Plexos 6205

 

 

PLEXOS 6.205 Release Notes  Notes  Released: March 26, 2012 Updated: PLEXOS 6.205 is a minor point update from 6.204. In this note we cover all updates from 6.203-5. We start with an overview of the t he key points that all upgraders should read and then go point-by-point through all changes and new features.

1  What You Need to Know Your 6.20 x   (or (or 5.201) database will be upgraded automatically and should function just as before. There should be no manual upgrading required. Databases upgraded from 6.1 x  6.1 x  versions  versions might require some post-upgrade changes as described in the Release Notes for 6.201.

1.1  Changes The following algorithmic changes have been implemented in this version: 1.  The Convergent Monte Carlo method has been changed so that convergence co nvergence of outages is performed individually for each Generator/Line rather than across each Region. This change means that setting the Generator/Line [Random Number Seed] property will guarantee that outage sequences are repeatable across simulations with different numbers of Generator/Line objects whereas previously the linking of ‘expected outage’ overall each Region meant that adding objects would result in different sequences of outages. This point does not apply to standard Monte Carlo for which results are always repeatable when seeds are set. 2.  Generator/Line [Maintenance Frequency] is now handled by the Standard Monte Carlo method. Previously the Convergent Monte Carlo method was invoked whenever this property was defined. 3.  In the case where Stochastic [Risk Sample Count] (or [Reduced Sample Count] is not equal to [Outage Pattern Count] the previous approach of randomly assigning outage patterns to samples is replaced by a simple ordered assignment. The above changes result in a difference in sequence of random draws for many models compared to 6.202 and earlier. 4.  When a text file is read into a simulation and the data in that file needs to be ‘upscaled’, e.g.  the file e.g. the contains hourly data but the simulation is running in 10-minute intervals, the method used fo forr upscaling is controlled by the new Data File attribute att ribute [Upscaling Method]. Previously the upscaling method varied depending on the file format, fo rmat, but in this version the upscaling method default to “Interpolate” and you must deliberately set the method to “Step” if that is the appropriate approach e.g. for reading data into integer properties like Generator [Commit] or [Units Out].

1.2  Features 1.2.1 

Modelling Day-ahead, Real time/balancing Markets

A number of input properties have been added to aid in modelling day-ahead and real-time markets (and balancing markets). For example the Generator properties [Pump Bid Base], [Pump Bid Quantity], [Pump Bid Price] provide a means of linking day-ahead pumped storage solutions to real-time (balancing) simulation. An alternative here is [Fixed Pump Load] and [Fixed Pump Load Penalty]. These properties mirror the generationside properties [Offer Base], [Offer Quantity] and [Offer Price] and the alternative approach of using [Fixed Load] with [Fixed Load Penalty].

 

  1.2.2 

Interleaved Run Mode

Interleaved run mode is a significant new modelling feature targeted at customers running day-ahead and realtime models back-to-back, or other combinations such as unconstrained versus constrained simulations. This run mode takes care of passing solution data between two simulations in much the same manner as is used now (via text files). What is unique about this run mode is that the simulation steps are interleaved, and initial conditions are passed back from the second simulation (e.g. ( e.g. real-time)  real-time) to the first (e.g. (e.g. day-ahead)  day-ahead) at each stage. For example, it means that the second step of day-ahead will begin with initial conditions read from the end of the first day of real-time, rather than the ending conditions of day-ahead step one. The result is highly realistic simulations of real market operations, and the effect of constraints and forecast error on system efficiency. This run mode is switched on via the Model Interleaved membership i.e.  one Model execution is identified as i.e. one being interleaved with another Model. For example Model “Day-ahead” Interleaved “Run-time” or Model “Unconstrained” Interleaved “Constrained”. Refer to the help on the t he Model class and Balancing Markets article for more details. 1.2.3 

Sample Reduction

Sample reduction takes the ‘raw’ generated samples (Stochastic [Risk Sample Count]) and reduces these to a small number (Stochastic [Reduced Sample Count]) for use in the simulation. This reduction is done statistically using a Scenario Tree approach. More information is available in the help. This feature f eature is particularly useful for stochastic optimization where the number of samples included in the optimization can have a big impact on solution times. 1.2.4 

Pump Load Bidding

The new input properties Generator [Pump Bid Base], [Pump Bid Quantity] and [Pump Bid Price] define balancing market (real-time) bids for pumped storage generators’ pump load. See the article “Balancing Markets” for more details.  1.2.5 

Hydro Head Effects

New properties on the Generator Head Storage membership ([Efficiency Point] and [Efficiency Scalar]) allow for the modelling of the effect of head (storage level) on the efficiency effi ciency of hydro generation. This convenient and powerful feature is described in the help and in the th e Hydro Modelling document. Modelling document. Please refer to this documentation for details. 1.2.6 

Improved support for real-time market data

New attributes have been added to the Data File class that can help when reading data that has come from market systems:

  The Data File [Locale] attribute is used to set the LCID (culture information) for the file and applies

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when the file uses a DATETIME field. Setting this ensures that the date and times in tthe he file will be read correctly regardless of the local machine’s culture settings. 

