2009 IEEE International Conference on
Systems, Man, and Cybernetics |
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Abstract
This paper focuses on the use of system thinking,
complex adaptive systems theory and modeling to help create
and operate sustainable energy infrastructure. These are capitalintensive,
long-lived large scale socio-technical systems that evolve
over decades. To enable high-level decision support on climate
policy, strategic investment decisions or transition management,
we are evolving a simulation engine for Agent-Based simulation of
infrastructure development. The key functionality and capability
of this engine is its ability for playing out possible futures, to
identify development patterns and conditions for sustainability
by exploring multiple scenarios. Two of the models completed
serve to illustrate the approach. These address the ecological
impact of bio-electricity and the long-term effect of CO2 policy
on the electricity production technology portfolio. Limits and
opportunities of the approach are discussed and an outline for
future research is given.