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ANSWERv6-TIMES User Manual - Noble

1. Spread Text Tips If Show Spread Text Tips Text Tip Delay mz 250 Maximum Items to Select without Prompt Prompt user on Select All Mult Select if number of lkeans selected in lems lishview 500 exceeds Maximum Rows to Display without Prompt Prompt user on Select All Multi Select Remove Filter it number of TS amp TID rows f O00 exceeds Repair and Compact Current Database IY Invoke Automatically If Database Size in MB exceeds 284 Run Model Timing Log P Create Run Model Timing Log in Qnewer work tolder 3 Modify the settings for Spread Sheet Colors or Spread Text Tips or Maximum Items to Select without Prompt or Maximum Rows to Display without Prompt or Repair and Compact Current Database for details see below and click on the OK button 4 The new settings are saved to the registry and will apply to any ANSWER database that is opened while they are in effect with two exceptions the Database Size specified for Repair and Compact Current Database and the Run Model Timing Log checkbox setting apply only to the currently open ANSWER database and are saved to that database only Noble Soft Systems Pty Ltd 2004 09 section three 39 ANSWER s Data Results Screen 3 9 1 5 All new settings are applied immediately with one exception any new Spread Sheet Color settings are applied on the next occasion that the spreads are refreshed Spre
2. BASE Flo Fung a0ToPa e pE A FLO_SU fag e eee ANNUAL 0 ag m lindependent TID Parameters Bim ease Noor gh A nw wee b j fof oef oe Pe isPlavee lt o p 40 0000 i a 200 0000 o p sooo 70 0000 100 0000 C Sort Parameters by column header Database CM4newer IME Svb ansiwer Databases bopia_Lumpylnyvestment mdb Edit Scenario BASE ot Noble Soft Systems Pty Ltd 2004 09 section three 4 ANSWER s Data Results Screen 3 2 2 Data Results Screen terminology Components Items Set Memberships and Parameters 3 2 2 1 Components In ANSWER TIMES the elements of an energy system that have a common nature are grouped together There are seven broad categories or Components namely 1 Global Component comprises those data parameters that describe some aspect of the global energy system such as the base year for discounting the objective function G_DYEAR 2 TimeSlice Component comprises Time Slices associated with the energy system namely the ANNUAL and optionally Seasonal Weekly and Day Night diurnal divisions along with their associated data parameters 3 Commodity Component comprises Energy Carriers Materials End Use Demands and Emissions associated with the energy system along with their associated data parameters 4 CommGroup Component comprises Commodity Groups associated with the energy system 9 Process Component comprises Processes associated with the energy s
3. BASE COM_PROJ UTOPIA RH d O 25000A Fame petec Mode 2 The currently active field is numbered 1 and the last field in the time horizon is numbered N To invoke the Geometric Extrapolate function 1 Enter the data in this example 25 0000 into the first data field in the series Do not press the Tab or Enter key Scenario Parameter Region Com Com Time Bou e 1990 2000 amo 2020 BASE COM_PROJ UTOPIA RH f po 0 a 2 Press the F7 key 3 Enter the required annual percentage increase in the Geometric Extrapolate dialogue box shown below and click OK Geometric Extrapolate Enter annual percentage increase to apply Cancel 4 The calculated data is displayed in the Parameter spread and immediately saved to the Database Scenario Parameter Region Com Com Time Bou E 1990 2000 amo 2020 BASE COM_PRON a uTOPIA RH j 0 25 0000 30 4749 97 1487 45 2840 5 4 4 7 Multiply bya Constant F8 The values in each of columns 1 2 N are multiplied by the user specified constant C and we have anew n a n C for n 1 2 N In the instance of a null field this function will not create a data entry Mode 1 To invoke the Multiply by a Constant function Noble Soft Systems Pty Ltd 2004 09 section five 34 Data entry and editing 1 Click on the left mouse key and highlight the required consecutive data fields containing
4. BASE COM_PROJ 4 UTOPIA RH j 0 250000 0 0 2 Press the F3 key 3 The calculated data is displayed in the Parameter spread and immediately saved to the Database Scenario Parameter Region Com Com Time Bou E 1990 2000 20o 2020 BASE COM_PROJ UTOPIA RH 0 25 0000 30 0000 35 0000 40 0000 5 4 4 3 Linear Extrapolate F4 Linear extrapolation is carried out from the value a 1 in field 1 and the value a 2 in field 2 overwriting any values that may already be present in fields 3 N Thus assuming equally spaced Data Time Periods the common increment between values in adjacent fields is given by a 2 a 1 and we have anew 1 a 1 anew 2 a 2 anew n a 1 n 1 1 for n 3 N Mode 1 To invoke the Linear Extrapolate function 1 Enter the data into the first and second data fields in the series 2 Click on the left mouse key and highlight the required consecutive data fields including the first and second data fields iee_iesee fee Le oe tele BASE COM_PROJ UTOPIA RH p po O Noble Soft Systems Pty Ltd 2004 09 section five 30 Data entry and editing 3 Press the F4 key or click on Functions in the menu bar and choose Linear Extrapolate in the drop menu 4 The calculated data is displayed in the Parameter spread and immediately saved to the Database Scenario Parameter _ Region Com Com Time Bou iE 199
5. UTOPIA Create as new region s in the current database If all of the Regions selected to be imported are currently in the database no message is displayed at this point Starting with the Excel file at the top of the listbox each Excel file is processed in turn When multiple Excel files are imported log files ImportDataExcelSummary log and ImportDataExcel 1 log ImportDataExcel 2 log ImportDataExcel 3 log are created in the ANSWER Work Folder ImportDataExcelSummary log contains summary information regarding the entire import process while the remaining log files contain more detailed information regarding the import of the first second third Excel files respectively in the list If each of the Excel files being imported is error free each of them is imported in turn with no prompting of the user until the following message is displayed to indicate that all of the relevant data in all of the Excel files has been successfully imported into the database All Excel Files were imported and were error free i S 2 Do vou wish bo see the summary logfile If errors are detected and if the Prompt user to decide whether to Import for each Excel File that has errors user option was selected a message similar to the following is displayed Processing of Excel File C 4nswerTIMEsv ans_WrkTTUkopia Demo MainData xls shows that There are 2 errors and 1286 data record s can be imported Do vou wish bo
6. A TM Same as Master button is also available on the Trade Matrix tab This button may be used at any time to specify that the Trade Matrix for the Commodity currently selected in the Commodity combobox is the same as the Master Trade Matrix provided of course that a Master Commodity has been specified on the Traded Commodities tab and the Master Trade Matrix has been specified Noble Soft Systems Pty Ltd 2004 09 section sixteen 16 Handling of Trade Processes in ANSWER TIMES 16 7 Operation of Buttons and Checkbox on the Trade Matrix Tab On the Trade Matrix tab at the top right four command buttons and a checkbox are provided to assist the user in specifying the Trade Matrix Use Commodity combobox to specify the Name of the Traded Commodity and then use checkboxes to TM Same as Master Clear TM specity the Trade Matrix Pestore TM Commodity fnar Diesel 7 AllLinks BiDirectional Check TM Integrity The operation of each of these is now briefly discussed Trade Matrix Same as Master Button J Senat a ae lt This button is displayed only where M Same Commodity Name in All Regions Click on this button to set the Trade Matrix for the currently selected Commodity to be the same as the Master Trade Matrix See also section 6 6 Operation of the MasterTrade Matrix facility Clear Trade Matrix Button Clear TM Click on this button to clear all checkboxes in the currently specified Trade Matrix
