MultiNode v1 for EnergyPLAN

Documentation

System 1 System 5

System 2 System 6

Grid

System 3 System 7

System 4 System 8

Jakob Zinck Thellufsen

September 2016

[Link]
Preface
The MultiNode add-on tool for EnergyPLAN is developed as a central part of the PhD project “Energy System
Analysis of Multiple Systems”. The PhD is part of the Centre for IT–Intelligent Energy System in Cities (CITIES)
Research Project funded by Innovation Fund Denmark. Besides, the tools draw on research and development
related to EnergyPLAN, the 4DH Research Center also funded by Innovation Fund Denmark, and the various
Heat Roadmap Europe Studies.

Jakob Zinck Thellufsen has done the main development of the tool, but with assistant and feedback from
Henrik Lund, Prof. AAU, and Anders N. Andersen and Henning Mæng from EMD International.
Contents
Preface ............................................................................................................................................................... 3
The MultiNode Concept in EnergyPLAN ............................................................................................................ 7
Using the MultiNode tool .............................................................................................................................. 8
Calculating connections using MultiNode ....................................................................................................... 13
Start Multiple Calculation ............................................................................................................................ 13
Create Import/Export Balance..................................................................................................................... 13
Run Connected Mode .................................................................................................................................. 15
Printout ........................................................................................................................................................ 15
The MultiNode Concept in EnergyPLAN
The goal of the MultiNode Add-on Tool to EnergyPLAN is to be able to run and link several EnergyPLAN
analyses. The concept currently only looks at the electricity sector and defines the link through cables.
MultiNode has the possibility of linking between 2 and 28 different systems. These energy systems can be
of all kind of sizes, meaning it is suitable to run both on local-national analyses and when linking multiple
national energy systems, e.g. the European Union.

MultiNode is part of the current development strategy for EnergyPLAN. This means that instead of making
radical changes to EnergyPLAN, the development goes towards creating add-on tools that utilizes
EnergyPLAN as a base framework. Therefore, MultiNode does not make changes to the way EnergyPLAN
runs. This is reflected in the overall concept of the MultiNode add on tool, as exchange possibilities have to
be identified in a certain way.

Figure 1 shows the overall concept of the MultiNode add on tool. The figure illustrates how the tool
identifies exchange options. First, MultiNode runs all selected energy systems without any interconnection.
From this analysis, MultiNode identifies two sets of information for each system: 1) the hourly amount of
exportable electricity and 2) the potential for electricity import every hour. MultiNode identifies a potential
import demand as hours with:

 Lack of sufficient capacity

 Hours with power plant production

From the information regarding the hourly available exportable electricity and hourly potential for
importing electricity, MultiNode now tries to link the exportable electricity with the demand for import. In
hours with import demand and available export, each system will try to fulfill its demand for import as
much as possible. Each individual energy system will get access to the electricity available for import on the
grid based on a merit order.

After utilizing as much of the exportable electricity as possible in each of the energy systems, an
import/export balance is created for each energy system and the yearly net export is identified. Together,
the balance and the net export identifies each system’s interaction with the grid.

Note that the tool uses a total grid capacity for transmission since it views the electricity grid as one unison
between all systems that has a defined grid capacity over zero.

Finally, the MultiNode add-on tool runs each of the selected energy systems again now with the
information regarding import and export. Based on these simulation results the MultiNode has the option
of summarizing all systems together.
 1st run: Island Create fixed 2nd run: Energy
Identify total
mode from each import/export systems with
avaible export
system balance import/export

Import/export for
Energy system 1 Energy system 1
System 1

Electricity Import/export for

Energy System 2 Energy System 2
grid System 2

Import/export for
Energy System 3 Energy System 3
System 3

Export
Import
Insert

Using the MultiNode tool

MultiNode is structured in four tabs. The “front page” where the user defines the model and runs the
different parts. The “input files” where the user defines the different energy plan systems. “Transmission”
where the user defines transmission capacities and “settings” where the user defines energy units and RES
sources.

When opening MultiNode the first screen is the front page. To run the model either use the automatic
generation of country names (currently only works for EU28, the Nordic Countries, and the Baltic
Countries). Be aware that to use this function you have to follow a certain naming standard. Else just leave
these functions be, as they are not necessary.

The button for selecting operation mode defines the methodology for merit order in the system in terms of
utilizing excess electricity. The standard procedure is to define the merit order based on the order of
energy plan files in the input files tab. Otherwise, the tool can use the system priced calculated in each
system to define merit order. Note that this requires that you have defined costs in each EnergyPLAN
system. Be aware that the MultiNode tool does not check your cost assumptions and unit settings.

