Setting Up a Land-Based Resource Analysis in LEAP

Land-based resource calculations are optional, and by default are disabled in the sample LEAP data set (Freedonia). There are a number of basic steps required to set up a land-based resource analysis in LEAP.

First, go to the Scope & Scale tab of the General: Settings screen and enable the option marked Land-Use Change and Land-Based Resources. Without doing that all variables related to land-based resource analysis will be hidden and excluded from LEAP's calculations. Later on, you can show or hide these capabilities as you wish. Hiding these capabilities does not delete any data: it simply hides the data and excludes it from LEAP's calculations.
Next, you will need to create a list of land types for your analysis by visiting the General: Land Types screen (also visible on the main tool bar in Analysis View).
Bear in mind also that land-based resource analyses typically require a geographically disaggregated analysis, so we strongly recommend basing your analysis on a multi-regional model of any sizable energy system (e.g. a country). Thus, you may also need to create a list of regions in your area. You can do that by visiting the General: Regions screen.
Next, you will need to set the Properties of any resources for which you wish to conducted a disaggregated land-based resource assessment. To do this, you can edit the properties of individual resources, or by editing the By Land Type property in the General: Fuels screen. You can use this type of analysis for wood fuels as well as for any type of geographically disbursed renewable energy forms including solar, wind and biomass.

Once you have followed the above steps, you will see an additional set of branches in the main tree. A new set of branches are shown under the high level Land Areas branch. These contain variables (tabs) under which you can specify base year land areas for each land type and future land conversions in each scenario. In addition, you will see a new set of branches, one for each land type, under the Resources high level branch, for those resources for which you have chosen to conduct a disaggregated land-based resource analysis.

Notice that the set of variables (tabs) you will see under the Resources branches, will depend on the type of fuel being studied. When studying wood resources you will see a large number of variables since LEAP considers many issues such as the stocks and growth of wood, as well as the interactions between the demand for wood and the various potential wood fuel supply sources. When dealing with other resources, LEAP only considers annual energy productivity, not detailed wood demand/supply interactions.