7. CUE Copy Paste Like P D Mot Like P D G e Fora cell that is in the Set Memberships column the following right mouse pop up menu option IS provided oom Cut Copy Paste Specify Set Memberships Toggle Mot Invoking the Specify Set Memberships option allows the user to bring up the Set Memberships Items Filter Processes form that is shown below in which the user has specified Set Membership criteria of ELE DAYNITE that is the filtering criteria is to restrict to those processes that are in SET ELE and SET DAYNITE have day night timeslicing W Set Memberships Items Filter Processes Selecta parent leaf node from the Set Memberships tree Then select deselect sets in the LW Additional Characterization list Set Memberships E Process PAC Combined Heat amp Power CHF Annual Time Slice Level Demand Device DMD C Seasonal Time Slice Level ER Electric Generation ELE Leyel n E Energy PRE rn ale B Heat Generation HFL 5 System DISTR 3 B Material by weight PRY C Import Export IRE B Material by volume PAW I Night Storage NST B Miscellaneous MISC 7 A Storage not NST or STK STGTSS Description ELE D NITE Processes user defined Delete Cancel e The Set Membership filtering criteria specified above will be displayed in the Processes to be Included specification area as follows Processes to be Incl
8. Comment Processes to be Included Name sd Description Set Memberships Input Commodity Output Commodity SSS Processes to be Excluded pLookfor f Clear Included Clear Excluded IK Cancel The main features of this form are e These are Named filters so the top part of the form allows the user to specify the Name and Description of the Filter A Comment optional may also be specified e The top specification area Processes to be Included is where the user specifies via Name and or Description masks and or Set Memberships and or Input Commodity and or Output Commodity masks filtering criteria for those Process Items that are to be included in what the filter qualifies Noble Soft Systems Pty Ltd 2004 09 section twelve 5 Process Items Filters in ANSWER TIMES The bottom specification area Processes to be Excluded is where the user specifies via Name and or Description masks and or Set Memberships and or Input Commodity and or Output Commodity masks filtering criteria for those Process Items that are to be excluded The overall effect of the filter rules in the two specification areas Spreads is that a single filter is constructed to find Process Items WHERE criteria specified in Processes to be Included spread AND NOT criteria specified in Processes to be Excluded spread are Satisfied For either specification area criteria listed for individual cells on the s
9. Do vou wish to Repair and Compact now inviting you to Repair and Compact the database Click on the Yes button to invoke the Repair and Compact Database facility If you do this a message will appear to indicate that repair and compact is complete Database Repaired and Compacted Fa i The database C 4nswerTIMESv answer Databases VEDAWEL densez mdb has been Repaired and Compacted Size of this database before Repair amp Compact 523MB Size of this database after Repaire Compact 279MB Note that both the automatic invoking of Repair and Compact and the Database Size at which automatic invoking occurs may be controlled by the user through the Tools Options menu bar facility See section 3 9 Tools Options with particular reference to sub section 3 9 4 Repair and Compact Current Database User initiated Repair and Compact of the Currently Open Database ANSWER allows the user to invoke the Repair and Compact Database facility for the currently open ANSWER database To repair and compact the currently open Database 1 Click on Tools in the menu bar 2 Click on Repair and Compact Current Database in the drop menu Noble Soft Systems Pty Ltd 2004 09 section two 61 Starting ANSWER and the ANSWER Home Screen 3 With no further user intervention the currently open database will be closed and the Repair and Compact Database operation will be initiated A message will appear to indicate that repair
10. However in TIMES Set Memberships are rather less of an issue in determining the Data Parameters that are allowed to be associated than they are in MARKAL For example nearly all Commodity Data Parameters are allowed to be associated with a Commodity Item regardless of the Commodity Item s Set Memberships an example of an exception to this statement is that the COM_PROJ Demand baseline projection Parameter can only be associated with a Commodity whose Set Memberships include SET DEM Demand for Energy Services Likewise nearly all Process Data Parameters are allowed to be associated with a Process Item regardless of the Process Item s Set Memberships 3 2 2 3 Parameters TIMES has two types of Parameters namely Data Parameters for Scenarios and Results Parameters for Cases Data Parameters specify the economic and technical characteristics of the user defined Items of the energy system The data for the Data Parameters is determined by the user and will measure such characteristics as 1 pre existing installed capacity Noble Soft Systems Pty Ltd 2004 09 section three 5 ANSWER s Data Results Screen 2 fixed and variable operation and maintenance costs 3 investment costs for additional capacity 4 the efficiency availability and emissions coefficients associated with the use of energy producing or using technologies 5 the levels of use of energy services Standard TIMES provides more than 140 different Data Parame
11. SUM NITE AUT DAY AUT NITE WIN DAY WIN NITE SPR DAY SPR NITE l That is for this TIMES model SET ALL_TS comprises the ANNUAL timeslice followed by the Seasonal timeslices in order followed by the Day Night timeslices in order For a model with Weekly timeslices these would appear in SET ALL_TS after any Seasonal timeslices and before any Day Night timeslices In ANSWER TIMES the following TS ORD SEASON instances specify that the global ordering of the Seasonal Timeslices is SUM AUT WIN SPR TS_ORD_SEASON _ GLOBAL SUM 1 TS_ORD_SEASON _ GLOBAL AUT 2 TS_ORD_SEASON _ GLOBAL WIN 3 TS_ORD_ SEASON GLOBAL SPR 4 The values 1 2 3 4 specify the ordering On the Parameter tab these TS ORD SEASON instances would appear as follows Noble Soft Systems Pty Ltd 2004 09 section fourteen 13 Handling of TimeSlices in ANSWER TIMES Global TimeSlice Commodity CommGroup Process TradeProcess Constraint Parameter lterns Filter E Sets ire fan Data Parameters Sets Filter Hamed Filter Name Description Stats a p lem Management TOP IM Input commodity for process Set a Sets TOP OUT Output commodity for process Set A O TS_OAD_DAWNITE Global Order of Day Night TimeSlices Hew opp Delete Edit fea S ORD SEASON Global Order of Seasonal Time Slices Select All Items Hove RES
12. 5 4 Data entry and editing for Data Parameters 5 4 1 Automated Data Parameter creation and entry 5 4 1 1 Manual Data Parameter entry and editing 5 4 2 1 Adding a Data Parameter Add Row 5 4 2 1 1 Editing of an existing Data Parameter s argument s and numeric data 5 4 2 2 1 5 4 2 2 2 5 4 2 2 3 9 4 2 2 4 An example of ANSWER s automated Data Parameter creation 5 4 2 Adding a Trade Data Parameter 5 4 2 2 Using the Direct Cell Edit facility to replace the none placeholder Using the Direct Cell Edit facility to edit a Data Parameter s argument Entering and editing a Data Parameter s numeric data Clearing data from a numeric data field 9 4 2 3 9 4 2 4 Deleting non required Data Parameters Associating a User Comment with a Data Parameter Entry of Data Parameters which are Bounds 5 4 3 1 Handling of Bounds in ANSWER TIMES 5 4 3 2 Handling of UC__RHSnnn Parameters in ANSWER TIMES Mathematical functions for data entry 5 4 4 1 Extend Constant F2 5 4 4 2 Linear nterpolate F3 5 4 4 3 Linear Extrapolate F4 5 4 4 4 Geometric Interpolate F5 5 4 4 5 Geometric Extrapolate F6 5 4 4 6 Geometric Extrapolate with user supplied annual percentage increase F7 5 4 4 7 Multiply by a Constant F8 5 4 4 8 Divide bya Constant F9 5 4 4 9 Adda Constant F11 I E Option Code for Handling of TIMES Interpolate Extrapolate Options 5 4 5 1 Option Codes for the Control of Data Interpolation
13. CEE Management Of x Stored Batches of Cases Modified Ed BUSINESS 4S USUAL Business a Uslal cases 2009 02 05 23 47 2009 02 05 23 47 El CROSS REGION Cross region cates 2009 02 05 23 46 2009 02 05 23 46 Eb RENEWABLE Renewable cases 2009 02 05 23 46 2009 02 05 23 46 Copy Delete Edit The first time you invoke this facility for a database the Batch Management form will be empty 3 The New Copy Delete and Edit buttons below the Stored Batches of Cases listview allow the user to create a new Batch of Cases either from scratch or by copying an Noble Soft Systems Pty Ltd 2004 09 section six 41 Running the Model existing Batch of Cases or to delete or edit an existing Batch of Cases These facilities are detailed below 6 4 2 Creating a new Batch of Cases To create a new Batch of Cases from scratch 1 Invoke the Batch Management facility to bring up the Batch Management form 2 Click on the New button and a New Batch form will appear initially with Name Description Comment and Cases comprising this Batch all empty New Batch Enter Name Description Comment and Add Cases for New Batch of Cases Mame Description Comment Cases comprising this Batch 7 Remove Remove All dd Un Dn Cancel s Enter the Name and Description for the new Batch of Cases Once this is done the OK button will become enabled Optionally enter a Commen
