Data
IMAGE has several downloadable data items available. Listed below are the IMAGE data viewer USS, the KNMI datacenter for spatial data, the IIASA database with scenario data, and renewable energy data under different climate change scenarios.
Overview data sources
- IMAGE data viewer a visualisation tool to view SSP IMAGE scenario data
- Spatial data global land use maps based on the SSP storylines
- IAMC database IMAGE scenario results and other Integrated Assessment Models
- HYDE data history database of the Global Environment
- Renewable energy data solar, wind, bio-energy and hydropower energy potentials
IMAGE data viewer
The IMAGE data viewer, also called the USS (User Support System), is a visualisation tool that enables a comprehensive view on the scenario data of IMAGE runs. The tool also enables you to download the data. You can download the tool and read more about it in the manual.
The updated IMAGE USS 3.2 data package contains the scenarios of the Shared Socioeconomic Pathways - or SSPs - and has the following scenarios:
- baseline SSP1, SSP2, SSP3, SSP4 and SSP5
- SSP1_LI
- SSP1_LIRE
- SSP1_RE
- SSP1_SPA1_19I_D
- SSP1_SPA1_19I_LI
- SSP1_SPA1_19I_LIRE
- SSP1_SPA1_19I_RE
- SSP1_SPA1_26I_D
- SSP1_SPA1_26I_LI
- SSP1_SPA1_26I_LIRE
- SSP1_SPA1_26I_RE
- SSP1_SPA1_34I_D
- SSP1_SPA1_34I_LI
- SSP1_SPA1_34I_RE
- SSP2_LI
- SSP2_LIRE
- SSP2_RE
- SSP2_SPA2_19I_D
- SSP2_SPA2_19I_LI
- SSP2_SPA2_19I_LIRE
- SSP2_SPA2_19I_RE
- SSP2_SPA2_26I_D
- SSP2_SPA2_26I_LI
- SSP2_SPA2_26I_LIRE
- SSP2_SPA2_26I_RE
- SSP2_SPA2_34I_D
- SSP2_SPA2_34I_LI
- SSP2_SPA2_34I_LIRE
- SSP2_SPA2_34I_RE
- SSP2_SPA2_45I_D
- SSP2_SPA2_45I_LI
- SSP2_SPA2_45I_LIRE
- SSP2_SPA2_45I_RE
Default (D) scenarios are using standard IMAGE 3.2 settings. In the Lifestyle (LI) scenarios it is assumed that also lifestyle changes are implemented, reflecting lower use of appliances, less heating and cooling, modal split changes in transport to public transport and away from flying, and less meat intensive diets. Renewable (RE) scenarios represent increased electrification of final energy demand, renewable costs are assumed to decline faster, and renewables can be more easily be absorbed into the grid. Lifestyle and Renewables (LIRE) scenarios are a combination of the previous scenarios.
The abbreviations 'SPA1' and 'SPA2' signify scenarios that include fragmented & delayed policy.
The IMAGE USS 3.0 data package contains the following scenarios:
- baseline SSP2
- mitigation SSP2_SPA0_RCP_1.9
- mitigation SSP2_SPA2_RCP_2.6
- mitigation SSP2_SPA2_RCP_3.4
- mitigation SSP2_SPA2_RCP_4.5
- mitigation SSP2_SPA2_RCP_6.0
The abbreviation 'SPA2' signifies scenarios that include fragmented & delayed policy; 'SPA0' signifies scenario assuming global climate policy without delay.
Spatial data
We also have spatial data for these scenarios available in netcdf format that can be downloaded from KNMI data center.
IAMC database
At an IIASA database IMAGE scenario results can be viewed and compared to other Integrated Assessment Models as part of various projects such as the SSPs, RCPs, or the IPCC AR5.
Additional scenario data for SSP1, SSP3, SSP4 and SSP5 are available on request. Please contact us.
HYDE data
HYDE is the History database of the Global Environment (HYDE), read more here.
HYDE versions can be downloaded from https://landuse.sites.uu.nl/hyde-project
Renewable energy data
Renewable energy potentials and costs are an important input to the IMAGE-model. As explained in the IMAGE-wiki, renewable energy is simulated through cost-supply curves, showing the total potential versus the generation cost at each step. In a study published in Nature Climate Change, we assessed possible climate impacts on renewable energy supply using output from Global Climate Models (GCM) to calculate changes in future cost-supply curves compared to the historical situation. The results of that study can be downloaded here per GCM: GFLD-ESM2M, HadGEM2-ES, IPSL-CM5A-LR and MIROC5.
This first file is the climate input data used to calculate the technical potential (the second file). The climate inputs are: solar irradiance (kWh m−2 per day) (global horizontal), temperature (°C), wind speed (m s−1), runoff (kg m−2 s−1), sugar cane and maize yields (t ha−1 yr−1) and lignocellulosic crop yields (switchgrass and Miscanthus, or trees) (t ha−1 yr−1).
This second file is the technical potential per GCM and renewable technology for the historical (1970–2000) period, and the future RCP2.6 (2070–2100) and RCP6.0 (2070–2100) period for the following technologies: utility-scale PV and rooftop PV, concentrated solar power (CSP), pnshore and offshore wind energy, hydropower, first-generation bioenergy, and lignocellulosic bioenergy with and without CO2 fertilization.
This third file is the sumation of file 2 per region, GCM and RCP for all involved technologies.
This fourth file are the energy system results that are affected by the different inputs in the form of cost-supply curves. Thus, the data in file 2 are transformed to cost-supply curves and then added to the IMAGE model to assess their effect in term of changes in the cumulative primary energy supply in the period 2070-2100.
The data files have the name of the figures in the main text of the publication. A news item on that publication can be found here.