Release Notes v13.4 v4 - Energy Exemplar Client Portal · 2019. 12. 19. · Aurora v13.4 offers a number of client‐requested features that improve both project customization and

RELEASE NOTES VERSION 13.4

December 2019

Introduction ..................................................................... 2 Software Enhancements .................................................. 2 New Installations ................................................................ 2

Gurobi Solver Update ......................................................... 2

User Experience Enhancements ......................................... 2

Improving Productivity ....................................................... 4

Nodal Capability Updates ................................................... 4

Enhanced Resource Definition and Control ........................ 5

Long Term Enhancements .................................................. 5

Commitment Optimization Enhancements ........................ 6

New/Removed Output ....................................................... 7

Database Enhancements ................................................. 8 Support Information ........................................................ 9

© 2019 Energy Exemplar LLC. All Rights Reserved.

Confidential and Proprietary. For use only by authorized Aurora licensees. 2

INTRODUCTION Aurora v13.4 offers a number of client‐requested features that improve both project customization and usability! The most significant development is Parameter Sets, a new feature to save and apply setting changes similar to Change Sets. We’ve added a grouped retirement option and build costs to long‐terms, and the ability to save and reuse outage patterns from one study to another. Nodal studies now have random branch outages, and commitment optimization has a new pool interchange option. With v13.4, Aurora continues to offer a trusted, user‐focused platform for best‐in‐class performance.

Please Note: During installation, register Aurora by using the Support website credentials. If you do not know the username and password for the website, please contact Support at (208) 255‐3993 or [email protected].

SOFTWARE ENHANCEMENTS

New Installations The default file path for data and project file installation has changed to a more globally accepted, and IT‐friendly, location. For machines with previous installations, nothing will change and project files will go to the existing C:\AURORAxmp folder. For new machines, or those with the C:\AURORAxmp folder missing, the new default location for projects will be C:\Users\Public\Documents\Aurora. When projects are opened from the new location the first time, Aurora will sync all needed files with warning messages sent to the Status screen to let the user know.

Gurobi Solver Update This release updates the Gurobi optimization engine to the recent release of Gurobi 9.0. In addition to the default solver MOSEK, Aurora offers Gurobi, which provides significant run time advantages. Gurobi is an optional add‐on giving users more choices in managing the tradeoff between speed and cost.

Current licensees of the Gurobi solver may need to refresh their license after install at File > Account > Activate Gurobi License. Please contact Support with any questions.

User Experience Enhancements Designed with the user in mind

New Project This new feature creates a blank project, with a user‐defined name/location, containing all the files necessary to get started on a new simulation. On execution, Aurora creates a new project file (.apz) with default settings, a skeleton input database (.xdb) setup with the most often used tables/columns, a blank Quick View file (.atz), and a blank CDS (.cds) file all with the same name.

© 2019 Energy Exemplar LLC. All Rights Reserved. Confidential and Proprietary. For use only by authorized Aurora licensees.

3

Parameter Sets Parameter Sets provide the ability to create and save multiple combinations of simulation option settings within a single Aurora project. Just like Change Sets, but for project settings, they are a convenient and efficient way to set up and run sensitivity studies or scenario analyses beyond a base case set of assumptions.

This feature alleviates the need to manage setting changes by making copies of a project, editing settings for the appropriate changes, and then running the projects separately. Parameter Sets provide a more efficient way to manage the variation in assumptions generally associated with sensitivity or scenario analyses.

Parameter Sets are available via a button on the Home ribbon and implemented using Study Cases in the Project Setup window.

Other Usability Enhancements Version 13.4 also includes several other usability, client‐requested enhancements:

Delete Tables from Output DB: If your output database becomes unwieldy, use the Delete Tablesbutton on the Output ribbon to select tables to remove from the database and reduce its file size.

Find Files After Project Move: Upon opening a project, if Aurora can’t find some of the files it needs,it will automatically look for them in the project file’s folder. This is especially useful if you move(cut/paste) files without doing an archive.

Runtime with Study Cases: The StudyLog output table now includes runtime statistics for each casein addition to the simulation as a whole. This is helpful when using Study Cases to run multiplescenarios and comparing performance between the scenarios.

Visual Cue for Informational Columns: Columns that are only informational in nature, i.e. do notimpact results or are not used to create output, are now marked in a soft yellow color. These maybe user‐added columns not supported by Aurora, or Energy Exemplar delivered columns that areinformational‐only.


4

Improving Productivity Parallelization Overall, version 13.4 offers some general performance improvements when running simulations with Parallelize the Run Across All Years. Additionally, there is a new option called Dynamically Limit Solver Threading which updates the number of threads that the solver (Gurobi or Mosek) can use based on how many concurrent parallel simulations are taking place. When doing commitment optimization studies with multiple years run in parallel, selecting this switch can improve performance by limiting how many threads each instance can use.

