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Integrated Planning Model
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This Web page provides information on a major update of EPA's application of the Integrated Planning Model or “IPM”—the model that EPA uses to analyze the impact of air emissions policies on the U.S. electric power sector over a 20-year time horizon. For more details, see:
- IPM and EPA Modeling Applications Using IPM
- EPA's IPM Base Case for 2006 (v3.0)
- IPM Results (including links to download Base Case 2006 (v3.0) run and parsed files)
- National Electric Energy Data System (NEEDS) 2006 (a database of existing electric generating units used in EPA Base Case 2006 (v3.0))
- Documentation for EPA Base Case 2006 (v3.0)
- Documentation and run results using previous IPM Base Cases
- EPA's IPM Base Case (v3.01) - Carbon Assumption Enhancements (July 2007)
IPM and EPA Modeling Applications Using IPM
EPA uses the Integrated Planning Model (IPM) to analyze the projected impact of environmental policies on the electric power sector in the 48 contiguous states and the District of Columbia. Developed by ICF Consulting, Inc. and used to support public and private sector clients, IPM is a multi-regional, dynamic, deterministic linear programming model of the U.S. electric power sector. It provides forecasts of least-cost capacity expansion, electricity dispatch, and emission control strategies for meeting energy demand and environmental, transmission, dispatch, and reliability constraints. IPM can be used to evaluate the cost and emissions impacts of proposed policies to limit emissions of sulfur dioxide (SO2), nitrogen oxides (NOx), carbon dioxide (CO2), and mercury (Hg) from the electric power sector. The IPM was a key analytical tool in developing the Clean Air Interstate Regulation (CAIR) and the Clean Air Mercury Rule (CAMR).
Among the factors that make IPM particularly well suited to model multi-emissions control programs are (1) its ability to capture complex interactions among the electric power, fuel, and environmental markets; (2) its detail-rich representation of emission control options encompassing a broad array of retrofit technologies along with emission reductions through fuel switching, changes in capacity mix and electricity dispatch strategies; and (3) its capability to model a variety of environmental market mechanisms, such as emissions caps, allowances, trading, and banking. IPM's ability to capture the dynamics of the allowance market and its provision of a wide range of emissions reduction options are particularly important for assessing the impact of multi-emissions environmental policies like CAIR and CAMR.
EPA's IPM Base Case for 2006 (v3.0)
Base Case 2006 (v3.0) includes updates of IPM's assumptions, inputs, and capabilities. To perform the update, EPA obtained input from nationally recognized experts in fuels, technology, and power system operation. Power companies provided information on generating resources and emission controls. EPA also obtained input from Regional Planning Organizations, states, and their constituent organizations. Key update areas include:
- Coal Supply and Transportation Assumptions
- Natural Gas Assumptions
- Federal and State Emission Regulations and Enforcement Actions
- Cost and Performance of Generating Technologies and Emission Controls
- Sulfur Dioxide (SO2), Nitrogen Oxide (NOx), and Heat Rates
- Power System Operating Characteristics and Structure
- Electric Generating Unit Inventory
- Modeling Time Horizon and Run Years (2010, 2015, 2020, 2025)
View a full list of the 2006 updates below
IPM Results Using EPA Base Case 2006 (v3.0)
Click on the run identification number in the second column of the following table to download a zipped archive file containing:
- Detailed IPM input and output files (i.e., .DAT, System Summary Report, .RPE, .CAR, and TAC files) for the listed runs. Guide to the content of the IPM input and output files.
- Parsed files for the listed run and year. Whereas IPM output files report aggregated results for "model" plants (i.e., aggregates of generating units with similar operating characteristics), parsed files show IPM results at the generating unit level. Guide to the content of the parsed files.
Base Case 2006 (v.3.0) |
|
|---|---|
Description |
IPM Run/ File ID |
EPA Base Case 2006 - All Run Files |
Base Case 2006.zip (Zip 4.2 MB) |
EPA Base Case 2006 parsed for year 2010 |
2010parsed_for_basecase2006.zip (Zip 1.2 MB) |
EPA Base Case 2006 parsed for year 2015 |
2015parsed_for_basecase2006.zip (Zip 1.5 MB) |
EPA Base Case 2006 parsed for year 2020 |
2020parsed_for_basecase2006.zip (Zip 1.3 MB) |
National Electric Energy Data System (NEEDS) 2006
The National Electric Energy Data System or “NEEDS” database contains the generation unit records used to construct the "model" plants that represent existing and planned/committed units in EPA modeling applications of IPM. NEEDS includes basic geographic, operating, air emissions, and other data on these generating units. NEEDS was completely updated for Base Case 2006 (v3.0). For a description of the sources used in preparing NEEDS 2006, see Base Case 2006 Documentation (v3.0), Section 4: Generating Resources.
- Download the NEEDS 2006 database (Zip, 1.5 MB)
Documentation for EPA Base Case 2006 (v3.0)
To learn more about EPA Base Case 2006 (v3.0) assumptions, updates, changes, and enhancements, see the links below. (Note: These links provide documentation largely in the form of data tables and graphics.)
- Summary Table of Base Case 2006 Updates (14 pp., 147 K)
- Section 1: Overview (3 pp., 80 K)
- Section 2: Modeling Framework (866 pp., 5.6 MB)
- Appendix 2-1 Data (Excel, 2.9 MB)
- Section 3: Power System Operation Assumptions (34 pp., 164 K)
- Section 4: Generating Resources (33 pp., 197 K)
- Section 5: Emission Control Technologies (22 pp., 79 K)
- Section 6: Set-Up Parameters and Rules (4 pp., 17 K)
- Section 7: Financial Assumptions (2 pp., 9 K)
- Section 8: Fuel Assumptions (331 pp., 1.1 MB)
- Appendix 8-3 Data (Excel, 26 K)
- Appendix 8-4 Data (Excel, 90 K)
- Appendix 8-5 Data (Excel, 1.3 K)
- Appendix 8-6 Data (Excel, 139 K)
EPA's IPM Base Case (v3.01) - Carbon Assumption Enhancements (July 2007)
EPA has incorporated additional assumptions to EPA's Base Case for purposes of modeling carbon policies. Enhancements include:
- Carbon capture and storage for potential (new) units
- Biomass co-firing capability for existing coal boilers
- Updated constraints on new nuclear and renewable capacity builds
Documentation Supplement for EPA's Base Case (v3.01)
- Documentation for EPA's Base Case v3.01 Using IPM (5 pp., 70 K)
IPM Results Using EPA's Base Case (v3.01)
EPA Analyses of Economy-wide Climate LegislationDocumentation and Run Results Using Previous Base Cases
Details about previous IPM Base Cases are also available. To view and download earlier base and policy case run results, visit Past EPA Modeling Applications Using The Integrated Planning Model.