The document discusses how different definitions of CO2 constraints in energy system models can impact modeling results. It analyzes two case studies using the TIMES and E2M2 models to compare scenarios with different CO2 constraints: a CO2 cap, CO2 budget, and additional constraints like energy autarky goals or coal phaseouts. The key findings are:
1) A CO2 budget constraint, which defines a total available CO2 budget over the entire modeling period, results in lower total system costs and average mitigation costs compared to an annual CO2 cap in both models.
2) Adding a second constraint, like an energy autarky goal or coal phaseout, increases total system costs but can further