offer participants the opportunity to view the presentations online and also allow for participation via telephone. Participants are encouraged to ask questions, talk about their experiences, and share additional information.

Please contact Alison Wise with any questions.

Modeling Impacts of Policy Options

May 15, 2008
The Energy Collaborative Analysis Initiative (ECAI) presented its fifth Web forum, "Modeling Impacts of Policy Options," on May 15, 2008.

During the Web forum, presenters discussed how increased attention on reducing oil consumption and greenhouse gas emissions have spurred debate on the relative effectiveness of actions and policy options designed to achieve these goals. Decision makers need credible projections of the future impacts and costs of various actions or policies, which take into account both price and non-price factors and uncertainties about the future. The forum focused on the energy-economic modeling tools available to help estimate the future results of actions or policies and discussed the strengths and weaknesses, gaps in coverage, and opportunities for collaboration regarding current modeling tools.

Speakers included:

  • Skip Laitner, of the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE), discussed the results of the November 2006 ACEEE workshop on Energy and Economic Policy Models, as well as follow-up items from this event. (Powerpoint 860 KB)
  • Dan Loughlin, of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), talked about the MARKAL energy-systems model. (Powerpoint 3.1 MB)
  • James Milford, of the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), discussed the Stochastic Energy Deployment Systems (SEDS) model. (Powerpoint 9.3 MB)

The last half hour of the Web forum was used to discuss the modeling of unexpected technological advances, innovative policies, and consumer behavior in energy markets.

The ECAI Web forums are Internet-based to offer participants the opportunity to view the presentations online while simultaneously participating via telephone. Participants are encouraged to ask questions, talk about their experiences, and share additional information.

Please contact Alison Wise with any questions.

Modeling New Renewable Project Financing

January 31, 2008
The Energy Collaborative Analysis Initiative (ECAI) Planning Committee presented its fourth Web forum, "Modeling New Renewable Project Financing," on January 31, 2008.

During the Web forum, presenters discussed the significant evolution of financing new renewable projects over the past decade. Historically, renewable project developers would sign long-term Public Utility Regulatory Policy Act (PURPA) contracts with utilities at their avoided cost of capital, and projects would be financed using a fairly consistent structure. However, electricity and capital markets are evolving rapidly. Various new market participants are developing, investing in, or helping structure new renewable project financing. The variety of new business models means that there is now a much broader range of the cost of financing new projects. Presenters explained how financing variability was considered in their energy modeling and how it impacted results.

Speakers included:

The last half of the Web forum was used to discuss the possibilities of and opportunities for improving financing assumptions and methodologies in energy models.

The ECAI Web forums are Internet-based to offer participants the opportunity to view the presentations online while simultaneously participating via telephone. Participants are encouraged to ask questions, talk about their experiences, and share additional information. Log-in and call-in details are available upon request.

Please contact Alison Wise with any questions.

Quantifying Energy Security Impacts

August 1, 2007 - Summary (PDF 36 KB) Download Adobe Reader
The ECAI Planning Committee presented its third Web forum, "Quantifying Energy Security Impacts," on August 1, 2007.

During the Web forum, presenters discussed the benefits that various technologies provide in terms of energy security impacts for the United States. As the nation considers its energy position relative to the rest of the world, and the direction of its energy future, several key analytical questions arise resulting in an increasing need to quantify the impact of various technologies on U.S. energy security, including supply, demand, and infrastructure.

Speakers included:

The ECAI Web forums are Internet-based to offer participants the opportunity to view the presentations online while simultaneously participating via telephone. Participants are encouraged to ask questions, talk about their experiences, and share additional information. Log-in and call-in details are available upon request.

Please contact Alison Wise with any questions.

Portfolio Analysis

May 1, 2007
The ECAI Planning Committee presented its second Web forum, "Portfolio Analysis Methods," on May 1, 2007.

During the Web forum, presenters discussed the different avenues for making decisions about the relative value of investment across a portfolio and the impacts on R&D, with an emphasis on portfolio methods that are most applicable in the energy sector.

Speakers included:

The ECAI Web Forums are Internet-based to offer participants the opportunity to view the presentations online and also allow for participation via telephone. Participants are encouraged to ask questions, talk about their experiences, and share additional information. Log-in and call-in details are available upon request.

Please contact Alison Wise with any questions.

Initiative Web Forum (GIS Deployment Analysis Tools)

January 23, 2007 - Summary (PDF 90 KB) Download Adobe Reader
The ECAI Planning Committee presented "GIS Deployment Analysis Tools: Existing Tools, Needed Improvements, and Gaps in Available Tools," on January 23, 2007.

During the Web forum, three presentations addressed how their organizations are using GIS tools for analysis of energy deployment opportunities. The presentations were followed by an open group discussion on use of GIS tools across participating organizations, on common analysis assumptions and methodologies, and the potential for teaming to improve GIS tools, methods, and analysis. Participants also asked questions, talked about their experiences, and shared additional information.

Speakers included:

The ECAI Web Forums are Internet-based to offer participants the opportunity to view the presentations online and also allow for participation by phone. Log-in and call-in details are available upon request.

Please contact Alison Wise with any questions.

Skip footer to end of page.

Webmaster  |  Security & Privacy  |  Disclaimer  |  NREL Home