14. Create a non Base Scenario called say EXECERR and in it create a G_DRATE Data Parameter instance that has all zero entries explicit zeroes Attempt to carry out a model run of the BASE Scenario plus the non Base Scenario EXECERR This results in a GAMS execution error and a Execution error s line will appear in the GAMS Execution Command Prompt Window but possibly too quickly for the user to see since this window then closes ANSWER displays the following message box which indicates that the GAMS run has ended with no ANT file having been created Model Run and Automatic Import of Results Finished GAMS run EXECERR J GAMS run ended The ANT file associated with case EXECERR is missing Note It would be preferable to enhance the TIMES GAMS code and ANSWER TIMES so that an explicit Error s in EXECUTION message could be put out by ANSWER as occurs for ANSWER MARKAL To determine that it is indeed an execution error that has occurred what has caused it and to rectify the problem 1 Click on the View LST button below the Cases listview to bring up the lt Casename gt LST file in Wordpad and then search for without the single quotes This might result in the following Ej EXECERR LST WordPad Fie Edit View Insert Format Help Clea SC a elel S eee Exec Error at line 18897 division by zero 0 eee Exec Error at line 18900 division by zero 0 eee Exec Err
15. Creating a new Commodity Group Item or a new Constraint Item is carried out in exactly the same fashion as above and the New Commodity Group and New Constraint dialogue boxes are exactly similar to the New Commodity dialogue box shown above while of course displaying Set Memberships that are appropriate for Commodity Groups and Constraints respectively 5 2 2 1 Creating a New TimeSlice Item or a New Process Item or a New Trade Process Item When creating a new TimeSlice Item or a new Process Item or a new Trade Process Item specialized dialogue boxes are displayed according to which of new TimeSlice or Process or Trade Process ltem is being created e See section 14 2 Creating a New TimeSlice e See section 15 1 Creating a New Process e See section 16 2 Creating a New Trade Process 5 2 3 Copying an Item This facility allows the copying of a single existing Item and its specifications and associated data from a BASE or non BASE Scenario referred to as the origin Scenario to the currently editable Scenario referred to as the target Scenario Also note that there is a facility that allows the bulk copying of multi selected Items from one Scenario to another Scenario See section 5 2 8 Copy Item s across Scenarios To copy an Item 1 Click on the required Component tab for example the Commodity tab 2 Select the Item that is to be copied by clicking on the Item s Name in the Items display 3
16. GLOBAL season timeslice TS_ ORD WEEKLY _GLOBAL weekly timeslice TS_ORD_DAYNITE _ GLOBAL day night timeslice are used to specify the global ordering of timeslices at the Seasonal Weekly and Day Night levels respectively Noble Soft Systems Pty Ltd 2004 09 section fourteen 2 Handling of TimeSlices in ANSWER TIMES See sections 14 6 and 14 7 for detailed discussions of the TS PARENT and TS _ORD_XXX parameters Note that most aspects of dealing with TS PARENT and TS _ORD_SEASON TS _ORD_WEEKLY TS _ORD_DAYNITE parameter instances are handled by ANSWER TIMES with minimal intervention required by the user For example the enhanced New Copy Edit TimeSlice form auto generates TS_ PARENT and whichever of TS ORD SEASON TS_ORD_WEEKLY or TS _ ORD_DAYNITE is required Noble Soft Systems Pty Ltd 2004 09 section fourteen 3 Handling of TimeSlices in ANSWER TIMES 14 2 Creating a New TimeSlice Before detailing the creation of a New TimeSlice one important point should be noted e InANSWER TIMES first create all Seasonal TimeSlices if any then create all Weekly TimeSlices if any and finally create the Day Night TimeSlices if any This ensures that the Parent TimeSlice of the new TimeSlice that is being created will always be available It is assumed that the ANNUAL TimeSlice already exists since it is always auto generated by ANSWER TIMES To create a new TimeSlice make the BASE Scenario th
17. Heat Generation HPL T Extraction TRACT amp Material by weight PR W B Material by volume PRY T Import Export IRE amp Miscellaneous MISC aie a I Renewable RENEW I Stockpiling STK I Storage not NST or STK STGTSS Process Activity Units f petajoules Process Capacity Units petajoules annum PRC_CAPACT Value fi Change Units Noble Soft Systems Pty Ltd 2004 09 section fifteen 9 Handling of Processes in ANSWER TIMES 15 4 1 Item Information Set Memberships Units Editing of the Name and or Description and or Set Memberships and or Units and PRC_CAPACT Value for the Process is straightforward 15 4 2 Editing I O Commodities Primary Commodity Group To change either the Input and or Output Commodities for the Process or the Commodities that comprise the PCG click on the I O Commodities tab and then e Use the Add Comm and or Remove Comm buttons to change the Commodities specified in the CommIN and or CommOUT spreads e Check uncheck the checkboxes in the PCG column as appropriate to change the Commodities that comprise the PCG associated with the Process 15 4 3 Editing a Process with change of Name but no change to I O Commodities and Commodities comprising PCG Suppose that in the above case the only editing change that we make is to change the Process Name from OILREFIN to say REFINERY Item Information Scenario p ase Stanford demo 7 Name Desc REFINERY RE
18. Import Results Automatically checkbox checked which as noted in section 6 1 4 6 above is only possible if the Create Results for Import into ANSWER checkbox is checked then when the GAMS run is completed and provided that an optimal solution is obtained automatic import of results from the ANT file created by the GAMS run will be carried out After the results have been imported into ANSWER a message box similar to the one below will appear Model Run and Automatic Import of Results EA gt 9 Finished GAMS run LIMRENEW 4 1 Solve status Optimal GAMS run ended 570 records imported and in the Cases listview the icon for the Case will be the Imported icon Ci and its Status will be Imported Results Management Cases B LIMRENEW Renewable Limit Run BASE LIMA 2009 02 05 22 01 Imported If you run with the Import Results Automatically checkbox unchecked then when the GAMS run is completed and an optimal solution is obtained there will be no import of results from the ANT file created by the GAMS run A message box will indicate that the GAMS run finished with a Model Noble Soft Systems Pty Ltd 2004 09 section six 14 Running the Model status of optimal and in the Cases listview the icon for the Case will be the Not Imported icon i and its Status will be Not Imported Results Management Lases Created Status a LIMRENEW Renewable Limit Run B4SE LIMA
19. OF x File Edit View Bun Tools Functions Help or Fl JEE zi Hv Edit Data Regions Filter Items All Scenarios All Global Time Slice Commodity CommGroup Process TradeProcess Constraint Parameter ltems Filter E Sets Named fran Processes PRC Sets Filter Hamed Filter Te a E rE eT Ooo Sets sets Current Process EM DEMO Coal Steam Electric e The tabs with the same name and function are Global TimeSlice Constraint Parameter e The Commodity tab in ANSWER TIMES replaces the Energy Material Demand Emission tabs in ANSWER MARKAL In TIMES the generic word Commodity is used to embrace Energy Material Demand Emission in MARKAL e The CommGroup tab is a special ANSWER TIMES tab to handle TIMES Commodity Groups there is no analogous concept in MARKAL e The Process tab in ANSWER TIMES replaces the Technology tab in ANSWER MARKAL In TIMES the word Process is used where Technology is used in MARKAL e The TradeProcess tab in ANSWER TIMES replaces the Trade BiTrade tab in ANSWER MARKAL For details see section 3 ANSWER s Data Results Screen A2 2 2 Data Time Periods may differ from Results Time Periods Since ANSWER TIMES supports TIMES data year model year independence in general the Data Time Periods in an ANSWER TIMES database will differ from the Results Time Periods That is the Time Periods that are displayed on the Data Screen wil