Note that because solver settings are changed dynamically throughout the simulation based on the current number of parallel runs, results may not always be reproducible in back‐to‐back runs with this switch selected.

Improved Scripting Ease of Use The UpdateProjectParameter( ) function has been altered to make it even easier to change project settings with scripts. Work has been done behind‐the‐scenes so that as you type the parameter name seen in the user interface into the script it auto‐fills with available options and the syntax needed. See the Help for more detail on how the new syntax works.

Nodal Capability Updates Aurora keeps getting stronger

Random Branch Outages Version 13.4 has added the option to model random outages on nodal branches. There are three new columns in the Supplemental Branch table: Risk Outage, Forced Outage, and Mean Repair Time, that function similarly to the way Frequency Duration outage method is used for resources. Be sure to activate the Run General Risk Analysis switch to turn on the logic.

When used, the simulation will calculate a mean time to fail and determine (using random sampling from exponential distributions) when the branch will be out and when it will come back online. The effect of the random outages will be the same as if those outages were originally input in the Branch Outage table.

Other Nodal Enhancements The following enhancements add more reporting control and productivity for nodal studies:

Contingency Filter for Diagnostics: This new feature is used to limit the records reported in theNodalDiagContingencyFlow output table for the branch/corridor flow to a specified list ofcontingencies, instead of all active contingencies that affect the flow. The optional Contingency Listcolumn in the Transmission Diagnostics input table accepts a comma‐delimited list of ContingencyIDs selected for reporting.


5

Unserved Energy: When using the Shift Factor method and the system demand constraint isrelaxed, the unserved energy will also be reported in the Demand_Side_MW columns for bothNodalBus and NodalArea output tables.

Scripting: All nodal Simulation Options settings are now available for use in scripting.

Enhanced Resource Definition and Control Customization to fine‐tune resources

Outage Pattern Lock A new feature has been added to reuse outage patterns from one simulation in another. When a valid path is specified for the Outage Write Location in Simulation Options > Resource, Aurora records the outage patterns from the simulation for all resources that are on random outage. Those patterns can then be used in a subsequent simulation when that file is specified as the Read file. Both options are available with the Convergent and Frequency Duration outage methods.

Blended Fuel Capability The blended fuel enhancement offers the ability to enforce a percentage of secondary fuel to burn in relation to the overall plant’s fuel usage. The logic is based on fuel usage, not MWh. Two new columns in the Resources table, Second Fuel Min Ratio and Second Fuel Max Ratio, are used to set lower and upper bounds on the ratio of [Secondary_Fuel_Usage]/[Fuel_Usage] for each hour (or sub‐hour) being dispatched. Additional reporting has also been added for secondary fuel costs and emissions as described in the New/Removed Output section below.

Storage Enhancements The following enhancements can also adjust how a storage resource participates in the solution:

Storage Recharge Setting: This new setting in Simulation Options > Resource > Hydro & Storage iscalled Storage Recharge Capacity Applies To and is used to determine whether the data entered inthe Recharge Capacity input column acts as a limit on the Energy Stored in the storage device or alimit on the Energy Used from the grid.

Input Prices for Storage Shaping: The new Input Price column in the Storage table is used to specifya time series input price used for the monthly scheduling of the units, instead of using the dynamicprice/demand relationship handling, when the Shaping Method = Price.

Long Term Enhancements MIP Options Name Change The MIP Objective setting in Simulation Options > Long Term and its accompanying values have been changed to better reflect the logic being performed. The setting is now called Dispatch Representation, with two options: Chronological (formerly the Maximize Value objective) and LDC (formerly the Minimize Cost objective). This change reflects one of the key differences between the methods.



When the dispatch representation is Chronological, the dispatch of units in the chronological simulation (both costs and revenues) is used as the basis for the valuation of the build and retirement decisions. When the dispatch resolution is LDC, the dispatch decisions for new resources and resources which can be retired is determined as part of the LT optimization in a load duration curve approach.

Retirement Group The new Retirement Group column in the New Resources input table is used with the MIP Method to identify a group of resources that must be considered together for retirement and retired on the same date. If a resource in the group is not eligible for retirement in a given study, then the rest of the group is considered without it. The column accepts a user‐defined string value (akin to an ID), such that all resources with that string are grouped. Only one group assignment is allowed per resource.

