The Italian electricity sector: a regional and multi grid TIMES model 1 Cristina Cavicchioli*, Maurizio Gargiulo **, Evasio Lavagno**, Santi Vitale* * CESI RICERCA – Milan, ITALY ** POLITECNICO DI TORINO - Energy Department, Torino, ITALY Corresponding author: "Maurizio Gargiulo" <maurizio.gargiulo@polito.it> Summary In the framework of a national research program promoted by Italian government, a TIMES regional model has been developed for evaluating long term scenarios (30 years) for the Italian electric system. The description of the system is very detailed: 5 sectors, 32 energy services and 150 end-use technologies in the demand side and about 450 power plant units in the supply side; 20 Regions, 5 electricity commodities spread over 4 types of grid for transport, transformation and distribution. Inter- regional exchange technologies are described with costs, installed capacity and efficiency of transportation. The paper presents a selection of results concerning scenarios with different role of electricity import, renewable sources, emission permit developments and "end-uses technologies". 1 Introduction The increasing sensitivity about the strategic role of energy system and the relevance of its impact on the environment, drive national energy policies to consider as a priority not only energy security of supply, but also to support the development of a sustainable energy system. The mission to find an useful compromise among environmental, economic and social instances can be considered more than a challenge for energy policies. Today, the Italian electric system is evolving towards a liberalized and private market, with both national and regional governments playing a programming (and sometimes conflicting) role. In this framework the MATISSE 2 model (a Markal-TIMES based regional simulation tool) has been developed to evaluate long term scenarios (30 years), with the aim to focus on the relevant drivers (economic development, technology advances, primary sources, environmental impact) and to support the decision making process of the Public Authorities and other stakeholders of the electric system. 2 The model for the Italian electricity sector The multi-regional MATISSE model uses the “bottom-up” approach TIMES (The Integrated MARKAL EFOM System), that represent the latest evolution of MARKAL (Market Allocation) developed in a cooperative multinational project over a period of almost two decades by the Energy Technology Systems Analysis Programme (ETSAP) of the International Energy Agency. 1 Research financed by “Fondo Ricerca di Sistema per il settore elettrico nazionale” established by Industry Ministry Decree DM 26/1/2000. 2 MArkal TImes per Scenari del Sistema Elettrico.