Our Tools

Energy Systems Simulator

ESS is a decision-support tool that guides governments and utilities in planning their energy transition, providing clear answers on renewable energy needs, alternative fuels, and efficiency strategies for decarbonization.

POWERED BY WHATIF? TECHNOLOGIES

Our Tool

ESS uses bottom-up data on energy systems, buildings, vehicles, demographics, technologies, and trends to analyze how national and regional systems can be decarbonized. The model projects hourly demand and supply, while accounting for the cost of current and future technologies, out-of-state resources, and transmission and distribution costs. The outputs compare the impacts, costs, and returns of different decarbonization policies to identify the best way forward.

ESS

The model answers the big questions involved in decarbonizing energy systems: How much renewable electricity must be generated? What alternative fuels can meet industrial demand? What role should energy efficiency play?

Why ESS?

It identifies what’s required for transformational change, like how to cost-effectively prepare the grid for electrification, develop reliable energy sources, and reduce energy poverty.

It follows the money. ESS generates a comprehensive financial analysis of the costs and returns of energy decarbonization policies, as well as their impact on jobs.

It is transparent. ESS is open source and the model code is accessible on GitHub. Assumptions for each project are clearly documented.

ESS in Action

Using ESS, SSG worked with the State of Oregon’s REBuilding Task Force to evaluate policies to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from buildings. Supported by SSG’s analysis, the bi-partisan task force played a pivotal role in developing senate and house bills to decarbonize buildings.

Read more about the project. 

2050

Oregon’s net-zero goal

<1%

share of Oregon’s GDP required to decarbonize buildings

Related Projects

Oregon Joint Task Force on Resilient Efficient Buildings

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TransformTO Net Zero by 2040 Strategy

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Contact Us

Want to talk about how ESS could help you with energy planning? 

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