Study Methodology¶

A standard electricity planning study with EPM follows seven steps, from framing the problem to sharing results with the country team.

1. Context and objectives¶

Define what the study is trying to answer. This typically falls into one of two categories:

Strategic overview: e.g., a CCDR (Country Climate and Development Report) assessing long-term energy transition pathways
Project-based assessment: e.g., a pre-feasibility study for a specific investment or policy intervention

Objectives should be measurable: reducing emissions by X%, meeting peak demand with Y% reliability, minimizing system cost under a given carbon price, etc. This framing defines scope and shapes scenario design.

2. Set the energy context¶

Analyze the country's current energy system: generation mix, demand patterns, existing infrastructure, and policy framework. This identifies gaps and informs what data needs to be collected.

Useful starting points include national Master Plans, energy sector assessments, and CCDR background documents.

National energy plans for many countries are available on the IRENA National Energy Planning Dashboard.

3. Install EPM and run an open-data simulation¶

Install EPM and run a first simulation using publicly available data (generation capacity, fuel prices, demand forecasts) based on CCDR standard assumptions. This baseline run provides early insights and a starting point for discussion with the country team before more granular data is collected.

4. Data collection¶

Gather data on the existing system: generation units, transmission infrastructure, fuel prices, demand forecasts, and policy constraints. A structured template listing all required EPM inputs is available to guide this process.

Download the Data Collection Template

5. Define scenarios¶

Design the scenario set based on study objectives. Scenarios typically vary:

Demand growth trajectories
Fuel price assumptions
Technology cost evolution (e.g., solar and wind CAPEX)
Policy constraints (renewable targets, emissions caps, carbon price)
Infrastructure options (transmission expansion, interconnection)

6. Run simulations¶

Run EPM for each scenario. The model optimizes capacity expansion and dispatch, producing outputs on system costs, investment plans, emissions, and reliability indicators. Results form the evidence base for decision-making.

Build Tableau dashboards from the simulation outputs and share them with the country team for review. Dashboards should highlight key indicators and allow interactive exploration across scenarios and years.

See Visualization for how to set up the Tableau workflow.