QuESt PCM uses .yaml configuration files to set up simulation cases. Users can define a wide range of input parameters, including optimization solver settings, simulation time configurations, and ancillary service provisions. The settings specified in the configuration files are used to selectively extract data from the input .csv files. The required parameters are as follows:
| Parameter | Comments |
|---|---|
solver |
Use this parameter to specify optimization solver for the simulation. Some popular commercial solvers include cplex and gurobi, while some open-source solvers such as glpk, cbc, appsi_highs can also be used. We recommend commercial solvers for large systems. |
baseMVA |
Base MVA for the system (typical values include 100.0 and 1000.0). |
start_date |
Start date for your simulation in MM/DD/YYYY format. |
end_date |
End date for your simulation in MM/DD/YYYY format. Note: if you are using lookaheads, do not include last day (12/31/yyyy) as the end date. |
DA_lookahead_periods |
Specify how many hours to lookahead in day-ahead security-constrained unit commitment (DA-SCUC) in hours. |
RT_resolution |
Duration of each real-time security-constrianed (RT-SCED) economic dispatch interval in minutes (e.g., 60 = hourly). |
RT_lookahead_periods |
Number of future intervals (of RT_resolution length). Note: make sure its smaller than DA_lookahead_periods. |
run_RTSCED_as |
Users have two options: LP or MILP. Linear programming (LP) is faster (as all commitment variables from DA are fixed) but mixed-integer LP (MILP) gives better commitment decisions and allows real-time scheduling of fast generators. |
mipgap |
MIP gap for the DA-SCUC and MILP-type RT-SCED. Note: recommended values are 0.001 for small systems and 0.01 for large systems. |
branch_contingency |
Use this boolean variable to impose N-1 transmission security constraints. Note: this setting significantly affects computation times. |
load_timeseries_aggregation_level |
Indicate how your load data is arranged columnwise in load_timeseries_DA and load_timeseries_RT csv files. Choices are: node and area. |
thermal_generator_types |
Specify which unit types in Unit Type column of gen.csv fall within thermal generation category. |
renewable_generator_types |
Specify which unit types in Unit Type column of gen.csv fall within renewable generation category. |
fixed_renewable_types |
Specify which unit types in Unit Type column of gen.csv fall within fixed-output type renewable generation category. |
System Reserve |
Select None, fixed, percentage, or timeseries for power reserve you want to allocate in DA SCUC to account for uncertainty in RT-SCED. See the reserves\ section in data_readme for details on the three options. |
Regulation Up |
Select None, fixed, percentage, or timeseries for upward regulation you want in the system. |
Regulation Down |
Select None, fixed, percentage, or timeseries for downward regulation you want in the system. |
Spinning Reserve |
Select None, fixed, percentage, or timeseries for 10 minute spinning reserve you want in the system. |
NonSpinning Reserve |
Select None, fixed, percentage, or timeseries for 10 minute non-spinning reserve you want in the system. |
Supplemental Reserve |
Select None, fixed, percentage, or timeseries for 30 minute supplemental reserve you want in the system. |
Flexible Ramp Up |
Select None, fixed, percentage, or timeseries for upward flexible ramping you want in the system. |
Flexible Ramp Up |
Select None, fixed, percentage, or timeseries for downward flexible ramping you want in the system. |
storage_AS_participation_level |
Indicates how many ancillary services can ESS participate in one time-period. Can be set between 0 and 4. |
output_interval |
Select the output resolution for plots and JSON file exports. Available options are: at_once, daily, weekly, or monthly. |
plotly_plots |
Boolean variable to enable HTML plot generation for enhanced visualization. Note: this may increase overall simulation time. |