Energy system models for the analysis of future scenarios are mainly driven by the set of energy service demands which define the broad outlines of socio-economic development throughout the selected time horizon. Energy system optimization models serve as a valuable tool to of inquiry for relevant decision-making insights about the evolution of a Reference Energy System (RES) – a simplified representation of the complex and dynamic real-world interactions related to energy production and consumption – over medium-to-long-term time scales. Among such models, encompassing the four dimensions of Energy, Economy, Engineering and Environment – the so called “4Es” – those belonging to the TIMES framework represent a widespread choice for the exploration of contrasted future scenarios.