Steady-state and dynamic grid analysis for renewable integration has been Energynautics’ core business since company inception. Such technical studies require detailed inputs concerning power system setup and operation, which are typical outputs of techno-economic optimization and planning models. Long term planning with a time horizon of years to decades determines the optimal portfolio of generation and grid assets, while operational planning aims to optimize their use. Energynautics have in the past years gathered significant experience in such techno-economic planning studies using multiple different software solutions.

The company’s grid analysis experience has been expanded with the economic expertise required in today’s renewable energy planning landscape. With renewable energy and storage now often economically strongly competitive, the demand for integrated resource planning and co-optimization of generation and grid infrastructure is rising. Energynautics offer the expertise required to conduct comprehensive planning studies including capacity optimization, dispatch simulation, steady-state and dynamic power system analysis – everything that is needed to ensure that the power system of the future is economically feasible and technically stable and reliable.

Energynautics currently use PLEXOS and PyPSA to conduct techno-economic optimization and provide inputs to the electrical analysis. HOMER is also available for quick analysis of small systems.

Depending on system location and size, budget, scope and timeline of the study, Energynautics will always identify the optimal software solution for the grid, and supply the experts and knowledge to handle the task at hand. Be it the development of an co-optimized generation-transmission expansion plan, dispatch diagnosis for future scenarios, a “what if” study for a multitude of scenarios, or detailed questions on ancillary services and management of variable renewable energy: Energynautics can conduct the necessary studies, present the results to power system stakeholders, and conduct training and capacity building to bolster the client’s in-house expertise on the matter at hand.

PyPSA: Customized Open Source Solution for Flexibility

Energynautics have been using Python-based power system simulation and optimization frameworks for more than a decade, including both open source and in-house tools. The latest and most encompassing software site used is Python for Power System Analysis (PyPSA), an open source toolkit from an academic background. Energynautics have used PyPSA for power system planning and operational studies, including both capacity expansion planning (optimized system setup) and production simulation (optimized dispatch).

Out of the box, PyPSA is geared towards strategic studies of the European power system, a purpose for which it has also been used by Energynautics in multiple projects. However, the Energynautics development team have also included a number of add-on functionalities, greatly expanding the scope of services the software can be used for:

• Calculation of flow-based market coupling (FBMC) constraint spaces for use in market simulation software such as BALMOREL
• Optimization of redispatch after import of market results
• Security-constrained unit commitment (SCUC) and optimal power flow (SCOPF) based on generation unit characteristics, using mixed-integer solver engines Gurobi or HiGHS
• Detailed generation unit modelling including complex efficiency and cost functions
• Detailed modelling of hydro cascades and storage
• Optimization of ancillary services such as primary and secondary reserve
• Pre-optimization of resource use and outage management

PLEXOS: Commercial High-End Simulation Tool

Energy Exemplar PLEXOS is a commercial power system simulation software site, including mixed-integer functionality for capacity expansion as well as production simulation. Its vast range of functionality is more focused on economics than PyPSA, which comes from a distinct grid simulation and optimization background. Energynautics have used PLEXOS to develop integrated resource and resilience plans (IRRP) for Caribbean states. These included timed investment plans as well as security-constrained unit commitment and dispatch simulations for multiple key years. Energynautics recommend the use of PLEXOS especially if the software is already in use with the client – as is the case for many power utilities especially in smaller countries and power systems.

HOMER: Easy to Use Solution for Fast Results

HOMER Pro has been a long standing industry standard software for fast capacity optimization and dispatch simulation of small power systems. While more limited in its functionality – HOMER can only be used on systems with less than 20 generators, cannot deliver optimal investment timing and does not consider grid constraints – its easy usability and robustness makes it Energynautics’ premier choice whenever fast techno-economic results for an island system or microgrid are required. Energynautics have used HOMER to develop capacity expansion plans for the Galapagos Islands, the Bahamas, multiple Indonesian islands as well as off-grid and grid connected hybrid systems in Europe.