Build Cost Two new columns in the New Resources input table, Build Cost and LCCR (Levelized Capital Carrying Rate), are used to specify a cost that the unit will incur each year, calculated as LCCR * Build Cost * Nameplate Capacity (in kW). The final cost is accrued on an hourly basis for use in short‐ or long‐term studies. The final calculated cost is reported in the Resource output table’s new Build_Cost column.

Other LT Enhancements Version 13.4 also includes a few other LT enhancements that address some requested client features:

New Reporting: We’ve added two new output tables, plus additional columns in the LTAvgPrice table, described in the New/Removed Output section below.

Energy Only LT Logic: Improved behavior for the Energy Only LT logic so that the overall value of new resources built should be improved.

Commitment Optimization Enhancements Pool Interchange Option A new option was added to the Commitment External Representation column in the Operating Pools input table. When Optimize is selected, Aurora performs an LP dispatch of the whole system before the commitment decisions and uses the results from that dispatch to inform each pool how much interchange to expect with other pools. Using the Optimize option will generally produce a dispatch and commitment pattern with a lower total system cost than the solution obtained when using the default Economic option (which uses a heuristic to estimate flows), but it will also take longer to solve.

Linear Commitment in Forecast Period A new switch has been added to the Simulation Options > Commitment form called Use Linear Commitment in Lookahead. When it is checked, the formula for the lookahead period (any days being solved past the current day) is changed so that only linear variables are used in the commitment representation for each day’s solve. This setting will improve performance when Dispatch Days in Solve > 1 at the cost of a little less precision.



Demand Forecast Error Two new columns have been added to the Zone Definition input table to alter the demand values seen by the commitment decisions (for day‐ahead) compared to the actual dispatched demand (real‐time). The Forecast Error Adder/Factor columns adjust the input demand for the zone used for the commitment solve as follows:

New/Removed Output Tables There are two new advanced diagnostic output tables available when using the MIP methodology for a long‐term simulation:

LTConstraintReport: Lists each constraint that is solved in each LT MIP solution, including information about the constraint limit and solution. This information can be used to understand which constraints were binding in the solution and possibly caused unexpected retirement or build decisions.

LTVariableReport: Lists each variable used in each LT MIP solution, including information about the variable bounds, objective coefficient, and solution. This information can be used to validate the new resource costs and profitability seen by the optimization as well as show which constraints had to be relaxed (by looking at the relaxation variables).

Columns

The following enhancements may affect multiple runs to a SQL Server database.

The following output columns have been added since 13.3.1001:

OUTPUT TABLE(S) COLUMN(S)

LTAvgPrice

Capability_Built Capacity_Built Capacity_Retired Reliable_Capacity_Built

Resource Build_Cost Total_Primary_Fuel_Cost Total_Secondary_Fuel_Cost

ResourceEmissions

Primary_Fuel_Amount Primary_Fuel_Cost Secondary_Fuel_Amount Secondary_Fuel_Cost

Demand Seen By

Commitment

Actual Demand

1 + Forecast

Error Factor Forecast

Error Adder



DATABASE ENHANCEMENTS The foundation for your analysis

Energy Exemplar delivers database updates independently of major software enhancements. This software release includes a few generic example files, but major databases are released at other times to facilitate the delivery of timely updates to licensees between software releases. For more detail on data updates since the last software release, please logon to the Client Portal and view the Datasets page.

During installation, the application will prompt an option to download new data files. Note that any files installed with Aurora version 13.4 will overwrite any existing files with the same name in the installation directory.

Data Download Aurora includes a seamless way to access databases and example files. As part of the installation, a window will announce available data packages after the licensing is complete. Selected packages will be downloaded to the default directory.

Additionally, data and project file packages can be accessed at any time via the File > Account > Database Update option in the main toolbar. Be sure to join our mailing list to receive announcements about data package releases.

Zonal Data Zonal data is available for US_Canada, Europe and Mexico, with preformatted projects ready to simulate a default one‐year study or perform a long‐term capacity expansion simulation.

Nodal Data Nodal data is available for CAISO, ERCOT, the East Interconnect, SPP and WECC. This data is updated annually with then‐current information. Complete update information is available with a nodal data license or upon request.

Authorization from FERC or the source ISO/RTO is required to obtain a nodal dataset. It can take several weeks to obtain, and clients who would like nodal data need to get the approval as soon as possible if they do not already have them. Please contact Customer Support at (208) 255‐3993 or email us at [email protected] to obtain instructions and credentials in order to access the data and files.



SUPPORT INFORMATION

Updates on the Web All updates to Aurora are available in the client portal, https://energyexemplar.com/client‐login/. Enter your username and password to select the desired update. Contact Energy Exemplar if you do not know the username or password. Be sure to review the Aurora Enhancement Log before downloading a new version of the software from the website.