20. Section Three ANSWER s Data Results Screen This Section introduces the user to ANSWER s Data Results Screen and its facilities It focuses on the selection and display facilities of the Data Results Screen Data entry and editing facilities are detailed in Section 5 Data Entry and Editing 3 1 Opening exiting ANSWER s Data Results Screen 3 1 1 Opening the Data Results Screen Section 2 Starting ANSWER and the ANSWER Home Screen illustrated how a user can enter the Data Results Screen from the Home Screen in three different modes 1 Browse Data to browse data for the selected Scenario s 2 Edit Data to edit data for the selected Scenario 3 Results to browse results for the selected Case s Once inside the Data Results Screen and provided that there is at least one selected Case the user can swap between Browse Data mode and Results mode without needing to return to the Home Screen If a Scenario has also been selected for editing the user can also swap to Edit Data mode for that Scenario without having to return to the Home Screen To change the currently editable scenario it is necessary to return to the Home Screen 3 1 1 1 Browsing Scenario s data This facility takes the user from the Home Screen into the Data Results Screen to allow browsing of all the selected Scenarios data Itis not possible to edit Scenario data using this facility To browse a Scenario s data 1 Use the Scenario selection bu
21. To determine the Item s that is are the cause of the compilation error s and rectify the problem 1 Click on the View LST button below the Cases listview to bring up the lt Casename gt LST file in Wordpad 2 Search the lt Casename gt LST file for occurrences of 170 without the single quotes These will occur associated with the Item s in the non Base Scenario DDS file that do not occur in the out of date Base Case DD file In the example below the Item E02 that occurs in line 3 of the COMPERR REGION1 DDS file is tagged with a 170 COMPERR LST WordPad Miel File Edit View Insert Format Help Hell elk al ele amp camp ilation EOD Hea 3 3 3 170 LINE 3 INCLUDE Ci AinaswerV6FlexT3 BiTradef19 Gams WrkPRD COMPERR REGION1 DDS LINE 27 INPUT Ci dnswerV6F lexTS BiTrade619 Gams WrkFRD COMPERR GEN SRBORT ERRORS IN INPUT DATA DICTIONARY 7 3435 For Help press F1 oa Repeat the model run ensuring that an up to date Base Case DD file is specified 6 2 4 GAMS execution errors A GAMS execution error is usually due to a division by zero or division by eps operation most likely involving one or more of the data parameters G_DRATE G_YRFR COM_IE IRE_FLO PRC_ACTFLO NCAP_AFC To deliberately generate a GAMS execution error from an ANSWER TIMES model run proceed as follows Noble Soft Systems Pty Ltd 2004 09 Running the Model 1 2 section six 23
22. _GLOBAL weekly timeslice TS ORD _DAYNITE _GLOBAL daynite timeslice are used to specify the global ordering of timeslices at the seasonal weekly and daynote levels respectively For additional details see section 14 Handling of TimeSlices in ANSWER TIMES e ANSWER mechanics require that where a commodity is traded between an internal region and an external region the commodity being traded must exist in the external region as well as in the internal region Likewise ANSWER mechanics require that where a commodity is exported from an external region to an internal region the associated trade process must exist in the external region as well as in the internal region Where a commodity is exported from an internal region to an external region the associated trade process does not need to exist in the external region However for simplicity it is suggested that where a commodity is traded between an internal region and an external region both the commodity being traded and the associated trade process should be created in the external region as well as in the internal region If the ANSWER TIMES TradeProcess tab is used to specify trade of a commodity the associated trade process will be created for every region involved in the trade regardless of whether the region is internal or external e When using ANSWER TIMES to specify a storage process three Additional Characterization options are available Night Storage
23. eae eee om DSL Diesel NAG Gasoline NAG Natural gas NAG Oil NAG We Ty Wy e From among those Commodities that are to have the same Trade Matrix select one as the Master Commodity that is as the Commodity whose Trade Matrix will be used as the Master Trade Matrix and indicate that it is the Master Commodity by checking the checkbox in the Master Trade Matrix column in the row where the Master Commodity occurs For example select DSL as the Master Commodity Traded Trade Matrix Master s E comes O n oe ear OSL Diesel NAG B IK FIGSL Gasoline NRG F NGAS Natural gas NAG E E FL Oil NAG E im E mi e Click on the Trade Matrix tab dial up the Master Commodity in the Commodity combobox and specify its Trade Matrix the Master Trade Matrix Commodity fpg Diesel 7 AllLinks Bi Direc EXP IMP owe __ REGI REG REGS REGS REGS then return to the Traded Commodities tab e Multi select entire rows in the Traded Commodities spread that corresponding to the Commodities whose Trade Matrixes are to be the same as the Master Trade Matrix Multi select entire rows by clicking in column 0 of each row while holding down the Ctrl key For example multi select the Commodities GSL and OIL Traded Trade Matrix M ersten te Te Master ete E Ma TOSL Diesel NAG mE iL Gasoline NAG INGAAS Natural gas NRG mo pil NRG Noble Soft Systems Pty Ltd 2004 09 section six
24. the right of the Model Variant combo box are operational Run Model Endogenous Technology Learning ETL model variant If Endog Techn Leaming ETL The Endogenous Technology Learning ETL TIMES model variant allows modelling of a learning or experience curve describing the specific investment cost as a function of the cumulative capacity for a given technology via the use of Mixed Integer Programming MIP techniques The Endog Techn Learning ETL checkbox must be checked when the user wishes to carry out a model run that utilizes the Endogenous Technology Learning ETL TIMES model variant possibly in conjunction with some of the other TIMES model variants Run Model Lumpy Investment model variant M Lumpy Investment The Lumpy Investment TIMES model variant allows sophisticated modeling in respect of lumpy investments such as the construction of gas pipelines via the use of Mixed Integer Programming MIP techniques The Lumpy Investment checkbox must be checked when the user wishes to carry out a model run that utilizes the Lumpy Investment TIMES model variant possibly in conjunction with some of the other TIMES model variants Specifying Milestone Years B and E The Specify Milestone Years button on the Run Model form allows you to specify the Milestone Years Beginning and Ending Years B and E that TIMES requires for a model run If you click on this button the follow
25. 1 Enter the new TimeSlice Name WIN NITE in place of WIN DAY and enter the new Description Winter Night in place of Winter Day The bottom item in the Global TimeSlice Order listview with the special icon E now appears with Name WIN NITE and Description Winter Night 2 The Day Night TimeSlice Level already specified is appropriate for the new TimeSlice and so there is no need to change the currently selected leaf node in the TimeSlice Level tree Right now in ANSWER TIMES such a change in TimeSlice Level is not permitted 3 The Parent TimeSlice WIN already specified is appropriate for the new TimeSlice and so there is no need to change the current setting of the Parent TimeSlice combobox 4 Use the Up button to move the new TimeSlice WIN NITE to its appropriate position in the Day Night Level TimeSlice order In this case move WIN NITE above the SPR DAY and SPR NITE TimeSlices The Copy TimeSlice form now appears as follows Noble Soft Systems Pty Ltd 2004 09 section fourteen 7 Handling of TimeSlices in ANSWER TIMES W Copy Time Slice WIN DAY in Region AUS from scenario BASE to scenario BASE va Copy Timeslce WIN DAY in Region 4US with Description Winter Day Enter Hame and Description for the new TimeSlice that will be created ou may change Global Time Slice Order or Parent Time Slice or edit Comment NOTE Databaze has the Same TimeSlices in Ever Region so TimeSlice Changes Apply in All Regions TimeSl
26. 2020 BASE COM_PROJ UTOPIA RH p p 0 80 0000 Noble Soft Systems Pty Ltd 2004 09 section five 35 Data entry and editing 5 4 4 8 Divide by a Constant F9 The values in each of columns 1 2 N are divided by the user specified constant C and we have anew n a n C for n 1 2 N In the instance of a null field this function will not create a data entry Mode 1 To invoke the Divide by a Constant function 1 Click on the left mouse key and highlight the required consecutive data fields containing existing data Scenario Parameter Region Com Com Time Bou e 1990 2000 amo 2020 BASE COM_PROJ UTOPIA RH f p 0 2 Press the F9 key or click on Functions in the menu bar and choose Divide by a Constant in the drop menu 3 Enter the required constant number in the Divide by a Constant dialogue box shown below and click OK Divide by Constant x Enter constant value to apply 4 The calculated data is displayed in the Parameter spread and immediately saved to the Database Scenario Parameter Region Com Com Time Bou e 1990 2000 20o 2020 Pease COM_PROU JuTOPIA RH O 12 5000 RRND ST Mode 2 The currently active field is numbered 1 and the last field in the time horizon is numbered N To invoke the Divide by a Constant function 1 Select the active data field containing existing data in this example 25 0000 Scenari