  The Data File [Datetime Convention] attribute controls how the t he time part of the DATETIME is

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interpreted. Real-time market data often uses the convention of labelling dispatch intervals according to the end time of the interval. For example the first half-hour of the day might be labelled 12:30 rather than the ‘planning convention’ of labelling this period 12:00. This attribute allows you to read data with “End of Period” convention as well as the default “Beginning of Period”.  We have also added Report [Datetime Convention] attribute which controls the output of DATETIME fields in both text and database solutions. Thus you can output data with “End of Period” convention for times if that suits the market being studied.

 

  1.2.7 

LDC Type

LT Plan and MT Schedule now support [LDC T ype] = “Year”.  1.2.8 

Pass-through Properties

Most classes of object new support “pass -through” properties with the generic names “x”, “y”, “z”. These inputs are passed through to the solution solutio n and do not affect the simulation. They are useful for passing real market results through to the solution so they can be easily compared to simulated results inside the user interface. For example you may want to pass the actual market prices through as Region [x] so that this can be compared to Region [Price] in the solution. Note that the user interface does not yet support editing these property names, but they can be changed directly in the th e XML input file and the simulation engine will preserve those changed names in the solution.

1.3  Line and Interface Offers The Line and Interface classes now implement the full range of offer properties including balancing market offers using [Offer Base].

1.4  Release Status The following table acts as a guide to t o the symbols shown next to tho those se "unfinished" features at this time:

n 

Meaning Complete and ready for use. The feature was implemented in Version n and so is only available in that version or later.

Unfinished but usable e.g. the e.g.  the documentation or full testing might not be complete yet but the feature is basically functional and has passed a reasonable level of testing. Not yet implemented. Don’t use this feature until we release an update with it finished. 

2  User Interface Improvements have been made to the dynamic property grid editing and pasting functions, and in the solution viewer the duration curves and logarithmic functions are improved.

3  New Inputs The following table lists all the new input properties available in this release. Please refer to the help for detailed information. Collection Generator

Property Fixed Pump Load Fixed Pump Load Penalty Pump Bid Base Pump Bid Quantity Pump Bid Price Fixed Charge

Include in Uplift Efficiency Point

Relates to Day-ahead to real-time/balancing markets ”  ”  ”  ”  Input of ‘generic’ fixed cost components with multiple multipl e bands Automatic retirement of incumbent plant based on [Technical Life] in LT Plan Switches a generator’s costs in/out of uplift  uplift   Hydro head effects

Efficiency Scalar

” 

Flow Point Efficiency Scalar Recycle Penalty

”  ”  Allows the endogenous recycle target constraints to be

Commission Date

Generator Head Storage

Generator Tail Storage Storage

6.205 6.204 R02 6.204 R02

6.205

 

  Emission

Max Production Penalty

Emission Generators Reserve

Price Scalar Include in LT Plan Include in MT Schedule Include in ST Schedule Max Response Factor Max Sync Cond Response Factor

Reserve Generators

Interface

Max Pump Response Factor Max Replacement Factor Fixed Flow Penalty Offer Base Fixed Charge Units

Constraint Generators

Fixed Flow Fixed Flow Penalty Offer Base Offer Quantity Offer Price Offer Quantity Back Offer Price Back Pump Units Started Coefficient

Data File

Upscaling Method

Line

Downscaling Method Datetime Convention Locale

Model

Execution Order Load Custom Assemblies

Interleaved (collection)

