Long-range Energy Alternatives Planning System (LEAP)

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Software-based computer tool for scenario analysis to assess the impacts of energy and climate change mitigation policies

Policy stages:

LEAP is a software tool used to analyse energy policies and to assess climate change mitigation. It can track energy consumption, production and resource extraction in all sectors of an economy, and can be used to account for both the energy sector and non-energy sector greenhouse gas (GHG) emission sources and sinks. Furthermore, LEAP can analyse emissions of local and regional air pollutants, enabling it to provide studies of the climate co-benefits of local air pollution reduction. The tool can be used at many different scales, ranging from cities and states to national, regional and global applications. Therefore, the tool is used by a wide range of organisations, like government agencies, academics, non-governmental organisations, consulting companies, and energy utilities.

LEAP supports a wide range of energy modelling methodologies, including simulation and optimization, and can be used to create models of different energy systems. It also allows data and results from more specialised models to be incorporated. Most studies using the tool have a time frame from 20 to 50 years of forecasting.

Over 100 national data sets are available for download at no charge from the COMMEND website. These data sets include a simple energy baseline from international data sources and are intended to be a starting point for country-level analyses.

LEAP has been used in almost all countries in the world.

Requirements

Training:

Users may require training. Basic training is available from SEI and its partners, which typically lasts 4 to 5 days

Costs:

Using the tool: Available at no charge to academic, governmental and non-profit organisations in the developing world and to students worldwide. Multi-user license fees for industrialised country organisations range from $1500 to $3500 for 2 years.

Time needed:

4 - 5 days