27. 3200 03200 0 3200 J BAsE Fio sim eco Prect col eating cr JaL fo 88 0000 89 0000 9 0000 Pa ms tods ease ncara juror feor co2 M uP fo oeoo osooof 0 8000 L Base ncap_cost efutoma fem JESC feo booo booo do do 1 400 0000 1 300 0000 1 200 0000 N BASE NCAP FOM _ p UTOPIA E0 o bo sooo 700000 100 0000 S BASE NCAP_TLIFE 7 UTOPIA EO o bo b b 0 a wa a Add row riadd BASE qol l Oooo d S S ee ee S e Data results Parameter details query button The spread also has a number of features that are specific to the Edit Data mode shown above to enable the user to 1 Add a new Data Parameter and its data see Add row shown in blue 2 Edit a Data Parameter s data shown in white 3 Direct cell edit of a Data Parameter argument 4 Delete an existing Data Parameter and its data The edit facilities are detailed in Section 5 Data Entry and Editing 3 6 4 1 Adjustable spread column widths To ensure that the maximum number of periods are displayed subject to the limitations imposed by the width and resolution of the monitor being used the user can change and set the Parameters spread column widths 3 6 4 1 1 Changing spread column widths The user may change the widths of columns in the Time Series TS and Time Independent data TID spreads and the new column widths will be retained until changed again The user may choose to reduce the widths of any or all the Scenario Parameter Region Proces
28. All of the error free records in every Excel file are imported This user option imports as much as possible and does not require any user intervention New Format for Import Model Data from Excel in ANSWER TIMES For a concrete example of the new format for Import Model Data from Excel see the Excel file Utopia_Demo xls in the C AnswerTIMESv6 Ans_WrkTI folder This Excel file completely specifies the Item data Time Series data and Time Independent data for the BASE Scenario for a multi region Utopia and Demo TIMES model including the specification of bilateral trade in electricity between DEMO and UTOPIA If you use ANSWER to create a New Database with Data Time Periods and Results Time Periods set to 2000 2010 2020 and then carry out Import Model Data from Excel using Utopia _Demo xls as the source of Model Data you will load the multi region Utopia and Demo TIMES model into this New Database When you create the New Database uncheck the Create Initial Region checkbox and check the Same TimeSlices in Every Region checkbox Note also that the File Export Scenario Data to Excel facility see section 2 12 creates an Excel workbook in the new format required by the ANSWER TIMES Import Model Data from Excel facility and provides an excellent way for the user to create concrete examples of workbooks in the new format 2 10 4 1 Main Points about Format for Import Model Data from Excel The main po
29. Batch Run Results Management Cases Selected Cases Status gt B ExX4 DSC Scenario specityin BAaSE D5C 2008 1174 72 76 Imported 7 B EX4 D5C Scenaro speciving Lump 2008 11714 12 16 B Ex4 DSC2 Scenario specityin BASE DSC 2008712709 23 02 Imported Ex4 DSC2 Scenario specifying Lump 2008 12 09 23 02 Results B EX4 DSCM Scenario specifyin BASE DSC 20087117141232 Imported lt B Ex4 DSCM Scenario specifying Lump 2008 11 14 12 32 Management SE EX4D5CN4 exampled_dsc_no BASE 2008 12 08 14 53 Imported gg ES EX4D5CN4 exampled_dsc_no 2008 12 08 14 53 region B EX4MULTS Scenario specifyin BASE MULT 2008 11712 17 18 Imported TF EX4MULT3 Scenario specifying MULT 2008 11 12 17 18 i gt Import View LST View OC Delete Edit Results Results tab Sync Scen Database C VAnswerlTIMESv6 4nswerDatabases Utopia_Lumpylnvestmentmdb Edit Scenario ig The Home Screen is made up of 4 primary regions 1 The Menu Bar 2 The Tool Bar including the Region Management and Batch Management buttons 3 The Data Management region 4 The Results Management region Noble Soft Systems Pty Ltd 2004 09 sectiontwo 4 Starting ANSWER and the ANSWER Home Screen 2 3 2 2 3 3 2 3 4 2 3 5 2 3 6 The Menu Bar The Menu Bar provides operational access to all the Home Screen s facilities The exit ANSWER facility was discussed in Section 2 1 2 Exiting ANSWER
30. For all Components the Description 1 Must be unique 2 May comprise up to 100 characters 2 Should use upper and lower case as this is easier to read and more space efficient 4 Cannot contain single double quotes It is suggested that the Description and the Name code should be closely tied as in the following examples COMPONENT Example NAME Suggested DESCRIPTION convention Noble Soft Systems Pty Ltd 2004 09 section five 16 Data entry and editing 5 4 Data entry and editing for Data Parameters Having created and correctly specified the required Items in the Scenario the Data Parameters and their data can now be entered for each Item ANSWER automates some of this process with the extent of automation depending on the type of Item being created that is depending on whether a TimeSlice Commodity Commodity Group Process Trade Process Constraint Item is being created 5 4 1 Automated Data Parameter creation and entry Based on the user s specification of an Item s Set Memberships ANSWER will automatically 1 Create any compulsory Data Parameters for the Item in the Parameter spreads and enter default data for each compulsory Data Parameter where default data is specified and 2 Ensure that only appropriate Data Parameters can be associated with the Item 5 4 1 1 An example of ANSWER s automated Data Parameter creation Suppose a Constraint Item labelled ELEMAX Maximum Electricity is created i
31. OF Cancel When it is invoked the RENEW ELE filter will select Processes that satisfy the composite row criteria of having Names Like E and Descriptions Like renew that is Processes whose Names begin with E and that have renew somewhere within their Descriptions Given the naming conventions assumed this filter selects all renewable electric processes Noble Soft Systems Pty Ltd 2004 09 section thirteen 4 Defining a Rule based Constraint in ANSWER TIMES 13 3 Using the Constraint tab to define a Rule based User Constraint New 1 Click on the New button in the Item Management frame to bring up the New User Defined Constraint form 2a Specify Name Region and Description for the Constraint For this example we specify Name RENEWELC Region DEMO Description Rule based constraint for renewable electricity Note that there is a checkbox under Additional Characterization on the RHS of the Set Memberships frame E New User Defined Constraint in scenario BASE ee Enter Name and Description for the new User Defined Constraint Check the Region combobox setting Specify Set Memberships and change e Units if necessary Optionally enter Comment Atter clicking OF specity parameter data as appropriate Item Information SCenano r ase Base scenario for Demo and Utopia models Name Desc JRENEWE LC DEMO Rule based constraint for renewable electr
32. Periods TimeSlices e Parameter UC_RHST UC_N ALLYEAR LIM RHS of User Constraint that is By Period Summing over Regions TimeSlices e Parameter UC_RHSTS UC_N ALLYEAR TS LIM RHS of User Constraint that is By Period TimeSlice Summing over Regions TIMES data parameters that do not have a region index are accommodated within the ANSWER paradigm by requiring all such parameters to have a special GLOBAL region index So in ANSWER TIMES the GLOBAL region is the region that a parameter is in when it does not have a region For example TIMES data parameter G_DYEAR Base year for discounting defined in the BASE scenario appears in ANSWER TIMES on the Parameter tab as follows Global TimeSlice Commodity CommGroup Process TradeProcess Constraint Parameter Items Filter l G Sets Hamed pu Data Parameters Sets Filter Hamed Filter Mame o o oo Description i Sta af p liem Management G_DOAATE Discount rate for a cumency Current Data Parameter Sets r giei G_DYEAR ep G OVER Base pear for discounting Hew copy Delete Edit G_YRFR Seasonal fraction of the year IRE_BNL Limit on inter regional exchange of commodity Seay z IRE_CCVT Commodity unit conversion factor between regions PER EME ove TID data Scenario Parameter Region value BASE G YEAR 9 GLOBAL 1 988 50 ro Fo Note the occurrence of GLOBAL in the Region column Parameter G_DYE
