Simulation
Simulations are snapshots of inputs and outputs.
Simulations
After a scenario is selected in the scenario tree, the simulations can be found in the navigation bar under Simulation. The different market simulation types are explained under procedure. After starting Check scenario or Run simulation, the current state of all scenario inputs is exported into the High Performance Cluster (HPC) in the background. After a simulation is started, the input dataset can be changed in parallel. To consider such changes a new run needs to be started.
Data check
The result of Check scenario (data check) is displayed in the frontend and exported into the file stdout.log. The displayed error list includes understandable error messages and specific recommendations for solving.
Simulation run
After a successful scenario check, the platform can run simulations via Run simulation unattended and uninterrupted, so no manual inputs or popup boxes need to be approved. The simulations run in a HPC with multiple instances running in parallel. Node scheduling, simulation monitoring, result storing and others are fully automated.
After a run ends, the input data and all result files can be downloaded via click on Download output. The market simulation run is successful, error-free and fully done if the last three lines in stdout.log display the total procedure time.
Two clicks on Delete in the simulation list will delete the according simulation dataset without any possibility for restoration. This does not affect the scenario input data. So there can be a series of simulation runs (with different inputs) in a single scenario. New runs are at the top in the simulation list.
Result analysis
The result analysis can be done manually via result files from the simulation list (see simulations). Alternatively, analysis can be carried out via the toolkit in the front-end. Currently, the following figures are available. All figures are made with the target to compare simulation results visually. All graphs are based on result files and load automatically in several seconds.
- Balances for energy, power, emissions and costs, including filters for bidding zones and technologies
- Zone-by-zone graphs for generation, consumption, exchanges, spot prices, net positions, unavailable generation capacities, remaining generation capacities, residual loads, fuel consumptions and emissions (for example for 8760 hours in Germany)
- Unit-by-unit graphs for commitments, average cost, marginal cost, hydro flows, hydro filling levels, fuel consumption (for example for 8760 hours of a single component)
- Social welfare components like consumer rent, producer rent and congestion rent (for all bidding zones)
- Numeric assessments in graphs of thermal power plants, hydro power plants, grid capacities, flexible demand and RES (for all components in a bidding zone)
- Visual assessments in maps of thermal power plants, hydro power plants, grid capacities, flexible demand and RES (for all components)
Additionally, simulation results can be uploaded in the section Output compare so that the simulation result can be compared with the uploaded data in the front-end. Manual analysis of simulation results can also be done through downloading the full output dataset (see simulation management).