MEMME – A model of how economies use energy and materials

What is it about?

This paper presents MEMME (Material and Energy Metabolism Model for Economies), a new framework designed to study how economies use energy and materials. The model describes how resources are extracted, transformed, used, and accumulated in society. It follows energy and materials through the economy, from resource extraction to final uses such as transport, heating, food, and industrial production. The paper explains the main ideas behind the model, its structure, and how it can help analyse sustainability transitions, resource use, and decarbonization pathways.

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Photo by Pedro Lastra on Unsplash

Photo by Pedro Lastra on Unsplash

Why is it important?

Many current sustainability and energy-transition models analyse energy and materials separately. This makes it difficult to understand the real physical requirements of large-scale transitions such as electrification, renewable energy expansion, and the construction of new infrastructure. MEMME helps address this problem by bringing energy and materials together in the same framework. The model can help researchers and policymakers better understand: 1) how resources move through the economy; 2) where inefficiencies occur; 3) how much energy and material are needed for different activities; 4) the physical implications of sustainability transitions. This is important for evaluating whether future decarbonization pathways are realistic and resource-efficient.