33. Processes like E L Mote This Filter is the Specified Filter in 2 placels including For the current data mode and tab Cancel If the user clicks on the OK button then in all places where this Filter was the Specified Filter the special Name lt Filter Deleted gt temporarily becomes the Specified Filter Name and the settings associated with the Filter that has just been deleted are retained If the user brings up the TS and TID Filter form it will appear as below note the special Name lt Filter Deleted gt in the Specified Filter textbox Noble Soft Systems Pty Ltd 2004 09 section three 34 ANSWER s Data Results Screen Y TS and TID Filter OR x Specified Filter lt Filter Deleleted Name lt New Filter gt Delete e E NCAP COST and TOP OUT parameters Row Comparison Filter Time Series Filter Scenario Parameter Region _ Region2 Process item2 item3 item tems tem A Look for f NCAP_COST E Scenario Parameter Region Region2 Process Commodiy EEEE c 3 Save amp Apply Clear TS Clear TID Copy TS gt TID b with Select All Cancel Thus having deleted the Filter on switching back to other places where this Filter was applied the user will see the same information displayed in the Time Series and Time Independent spreads as previously before this Filter was deleted 3 7 10 Row Comparison Filter 1 As already noted a
34. Section Three ANSWER s Data Results Screen 3 1 Opening exiting ANSWER s Data Results Screen 3 1 1 Opening the Data Results Screen 3 1 1 1 Browsing Scenario s data 3 1 1 2 Editing a Scenario s data 3 1 1 3 Browsing Case s results 3 1 2 Effect of the screen mode on the appearance and facilities of the Data Results Screen 3 1 3 Exiting the Data Results Screen to the Home Screen 3 2 The ANSWER Data Results Screen 3 2 1 General features of the Data Results Screen 3 2 2 Data Results Screen terminology Components Items Set Memberships and Parameters 3 2 2 1 Components 3 2 2 2 An Item and its Set Memberships 3 2 2 3 Parameters 3 3 The Menu bar and the Tool bar 3 3 1 The Menu bar 3 3 2 The Tool bar 3 3 2 1 Screen mode combobox 3 3 2 2 Items display combobox disabled in Results mode 3 3 2 3 Parameters spread combobox 3 3 2 4 Regions Filter button to select subset of Regions for Data Results display 3 4 The Component tabs 3 5 The items region 3 5 1 The Sets Filter facility and the Subset Items combobox 35 1 1 Using the Sets Filter facility to specify a Set Membership Filter 3 5 1 2 Using the Subset Items combobox to select a Set Membership Filter 3 5 1 3 Additional Notes regarding the Sets Filter facility 3 5 2 The Items display 3 5 2 1 Expansion of the Items display 3 5 2 2 Item search 3 5 2 3 Item Multi select and Select All Items 3 5 2 3 1 Item Multi select 3 5 2 3 2 Select All Items 3 5 2 4 Sort Items di
35. The above assumes that neither interpolation nor extrapolation options cause a blank in a Time Series data field to be replaced by an interpolated extrapolated value It is allowable to associate more than one UC__ RHSnnn Parameter instance with a given User Defined Constraint Name for example to specify both LO and UP instances It is also allowable to associate an FX instance possibly in conjunction with a LO and or a UP instance e AnFXUC__RHSnnn instance takes precedence over any LO or UP instance that may be specified for a given User Defined Constraint Name Where an FX UC__RHSnnn instance is specified the resultant effect in the model that is generated by the TIMES GAMS code is that an equality constraint is generated in which the UC__ RHSnnn for the Constraint in a given time period if a TS parameter is set to the FX data value in that time period if a TS parameter Noble Soft Systems Pty Ltd 2004 09 section five 26 Data entry and editing Noble Soft Systems Pty Ltd 2004 09 section five 27 Data entry and editing 5 4 4 Mathematical functions for data entry ANSWER incorporates a number of mathematical functions to speed the data entry and edit operation in the time series data and to reduce errors in data transfer These functions are Functions Help Extend Constant Fz Linear Interpolate F3 Linear Extrapolate F4 Geometric Interpolate FS Geometric Extrapolate Fe Geometric Extrapolate F7 Multiply
36. facility Use of this facility to change folder names has no effect on the folder names that are associated with ANSWER databases that already exist The Tools File Locations menu bar facility allows the user to display the folder names that are associated with the currently open ANSWER database and to change these folder names as desired Use of this facility affects only the folder names that are associated with the currently open ANSWER database It has no effect on the folder names that are associated with any other ANSWER databases that already exist or on the folder names that will be associated with any ANSWER database that is created by future use of the File New Database facility Either of these facilities also allows the user to choose a favourite text editor to be used for all ANSWER text file editing operations in place of ANSWER s default of WordPad The choice of text editor is not associated with an individual ANSWER database but is a global ANSWER setting The steps required to use the Tools Default File Locations facility or the Tools File Locations facility to display and to change folder names or to choose a favourite text editor are exactly similar and will now be detailed for the Tools File Locations facility 2 14 1 User Control of Folder Names for GAMS Source GAMS Work ANSWER Work folders See above for a discussion of the respective roles of the Tools Default File Locations and the Tools Fi
37. format e When importing the Import Model Data from Excel facility automatically distinguishes old format from new format since the old format headers are ITEMS TS DATA etc whereas the new format headers are ITEMS TS DATA etc An overview of the ANSWER TIMES new format is provided in section 2 10 1 immediately below with detailed information provided in section 2 10 4 Sections 2 10 2 and 2 10 3 detail the operation of the Import Model Data from Excel facility and the Import Model Data from Excel User Options Note also that the Export Scenario Data to Excel facility see section 2 12 by default creates an Excel workbook in the new load template format and provides an excellent way for the user to create concrete examples of workbooks in the new load template format 2 10 1 Importing Model Data from ANSWER TIMES load templates Overview As already noted above the ANSWER TIMES load templates involve 5 types of Excel worksheets with one type of worksheet used to specify Item information 2 types of worksheets used to specify Time Series and Time Independent data respectively within a single region and the other 2 types of worksheets used to specify Time Series and Time Independent data respectively for trade between regions Cell A1 of each worksheet contains a header record indicating the type of data in the sheet as follows Item data within a single region ITEMS Tim
38. where the default is Hide On the TradeProcess tab this form appears with Name as the default for all columns Column Display for Analyze with Excel Rave E Nave Hie one EEE E Nave None Mame K Cancel 4 Choose for each of the Case or Scenario Parameter Region Region2 Process etc columns whether to display Name or Description or to Hide the column that is suppress it in the Excel sheet For example to hide the Commodity column in the data that is exported to the Noble Soft Systems Pty Ltd 2004 09 section eight 7 Charting and analysing ANSWER TIMES Results Excel sheet click on the combobox in the Commodity column to drop it down as shown above and then select Hide Repeat this process for any other columns where you wish to either hide the column or change Name to Description before clicking on the OK button 5 The Excel worksheet that is generated corresponding to case ii above and with Hide selected for the Commodity Item3 Item4 and Iltem6 columns appears below Note that Name rather than Description is used for the information that appears in each of the Case Parameter Region Process and TimeSlice columns and that the Region2 Commodity Item3 Item4 and ltem6 columns do not appear Also note that numeric data appears for periods 1990 and 2000 but not 2010 EJ Microsoft Excel Book4 Bal File Edit View Insert Format Tools Data Window Help OBA RBG Baliv Bl amp aA FI A E i
