Coupling Energy System Models: Synergies and Trade-offs

There is a wide diversity of energy system models. While sector-wide models typically adopt a holistic perspective, in which system boundaries are inherently fluid and shaped by the problem context, more narrowly defined models, focusing on a specific sector, tend to rely on clearer and more fixed boundaries. Addressing climate change and ensuring energy security, however, requires a more holistic perspective that captures the interdependencies of complex and interconnected systems. To achieve this, researchers increasingly integrate regional or problem-specific models into unified frameworks. This special issue aims to foster discussion within the energy systems community on the challenges, synergies, and trade-offs associated with such integrated modeling approaches. Submissions addressing methodological, computational, or communication challenges, or those that critically assess the benefits, limitations, and trade-offs of integrated modeling approaches, as well as explore effective ways to translate their results into accessible and decision-relevant technical insights, are especially encouraged.

This special issue seeks to advance understanding of how diverse energy system models can be effectively integrated across spatiotemporal scales, sectoral boundaries, and methodological frameworks. It aims to bring together contributions that address key challenges in linking models with different resolutions and geographical scopes, with particular attention to ensuring consistency, interoperability, and the robust exchange of information between modeling approaches. The issue further invites work that explores strategies for managing computational complexity associated with integrated modeling frameworks, as well as approaches for improving their transparency and usability, preferably through the use of open data sets. In addition, it encourages contributions that examine how results from such models can be effectively communicated – both within the modeling community and to non-expert audiences – to support informed decision-making and foster shared understanding among diverse stakeholders.

This research topic invites contributions that engage with the diversity of energy system models and the implications and benefits these have for addressing complex energy and climate challenges. We welcome submissions that examine how different modeling approaches—ranging from sector-wide holistic frameworks to detailed sector-specific models—can be combined, compared, or used in complementary ways, and that critically assess the added value, limitations, and trade-offs of integrated modeling approaches. Contributions may address methodological, computational, and/or practical challenges associated with different scopes, system boundaries, and spatial or temporal resolutions, as well as uncertainties. This includes, but is not limited to, issues of interoperability, data exchange, consistency, and computational efficiency. Topics of interest include innovative methods for linking regional and sectoral models, handling uncertainty, and evaluating trade-offs between model detail and tractability. We welcome a range of manuscript types, including original research articles, methodological contributions, reviews, and perspective pieces that provide insights into current practices, emerging challenges, and future directions.