The following takes you through the tabs, to run your model successfully.
Go to input files and
select the number of
Click select to load input
EnergyPLAN systems
you want to connect. files
Click select to load the
files.
Click the “active”
button to deactivate a
file if you do not want Click active/not active to activate/de-
to include it in a given activate a given EnergyPLAN file
analysis.

Define transmission
capacity from each Define capacity
system going into the
grid.
Go to settings to define Change renewable energy sources
the size of the system,
and units
the currency, and
renewable energy
technologies. For each
setting there is a
button that confirms
whether the input files
are set correct. These
settings are not
needed to run the
model, but will help
the user generate the
right print out heet. Test whether input files have the
same settings?

To run the tool the first

step is to test that all
the input files exist on
the front page.

Test that the input files exist

The next step is to
press the start Multiple
Execution. This will run
each EnergyPLAN
Calculate a printout sheet for
model as an island
the total region.
mode, and store the
results.

Hereafter, you can

create a printout to see Run the MultiNode tool.
how the system
operates without
interconnection
between them.

After that, pressing the

create import/export
balance will analyse
each system, and
define how much Create import/export balance
should be imported
and exported to each
system.
Finally, the “create
connected models”
button will save all
Create a connected model that
your systems with the
import/export balance. saves the import/export balance
You can load these into into each EnergyPLAN file
the MultiNode tool
under input files and
run the tool again, to
see how the overall
system performs with
connection.
Calculating connections using MultiNode
The MultiNode tool operates based on four different buttons. These operations are described in detail in
the following subsections.

Start Multiple Calculation

When pressing start multiple calculation MultiNode runs each defined system as an island mode operation.
It stores all information from the EnergyPLAN operation in the memory in a number of files. One file that
summarizes all the selected systems and separate files for each individual system. The stored data also
includes temporarily information necessary to calculate average efficiencies when running the print out
button.

Create Import/Export Balance

Abbreviations:

P = Potential

PP = Power plant

Prod = production of electricity

Imp = Import

Ini = initial

N = Number of systems

1..14 = The specific system

Based on the stored output data from each individual system the tool creates an import/export balance,
following the basic structure illustrated in Figure 1.

The first step of creating the import/export balance is to calculate the total amount of export available on
the grid each hour. This is done by identifying the amount of exportable electricity each system delivers and
add them all together for each hour:

𝑒𝑥𝑝𝑜𝑟𝑡𝑡𝑜𝑡𝑎𝑙 = 𝑒𝑥𝑝𝑜𝑟𝑡1 + 𝑒𝑥𝑝𝑜𝑟𝑡2 + 𝑒𝑥𝑝𝑜𝑟𝑡3 … + 𝑒𝑥𝑝𝑜𝑟𝑡14

Each of the individual exports can maximum equal the defined capacity on the interconnector.

After this, the amount of potential imports are identified for each system by adding together the important
demand the current operation of the power plant. This is done for every hour in the year.

𝑃𝑖𝑚𝑝1 = 𝑖𝑚𝑝𝑜𝑟𝑡𝑑𝑒𝑚𝑎𝑛𝑑1 + 𝑃𝑃𝑝𝑟𝑜𝑑1

𝑃𝑖𝑚𝑝2 = 𝑖𝑚𝑝𝑜𝑟𝑡𝑑𝑒𝑚𝑎𝑛𝑑2 + 𝑃𝑃𝑝𝑟𝑜𝑑2
⋮
 𝑃𝑖𝑚𝑝14 = 𝑖𝑚𝑝𝑜𝑟𝑡𝑑𝑒𝑚𝑎𝑛𝑑14 + 𝑃𝑃𝑝𝑟𝑜𝑑14

Each individual import demand can only be as high as the capacity on each transmission line.