LT Plan

Maintenance Sculpting

Report

Datetime Convention Locale Flat File Format

Stochastic

Performance

4  Moved Inputs N/A

Convergence Period Type Reduced Sample Count Reduction Relative Accuracy Forced Outages in Look-ahead Small MIP Improve Start Gap MIP Improve Start Gap

soft constraints. Allows for emission limits defined with [Max Production Day/Week/Month/Year] to be soft constraints. Enhancement to existing [Shadow Price Scalar] property Switches the Reserve class on/off in LT Plan “ in MT Schedule  Schedule   “ in ST Schedule  Schedule   Alternative to existing [Max Response] property Alternative to existing [Max Sync Cond Response] property Alternative to existing [Max Pump Response] property Alternative to existing [Max Replacement] property Enhancement to existing [Fixed Flow] property Day-ahead to real-time/balancing markets As above for Generator To make Interface class consistent with other transmission classes that have a Units on/off switch Day-ahead to real-time/balancing markets ”  ”  ”  ”  ”  ”  For use in modelling ‘pay‘pay -back’ of demand response schemes

6.205

6.205 6.205 6.205

Handling text data files of different resolution to simulation ”  Support for use of DATETIME as end of period Specifies the culture for the Data File which affects reading of DATETIME fields Controlling execution order of Models in a batch run Controls if the Model will load custom OpenPLEXOS assemblies. This switch allows user-developed OpenPLEXOS functions to be turned on/off by Model. Indicates that two Models should be run in interleaved mode. Allows for control over when LT Plan sculpts maintenance derating of plant. Support for use of DATETIME as end of period Specifies the culture for the text solution files which affects writing of DATETIME fields Controls the format of text solution files allowing the DATETIME field to be replaced with YEAR, MONTH, DAY. Convergent Monte Carlo Sample reduction in multi-sample simulations using Variable objects ”  Day-ahead to real-time/balancing markets Performance of mixed-integer programming models ” 

6.205

 

 

5  Input Changes Some properties are renamed as in the following table. Collection Constraint Generators Stochastic

Old Name Spare Capacity Reserve Coefficient Pump Interruptible Load Coefficient Monte Carlo Outage Patterns Monte Carlo Weibull Shape Monte Carlo Convergent Smoothing Monte Carlo Outage Scope

New Name Spinning Reserve Coefficient Pump Dispatchable Load Coefficient Outage Pattern Count Weibull Shape Convergent Smoothing Outage Scope

Generator

Dark Spread

Clean Spark Spread

6  New Outputs Collection Generator

Emission

Reserve Generators

Region Region Regions Zone Zone Zones Node Line

Property Ramp Up Minutes of Ramp Up Ramp Down Minutes of Ramp Down Pump Units Started

Note The total megawatt of ramping up done complementary to Generator [Ramp Up] The total megawatt of ramping down done complementary to Generator [Ramp Down] Goes with new input Constraint Generators [Pump Units Started Coefficient]

Fixed Pump Load Fixed Pump Load Violation Hours of Fixed Pump Load Violation Fixed Pump Load Violation Cost Pump Bid Base Pump Bid Quantity Pump Bid Price Pump Bid Cleared Cleared Pump Bid Price Cleared Pump Bid Cost Pump Price Paid Forced Outage Rate Maintenance Rate Max Production Violation Max Production Violation Cost

See above input Generator [Fixed Pump Load] ”  ”  ”  See above input Generator [Pump Bid Base] ”  ”  ”  ”  ”  ”  Additional reporting of outages “  Reporting of emission constraint violations

Spinning Reserve Provision Sync Cond Reserve Provision Pump Dispatchable Load Provision Non-spinning Reserve Provision Min Load Available Transfer Capability Back Min Load Available Transfer Capability Back Min Load Fixed Flow

More explicit reporting of Reserve [Provision] ”  ”  ”  Opposite of existing [Peak Load] Directional version of existing ATC output As above As above As above Enhanced reporting of existing Line [Fixed Flow] solution ”  ”  ”  See above input Line [Offer Base] Enhanced reporting of Line offer solution ”  As above Additional reporting of outages “ 

Fixed Flow Violation Hours of Fixed Flow Violation Fixed Flow Violation Cost Offer Base Cleared Offer Price Cleared Offer Cost Available Transfer Capability Back Forced Outage Rate Maintenance Rate

6.205 6.205

 

  Transformer Interface

Available Transfer Capability Back Fixed Flow Fixed Flow Violation Hours of Fixed Flow Violation Fixed Flow Violation Cost Offer Base Offer Quantity Offer Price Offer Quantity Back Offer Price Back Offer Cleared Offer Cleared Back Cleared Offer Price Cleared Offer Cost Available Transfer Capability Back

As above See above input Interface [Fixed Flow] ”  ”  ”  See above input Interface [Offer Base] ”  ”  ”  ”  ”  ”  ”  ”  As above

7  Changed Outputs N/A Collection

Property

Notes

If you have comments or questions please contact  [email protected] [email protected]  

The Energy Exemplar Development Team