39. 4 2 5 2 Where an ANSWER database contains multiple Money Units and or a multiple Macro Money Units 4 3 Reviewing and editing default Units for each Database Component 4 3 1 Reviewing and editing default Units for each Component 4 4 Specifying and editing Units for the individual Database Items Section Five Data entry and editing 5 1 Starting your data entry 5 1 1 What does a new Database data entry screen look like 5 1 2 Rules for entry of data 5 1 2 1 Units 5 1 2 2 Time Slices 5 1 2 3 Work from left to right 5 1 2 4 Define your Item first 5 1 2 5 Item naming 5 1 2 6 Number of decimal places 5 2 Data entry and editing for Items 5 2 1 The Item Management sub region 5 2 2 Creating a New Item 5 2 2 1 Creating a New TimeSlice Item or a New Process Item or a New Trade Process Item 5 2 3 Copying an Item 5 2 3 1 Copying a TimeSlice Item or a Process Item or a Trade Process Item 5 2 4 Deleting an Item and the role of the DELETED Scenario 5 2 4 1 Deleting a TimeSlice Item or a Process Item or a Trade Process Item 5 2 5 Editing an Item 5 2 5 1 Editing an ltem s Name Description Set Memberships or Comment 5 2 5 2 Editing an Item s Units 5 2 5 3 Editing a TimeSlice Item or a Process Item or a Trade Process Item 5 2 6 Moving an Item Noble Soft Systems Pty Ltd 2004 09 6 contents 5 2 7 Displaying an Item s Set Memberships 5 3 Item Naming Conventions 5 3 1 5 3 2 Name Code Description Convention
40. 6 2 5 1 Linear Program Optimization errors As displayed in the table above the normal outcome from the LP Optimization phase is that the optimizer finds an optimal solution to the GAMS TIMES Linear Program but there are alternative outcomes where a Linear Programming Optimization error of some kind is encountered Amongst these alternative outcomes are the following e The optimizer determines that the LP has no feasible solution i e is infeasible This is the most commonly occurring type of LP Optimization error and is examined in more detail in section 6 2 5 1 1 below e The optimizer determines that the LP has an unbounded solution This is examined in more detail in section 6 2 5 1 2 below e The optimizer halts before being able to determine optimality infeasibility unboundedness due to encountering some sort of resource limit such as an iteration limit or a time limit Where an Optimization error is encountered the lt Casename gt LST file will contain the generic line x ERRORS IN OPTIMIZATION When the LP has no feasible solution or has an unbounded solution the message box displayed by ANSWER at the completion of the model run will contain a Model status line indicating Infeasible or Unbounded Other Model status lines that are more specific about the type of Optimization error that has occurred are also possible Noble Soft Systems Pty Ltd 2004 09 section six 26 Running the Model 6 2 5 1 1 Run
41. BASE FLO_FUNC 2JUTOPIA Et f HCO ELC 0 320 C BASE FLO_SUM FNUTOPIA EM HCO HCO 1 400 0000 7 om 1 200 000 100 000 o wy Ad CAEN BEA a CAP BND FLO_END FLO_COST FLO DELI 2b An alternative and sometimes more convenient way than 2a above of selecting the required Data Parameter is to right click in the combobox and select View Descriptions from the popup menu that appears BASE NCAP_FOM UTOPIA E01 gt o 40 0000 70 0000 100 0000 MASE NCAP TLIFE urona Jeon oo e d o e doy oy aooo a a Lane x View Descriptions Toggle Size a Scenario Parameter Hide Empty Numeric Columns od ltem3 Item5 vear Value BASE PRC_ACTUN Hide 1E Column Ee e e L BASE _ _ PRC_ Hide Region Column boo b b 3mm BASE Reset Column Widths o TS and TID Filter Form BASE Apply Filter Snalze with Excel Odd Parameter Details This brings up a Parameter Selection form that displays all options that are available for this Process with the additional benefit of displaying also the Description for each Parameter Bound on activity of a process Activity efficiency for a process CAP BHD Bound on total installed capacity in a period FLO BND Bound on flow variable for a process FLO COST Added variable O amp M of using a commodity FLO DELI Delivery cost for using a commodity FLO EMIS Emission factor for a process flow or activity FLO F
42. Description JUTOPIA DEMO CASES Assorted Cases from Utopia _Demo database Noble Soft Systems Pty Ltd 2004 09 section six 36 Running the Model Once this is done the OK button will become enabled Optionally enter a Comment It is allowable to modify the Cases that comprise the Batch so that they differ from those on the Batch Run form doing so will not affect the Cases that are on the Batch Run form 4 Click on the OK button The Name and Description for the new Batch of Cases UTOPIA DEMO CASES will be added to the Stored Batches of Cases listview on the Batch Management form and the following message box will be displayed JE Batch Management Save Batch of Cases fro m Bate h R JAA Stored Batches of Cases Modified CA UTOPA DEMO CASES Assorted Cases from Utopia Demo databa 2009 03 05 23 22 2009 03 05 23 22 Answer Lag The Cases From che Batch Run Form have been Saved with Mame UTOPIO DEMO CAS5ES New Copy Delete Edit 5 Click on the OK button for the message box and you will be returned to the Batch Run form 6 If you subsequently click on the Save Batch button on the Batch Run form when there are stored Batches of Cases in the database the Batch Management form that is displayed might appear as follows E Batch Management Save Batch of Cases from Batch Run form Of x Stored Batches of Cases 2 EMIS LIMIT CASES CO2 Emission Limit Cases for COZ 2009 03
43. E Copy Time Slice WIN DAY in Region AUS from scenario BASE to scenario BASE Ta Copy Timeslce WIN DAY in Region 4US with Description Winter Day Enter Hame and Description for the new TimeSlice that will be created You may change Global TimeSlice Order or Parent TimeSlice or edit Comment NOTE Database has the Same TimeSlices in Ever Region to TimeSlice Changes Apply in All Regions TimeSlice Information Scenario BASE TIMES model BASE scenario Name Region Description WIN DAY fau 5 T winter Day TimeSlice Level Global TimeSlice Order E Time Slice ALL_TS eo Annual ANNUAL SUM DAY Summer Day eE Seasonal SEASON SUM NITE Summer Night S eee a col AUT DAY Autumn Dap EY O OE AUT NITE Autumn Night WIN Dan Winter Dap SPR DAY Spring Day SPR NITE Spring Night BF wih DaAy winter Day Parent TimeSlice Since the database has no Weekly TimeSlices this Day Night TimeSlice should have a Seasonal TimeSlice as Parent TimeSlice WIN Winter OK Cancel For example in the above screen snapshot TimeSlice WIN DAY in region AUS has been selected as the TimeSlice to be copied Suppose that the intention is to create new TimeSlice WIN NITE in region AUS Or for a database that has the Same TimeSlices in Every Region that the intention is to create new TimeSlice WIN NITE in every region Then proceed in an analogous fashion to what has been described above in section 4 3 Creating a New TimeSlice namely
44. Email noblesoft netspeed com au Noble Soft Systems Pty Ltd 2004 09 Foreword 2 Disclaimer The main focus of this document is the use of ANSWER TIMES for Standard TIMES Although every precaution has been taken in the preparation of this document Noble Soft Systems Pty Ltd assumes no responsibility for errors or omissions In no event will Noble Soft Systems Pty Ltd be liable for any incidental consequential exemplary special or punitive damages including without limiting the generality of the foregoing any resulting from loss of data profits use business or performance of the ANSWER TIMES software even if advised of the possibility of such damages Noble Soft Systems Pty Ltd expressly does not warrant and disclaims any warranties express or implied to the effect that the functions contained in the ANSWER TIMES software will meet your requirements or that the operation of the software will be uninterrupted or error free Also you assume responsibility for the selection of the functions contained in the ANSWER TIMES software to achieve your intended results and for the installation use and results obtained from the software The information in this document is subject to change without notice Names and data used in examples are fictitious unless otherwise noted Copyright Noble Soft Systems Pty Ltd 2004 2009 This program the screen designs and the documentation are the property of Noble Soft Systems Pty Ltd No
45. Money units in the UNT file ignored and to remind you that the target Database still contains multiple Money Macro Money units Note that Money and Macro Money units in the UNT File were ignored and that this database still contains multiple Money Macro Money units Noble Soft Systems Pty Ltd 2004 09 sectiontwo 28 Starting ANSWER and the ANSWER Home Screen 2 9 2 9 1 Exporting and Importing a Scenario ANSWER incorporates two facilities which together enable copying of a Scenario from one Database to another The origin Database and the target Database may or may not be on the same computer A Scenario comprises all information associated with a Scenario in the Database Items Set Memberships Units Time Series and Time Independent data and Comments To copy a Scenario from one Database to another requires two stages Exporting the Scenario from the origin Database into the ANSWER Work folder C AnswerTIMESv6 Ans_WrkTI as a text file and Importing the Scenario from the text file in C AnswerTIMESv6 Ans_WrkTI into the target Database Exporting a Scenario To export a Scenario 1 2 3 4 Open the origin Database Click on the Scenario to be exported Click on File in the menu bar and choose Export then choose Scenario in the drop menu An Export Scenario dialogue box shown below will appear in which the Scenario to be exported will default to the Scenario chosen at Step 2 Export Scenario E