For each system the program creates an initial hour balance that defines the export as positive and the
potential import as negative for each system:

𝐵𝑎𝑙𝑎𝑛𝑐𝑒𝑖𝑛𝑖1 = 𝑒𝑥𝑝𝑜𝑟𝑡1 − 𝑃𝑖𝑚𝑝1

𝐵𝑎𝑙𝑎𝑛𝑐𝑒𝑖𝑛𝑖2 = 𝑒𝑥𝑝𝑜𝑟𝑡2 − 𝑃𝑖𝑚𝑝2
⋮
𝐵𝑎𝑙𝑎𝑛𝑐𝑒𝑖𝑛𝑖14 = 𝑒𝑥𝑝𝑜𝑟𝑡14 − 𝑃𝑖𝑚𝑝14

However, the system can only import if there is available electricity in the grid. This means that based on
the merit order in which the systems are organized in the program they will each take turn in taking
electricity out of the grid as import. Therefore it will check whether there is electricity in the grid for each
hour with a potential import demand. If that is the case an import demand will be defined:

𝒊𝒇(𝑃𝑖𝑚𝑝1 > 𝑒𝑥𝑝𝑜𝑟𝑡 𝑡𝑜𝑡𝑎𝑙) 𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒏 𝐼𝑚𝑝𝑜𝑟𝑡1 = 𝑒𝑥𝑝𝑜𝑟𝑡𝑎𝑏𝑙𝑒𝑡𝑜𝑡𝑎𝑙 𝒆𝒍𝒔𝒆 𝐼𝑚𝑝𝑜𝑟𝑡1 = 𝑃𝑖𝑚𝑝1

𝒊𝒇(𝑃𝑖𝑚𝑝2 > 𝑒𝑥𝑝𝑜𝑟𝑡 𝑡𝑜𝑡𝑎𝑙 − 𝑖𝑚𝑝𝑜𝑟𝑡1 ) 𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒏 𝐼𝑚𝑝𝑜𝑟𝑡2 = 𝑒𝑥𝑝𝑜𝑟𝑡𝑎𝑏𝑙𝑒𝑡𝑜𝑡𝑎𝑙 − 𝑖𝑚𝑝𝑜𝑟𝑡1 𝒆𝒍𝒔𝒆 𝐼𝑚𝑝𝑜𝑟𝑡2
= 𝑃𝑖𝑚𝑝2
⋮
𝒊𝒇(𝑃𝑖𝑚𝑝14 > 𝑒𝑥𝑝𝑜𝑟𝑡 𝑡𝑜𝑡𝑎𝑙 − 𝑖𝑚𝑝𝑜𝑟𝑡1 … − 𝑖𝑚𝑝𝑜𝑟𝑡13 ) 𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒏 𝐼𝑚𝑝𝑜𝑟𝑡14
= 𝑒𝑥𝑝𝑜𝑟𝑡𝑎𝑏𝑙𝑒𝑡𝑜𝑡𝑎𝑙 − 𝑖𝑚𝑝𝑜𝑟𝑡1 … − 𝑖𝑚𝑝𝑜𝑟𝑡13 𝒆𝒍𝒔𝒆 𝐼𝑚𝑝𝑜𝑟𝑡14 = 𝑃𝑖𝑚𝑝14

These sections secure that only potential import that can be covered by the grid is included.

Therefore, the balance can now be created. This is done by taking the initial balance and replace the
export, with the sum of imports needed in the other system, while the potential import is replaced with the
actual import found in the previous section. This is done for every hour:

𝒊𝒇(𝐵𝑎𝑙𝑎𝑛𝑐𝑒𝑖𝑛𝑖1 > 0) 𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒏 𝐵𝑎𝑙𝑎𝑛𝑐𝑒1 = 𝑖𝑚𝑝𝑜𝑟𝑡2 + 𝑖𝑚𝑝𝑜𝑟𝑡3 … + 𝑖𝑚𝑝𝑜𝑟𝑡14 𝒆𝒍𝒔𝒆 𝐵𝑎𝑙𝑎𝑛𝑐𝑒1 = −𝑖𝑚𝑝𝑜𝑟𝑡1
𝒊𝒇(𝐵𝑎𝑙𝑎𝑛𝑐𝑒𝑖𝑛𝑖2 > 0) 𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒏 𝐵𝑎𝑙𝑎𝑛𝑐𝑒2 = 𝑖𝑚𝑝𝑜𝑟𝑡1 … + 𝑖𝑚𝑝𝑜𝑟𝑡3 … + 𝑖𝑚𝑝𝑜𝑟𝑡14 𝒆𝒍𝒔𝒆 𝐵𝑎𝑙𝑎𝑛𝑐𝑒2
= −𝑖𝑚𝑝𝑜𝑟𝑡2
⋮
𝒊𝒇(𝐵𝑎𝑙𝑎𝑛𝑐𝑒𝑖𝑛𝑖14 > 0) 𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒏 𝐵𝑎𝑙𝑎𝑛𝑐𝑒14 = 𝑖𝑚𝑝𝑜𝑟𝑡1 + 𝑖𝑚𝑝𝑜𝑟𝑡3 … + 𝑖𝑚𝑝𝑜𝑟𝑡13 𝒆𝒍𝒔𝒆 𝐵𝑎𝑙𝑎𝑛𝑐𝑒14
= −𝑖𝑚𝑝𝑜𝑟𝑡14
The result is a balance file for each system, where the export is positive and the import is negative.
The consequence of this method is that the export part is not in balance with the import part. Therefore,
the final step is to remove the excess accounted electricity by diving the active export in each system in
each hour with the number of systems that exports electricity. Thus eliminating excess exports. The
following concept is used for each balance:

