Generators
The generators are entered individually into EMarket. There are three different types of generators;
- Generic (these are thermal, geothermal and wind)
- Hydro Station (simple one storage, one inflow type)
- Hydro System (complex multi station/reservoir hydro generators)
Many of the generator types have elements in common such as Name, Version, Node.
The Generator Window has the following components:
- A 'Common Generation Data Area' which is identical for all generator types
- An area containing type specific data
Common Generator Data Area
| Name | Used to reference the generator in Schedules, Formulae and Output Data |
| Version | The Version name for this Generator Resource Instance |
| Description | Free text field for information about the Generator |
| Gen Class | Generator type (Generic, Hydro Station or Hydro System) When changing this input a prompt window is displayed, as this may result in some of the information previously entered for the resource being lost. |
| Node | The Node where the Generator injects power into the Grid. |
| Comm Date | Commissioning Date - the first date upon which the Generator could submit Offers. This field allows you to model a Generator as coming on stream at a particular time in the future. |
| Moth Date | "Mothball" date - the last date upon which the generator can submit Offers. this date should be set well into the future for generators which are likely to run indefinitely. |
| Gen Type | Type of Generator, e.g. Steam Turbine |
| Fuel Type | Fuel used by Generator, e.g. Coal |
| Efficiency % | Describes the efficiency of the Generator. (Not used by EMarket but can be accessed to calculate fuel burn based on Generation Output. |
| Non Fuel M.C. ($/MWh) | This figure is used to calculate operating costs for Hydro Generators. |
| Max Output (MW) | The maximum output of the station. |
| Unit Size (MW) | The capacity of component units in MW. This is used when calculating Reserve risk and Reserve dispatch. You should enter a unit size of zero if the Generator will not be modelled as a Reserve risk. The Unit Size (MW) setting and the output of a Generator at any given Tick determines the risk set by the Generator. |
| PLSRSlope | Determines the maximum possible Reserve that can be provided by a plant when Reserves are running, as given by ReserveMax = PLSRslope × Generation. If PLSRslope is zero, then the amount of Reserve that can be provided becomes independent of generation (but still will be less than or equal to the Max Output setting). |
| Availability | The proportion of the year (0-1) that a Generator is available for Generation. The available days are spread over an entire year regardless of run duration. This is an important point to note, as during short runs where a Generator is unavailable for a large part of the year you might see no generation by that Generator at all during the Run. |
| Ave Outage Duration (d) | The average number of continuous days that a Generator is unavailable during an outage. It is only effective when the Availability setting is less than 1. The maximum number of continuous unavailable days will depend on the Availability setting. |
Generator Type Specific Data
The second component of the Generator Window is specific to each type of Generator.
Generic Generators
The Generic Generator class contains all non-Hydro Generators.
Hydro Systems
The Hydro System Generator class models a physical chain of Hydro Generators allowing you to control aspects of both the individual Generators and the System as a whole.
The Hydro System Generator Window has the following components
- Common Generator Data area
- 'Hydro System Parameters' box
- 'Hydro System Stations' button
The 'Hydro System Parameters Box' is accessible at the foot of the
Hydro Stations
The Hydro Station Generator Class contains all Hydro Generators not belonging to a Hydro System.
The Hydro Station Parameters box lies below the Common Data Area when Gen Class is selected as Hydro Station.
- Hydro Station Parameter Box Fields
| Max Storage (Mm3) | The maximum storage of the Hydro Station's Reservoir in millions of cubic metres. |
| MW per Cumec | Specifies how many MW of power are generated for every cumec of water released through the Generator's turbines. |
| Min Flow (CM) | The minimum flow (cumecs) that must at all times be allowed to flow down the river just below the Station. |
| Controlled Inflow | Specifies the name given to the controlled inflow in the inflows file that feeds the dam's reservoir. If a Hydro is entirely run-of-river the Controlled Inflow field should be left blank. |
| Uncontrolled Inflow | Specifies the name given to the uncontrolled inflow in the inflows file that feeds the dam's reservoir. It may be left blank if all inflows are into controlled storage. |
| Must Run Price ($/MWh) | Specifies the Price in $/MWh, at which the must-run Quantity is offered. The Must-Run Quantity is the generation obtained from the water that must pass through the dam in order to meet the Min Flow constraint. |