March 2008

Latin American Workshop
on Energy Policy and Use of the LEAP Modeling System

The Institute for Energy Economics of the Fundacion Bariloche (IDEE/FB) in Argentina has announced the dates for its 7th Annual Workshop on Energy Policy and Use of the LEAP Modeling System. The workshop will be held in Bariloche, Argentina from June 16-27 2008. More information and application forms available here.

Upgrades to COMMEND

The COMMEND web site has recently had a significant upgrade. This is part of a wider effort to foster a community by developing the site as an energy-environment focused social networking tool. New features include:

• My interests: a new page where you can indicate your interests and expertise.
• Maps: The Google maps in COMMEND have been significantly enhanced. Maps are now plotted with one marker per user. Markers links to user profiles and user web sites. Maps can also filtered to show member interests.
• Contributions: a new set of pages that let users share information on projects, studies and reports.
• Member Profiles: now displays information on interests, visits, postings and contributions, with links to the map view.
• Expanded information on LEAP including a new introductory page, and a new "workshops" page.
• Coming soon: new translations for LEAP and LEAP-related training materials.

As with any networking tool, the value of these features depends on how many people make use of them. So please take a few moments to update your profile and complete the "My Interests" page. This can be done in a few seconds by just clicking a few check boxes.  We hope you find the changes useful for your work.

LEAP 2008 Released

A major new version of LEAP has just been released with many new features. Changes have focused on extending the methodological capabilities without adding complexity for existing users, and at the same time improving the overall usability of the system. Key improvements in the latest version include new transport modeling capabilities, which allow users to better analyze fuel-switching policies such as those that promote biofuels, and new features that examine how requirements in energy importing countries can drive the production and exports in other regions. Other changes focus on usability. For example, the new version includes features that check models in real-time as the user types and improved reporting and charting capabilities. Significant testing and has been done to ensure LEAP is fully compatible with Microsoft Windows Vista.  LEAP2008 also includes dozens of other improvements and bug fixes that combine to make it more reliable and robust than ever. LEAP2008 is designed to be fully backwards compatible with earlier versions, and it is able to open and update areas created in earlier versions of LEAP.

See the Press Release here, or see the What's New page for the full list of changes  You can download LEAP here, or if you have an older copy of LEAP already installed, you can use the Help: Check for Updates menu option in LEAP to download and upgrade your current version. 

 

Please Take our Surveys!

In an effort to improve the COMMEND website and the reCOMMEND newsletter, we are conducting two on-line surveys.  Each survey takes no more than 10 minutes to complete.  We would greatly appreciate your input. Thanks very much!

• Take the survey about the COMMEND website
• Take the survey about the reCOMMEND newsletter

 

reCOMMEND: Issue 6 now available.

The sixth issue of reCOMMEND: the newsletter of the COMMEND initiative is now available here in electronic form (PDF).  A paper version has been mailed to approximately 1000 energy professionals in developing countries. Please contact Anja Panjwani if you are based in a developing country, and would like to be added to our mailing list. The latest edition includes articles on:

• Bioenergy & Sustainable Development
• LEAP as a Teaching Tool
• Energy, Hydrogen and Sustainability
• Using LEAP in South African cities
• HOMER: The Micropower Optimization Mode
• Global Energy Demand Collaborative
• News & Events