𝒊𝒇(𝐵𝑎𝑙𝑎𝑛𝑐𝑒1 < 0) 𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒏 𝐵𝑎𝑙𝑎𝑛𝑐𝑒1 = 𝐵𝑎𝑙𝑎𝑛𝑐𝑒1

𝒆𝒍𝒔𝒆 𝒊𝒇 𝐵𝑎𝑙𝑎𝑛𝑐𝑒1 + 𝐵𝑎𝑙𝑎𝑛𝑐𝑒2 … + 𝐵𝑎𝑙𝑎𝑛𝑐𝑒14 = 0
𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒏 𝐵𝑎𝑙𝑎𝑛𝑐𝑒1 = 𝐵𝑎𝑙𝑎𝑛𝑐𝑒1 𝒆𝒍𝒔𝒆
𝐵𝑎𝑙𝑎𝑛𝑐𝑒1
𝐵𝑎𝑙𝑎𝑛𝑐𝑒1 =
𝑁𝑎𝑐𝑡𝑖𝑣𝑒

The balances can be seen by pressing the view screen button and can be found in the EnergyPLAN
distribution files folder.

Run Connected Mode

The run connected mode button uses the information from the created import/export balance and the
loaded input files to create new EnergyPLAN scenario files. These are the original files but uses the fixed
import/export input in EnergyPLAN to include the import/export balance created.

The import/export balance is included as a distribution file and a sum to indicate the total annual demand.
A negative demand indicates an annual import of electricity while a positive demand indicate an annual
export of electricity.

Printout
Abbreviations:

P = Potential

Cap = Capacity

Eff = Efficiency

PP = Power plant

El = production of electricity

Fuel = Fuel consumption

1..14 = The specific system

The final button in the MultiNode is the print out. This is used to summarize all the EnergyPLAN outputs
into one single combined output. This is useful, when using the MultiNode tool to simulate systems split
into several systems. This could be a country split into counties or regions, or parts of Europe modelled as
each individual country. Then the printout button can make final output sheet for the country or for
Europe.

Compared to the printout in EnergyPLAN, the MultiNode print out is simplified. This means it only includes
information that can be either added together or defined through weighted averages.
This means that all costs, capacities and demands are added together based on. For instance for electricity
demand and power plant capacity:

𝐸𝑙𝑒𝑐 𝑑𝑒𝑚𝑎𝑛𝑑𝑡𝑜𝑡𝑎𝑙 = 𝐸𝑙𝑒𝑐 𝑑𝑒𝑚𝑎𝑛𝑑1 + 𝐸𝑙𝑒𝑐 𝑑𝑒𝑚𝑎𝑛𝑑2 … + 𝐸𝑙𝑒𝑐 𝑑𝑒𝑚𝑎𝑛𝑑14

𝑃𝑃𝑐𝑎𝑝𝑡𝑜𝑡𝑎𝑙 = 𝑃𝑃𝑐𝑎𝑝1 + 𝑃𝑃𝑐𝑎𝑝2 … + 𝑃𝑃𝑐𝑎𝑝14

The average efficiencies for all fuel consuming fuel plants are calculated based on the total energy output
divided with the total fuel consumption. For instance for power plants:
𝐸𝑙𝑃𝑃
𝑃𝑃𝑒𝑓𝑓 =
𝐹𝑢𝑒𝑙𝑝𝑝

For efficiencies for non fuel using plants, the efficiency is calculated based on calculating capacities before
and after efficiency loss for each system. These are both summarized and based on this an average capacity
is found. For instance for hydro power:
𝐶𝑎𝑝𝑎𝑓𝑡𝑒𝑟 𝑙𝑜𝑠𝑠
𝐻𝑦𝑑𝑟𝑜𝑒𝑓𝑓 =
𝐶𝑎𝑝𝑏𝑒𝑓𝑜𝑟𝑒 𝑙𝑜𝑠𝑠