Used for simulating the short-term operation of energy systems across the EU and neighbouring countries, the METIS model helps inform the EU’s evidence-based energy policy making.
The model allows for the hour-by-hour simulation of Europe’s energy systems for up to one year, taking into account uncertainties such as weather variations.
The model can be used, for instance, to analyse the flexibility requirements of renewable energy solutions.
METIS consists of a number of interconnected modules or components which can be easily adjusted or added to. Technical notes and other documentations of the model variables and indicators, are provided below. There is also a series of METIS studies covering sector coupling, electricity, heat and gas.
METIS was developed for the European Commission through several contracts. The Commission Directorate-General for Energy and the Joint Research Centre use the model to provide quantitative evidence for legislative proposals related to energy markets and infrastructure.
METIS 4
The METIS 4 project will extend the energy model that was developed under the previous METIS projects so that it can address short term electricity markets, identify price setting technologies and allow grid flow calculations. It will also improve the representation of sectorial demand profiles the import of hydrogen and the user interface.
The METIS 4 project started in 2024 and will run until Q2/2027.
METIS 3
The METIS 3 project aims at moving towards a full-fledged energy model. New features to be added include the modelling of entire pathways, finer geographical resolution and a more detailed picture of the demand sector.
Ongoing studies explore sector coupling, digitalisation and the future role of the gas sector.
The project also helps with maintaining and upgrading the existing METIS model.
It was conducted from 2020 to 2023 by a consortium consisting of Artelys, Tractebel and Fraunhofer. The results will be gradually published on this web page.
METIS 2
The main objectives of METIS 2 were to extend the capabilities of the existing model with respect to electricity networks and sector coupling.
The project introduced modules the distribution and transmission grids, as well as for hydrogen. The representation of hydropower was improved, making it possible to study the impact of yearly weather on the flexibility of hydropower resources.
A web-based interface was implemented, allowing the METIS model to be run on cloud-based systems while using a desktop computer. The model improvements were demonstrated across five studies.
METIS 2 also contributed to the Impact Assessment of the Hydrogen and decarbonised gas market package
It was conducted from 2018 to 2022 by a consortium consisting of Artelys, Tractebel, RWTH-Aachen University and Comilas.
METIS 1
The first METIS project was launched in 2014. The objective was to develop a software which could model the European energy system, tailor-made to meet the European Commission’s needs.
A consortium (Artelys, RWTH Aachen University, ConGas and Frontier Economics) developed and delivered modules for the power, gas and heat sectors between January 2015 and December 2018. METIS 1 also included a total of 17 studies.
METIS at the Joint Research Centre
The Joint Research Centre (JRC) of the European Commission uses the METIS model to provide analytic support for policy design. It develops and disseminates results from energy system and market modelling exercises that advance the implementation of both short and long-term European energy objectives.
Typical topics of interest include multi-energy system integration, power and hydrogen network investments, energy infrastructure requirements, the climate-energy nexus and market price behaviour and design principles.
The JRC’s work with the METIS energy model has fed into several policy documents. Their scientific reports are published on the open JRC Publications Repository.
Documents
- Questions and answers about METIS (November 2016)