46. Note that the new WIN DAY TimeSlices that have just been created are automatically multi selected and the middle of screen RHS combobox is automatically set to TID data rather than to TS TID data This simultaneous display of the G_YRFR instances that have been created is intended to make it very evident to the user that G_YRFR Values need to be specified for the new WIN DAY TimeSlice in each region 6 Specify the appropriate numeric value in the Value column of each G_YRFR row Also auto generated by ANSWER TIMES ANSWER TIMES auto generates more than is mentioned above Also auto generated are e New TS _ORD_DAYNITE parameter instance for WIN DAY in the GLOBAL region with Value of 5 corresponding to the user having indicated that WIN NITE should be in 5th position in the Day Night TimeSlice global order e Adjustments to the existing TS_ORD_DAYNITE parameter instances for SPR DAY and SPR NITE to set their Values to 6 and 7 respectively corresponding to their new positions below WIN DAY in the Day Night TimeSlice global order Noble Soft Systems Pty Ltd 2004 09 section fourteen 6 Handling of TimeSlices in ANSWER TIMES 14 3 Copying a TimeSlice To create a new TimeSlice by copying an existing TimeSlice make the BASE Scenario the editable Scenario move to the TimeSlice tab and select the TimeSlice that you wish to copy and click on the Copy button in the Item Management frame to bring up the Copy TimeSlice form
47. SPR DAY SPR 1 AUS SPR NITE SPR 1 OOO AM AM When ANSWER TIMES is used to create a new TimeSlice the user specifies the Parent TimeSlice and then the TS_PARENT instance will be auto generated See section 14 2 Creating a New TimeSlice Noble Soft Systems Pty Ltd 2004 09 section fourteen 12 Handling of TimeSlices in ANSWER TIMES 14 7 TS_ORD_SEASON TS_ORD_WEEKLY TS_ORD_DAYNITE TID parameters to specify Global Ordering of TimeSlices at Each TimeSlice Level The TIMES GAMS code requires the specification of SET ALL_TS that specifies the global ordering of all of the TimeSlice Names used in the model at each of the TimeSlice Levels This ordering is needed for models that involve storage processes In ANSWER TIMES new TID parameters TS_ORD_SEASON TS_ORD_WEEKLY TS_ORD_DAYNITE defined for ANSWER TIMES special GLOBAL region allow the user to specify the global ordering of the TimeSlices at each of the Seasonal Weekly and Day Night TimeSlice Levels respectively and hence allow the user to control the order of the TimeSlices that are put out to SET ALL_TS For example in a TIMES model where the same TimeSlices occur in every region and where these TimeSlices are the same as those listed above for region AUS and in the same order as listed above SET ALL_TS needs to be put out as follows in GAMS format SET ALL_TS ANNUAL SUM AUT WIN SPR SUM DAY
48. SPR NITE Spring Night Use the Up and Dn buttons to specify the order for each of the Seasonal Weekly and DayNite TimeSlices and then click on the OK button and ANSWER TIMES will ensure that the TS ORD SEASON TS_ORD_ WEEKLY and TS_ORD_DAYNITE Values correspond to the desired order Noble Soft Systems Pty Ltd 2004 09 section fourteen 17 Handling of TimeSlices in ANSWER TIMES 14 9 Additional Rules where Different Regions have Different TimeSlices In ANSWER TIMES the general principles of using e TID parameter instances TS_ PARENT to specify the Parent TimeSlice of each regional TimeSlice below the ANNUAL level and e TID parameter instances TS_ORD_ SEASON TS_ORD_WEEKLY TS_ORD_DAYNITE to specify the global ordering of the TimeSlices at each of the Seasonal Weekly and Day Night TimeSlice Levels and hence to allow the SET ALL_TS to be constructed apply for TIMES models where different regions have different TimeSlices as well as for TIMES models that have the same TimeSlices in every region For TIMES models where different regions have different TimeSlices it needs to be understood that SET ALL_TS comprises the following TimeSlice Names ANNUAL All distinct Seasonal Level TimeSlice Names used in any region of the model ordered All distinct Weekly Level TimeSlice Names used in any region of the model ordered All distinct Day Night Level TimeSlice Names used in any region of the model ordered The following
49. TID DATA sheet s for which the region in cell B1 is not GLOBAL may only contain TID parameters that have a region index are not GLOBAL region other parameters will be rejected Noble Soft Systems Pty Ltd 2004 09 Process Items section twelve 1 Filters in ANSWER TIMES Section Twelve Process Items Filters in ANSWER TIMES This Section introduces the user to the Process Items Filters facility This facility allows the user to define powerful Named Filters that are stored in the ANSWER TIMES database and thereafter are available for either or both of the following purposes 1 To limit the Process Items that are displayed to those of immediate interest to the user and 2 For use with ANSWER s Rule based Constraint facility For details see section 13 Defining a Rule based Constraint in ANSWER TIMES Facilities for exporting Process Items Filters from an ANSWER TIMES database for subsequent import into a different ANSWER TIMES database are also described The Process Items Filters facility operates in an analogous fashion to the Technology Items Filters facility that was introduced into version 6 of ANSWER MARKAL 12 1 Process Items Filters 1 ANSWER s Process Items Filters are powerful filters where any of Process Name and or Process Description and or Process Set Membership and or Input Commodity and or Output Commodity can form part of the filter These Filters are defined by the user and stored in t
50. The operation of facilities such as New Copy Delete and Edit on the CommGroup tab is identical to the operation of these facilities on most other tabs but with the caveat that ANSWER allows these facilities to apply only to True Commodity Groups A2 2 5 Process Tab New Copy Edit Form On the Process tab if you click on the New or Copy or Edit buttons in the Item Management frame the form that appears differs significantly from the generic form that appears on the Commodity CommGroup and Constraint tabs in ANSWER TIMES and on almost all tabs in ANSWER MARKAL Edit NameDescription for Process SRE in Region UTOPIA Or change Set Memberships or Units Or change WO Commodities or PCG if necessary Or edit Comment Item Information Scenario rasr ase scenario for Demo and Utopia models Name Desc SRE T ITOFIA Refinery Set Memberships Units 1 0 Commodities Input Output Commodities i nput based Process Activity f Qutput based Process Activity Gasoline e The form has an I O Commodities tab that allows you to specify the Input and Output Commodities for the Process along with any associated PCG Primary Commodity Group e Once the OK button on the form is clicked ANSWER TIMES auto generates the PCG if needed along with a number of other data parameters thereby significantly reducing the burden on the user of correctly specifying a Process For details see
51. anew N a N anew n a 1 R for n 2 N 1 Mode 1 To invoke the Geometric Interpolate function 1 Enter the data into the first and last data fields in the series 2 Click on the left mouse key and highlight the required consecutive data fields including the first and last data fields Be Ce ees ee BASE COM_PROJ UTOPIA RH f p 0 3 Press the F5 key or click on Functions in the menu bar and choose Geometric Interpolate in the drop menu 4 The calculated data is displayed in the Parameter spread and immediately saved to the Database Noble Soft Systems Pty Ltd 2004 09 section five 31 Data entry and editing ae Se ee EOE Ee BASE COM PRO UTOPIA RH SRM 31 4950 33 6650 50 0000 The geometric interpolate function works somewhat differently in Mode 2 from the other functions For the interpolate functions assume that the currently active field is numbered N this field is not necessarily at the end of the time horizon Also assume that the first non null field preceding the currently active field is numbered 1 Then geometric interpolate is carried out according to the formula above To invoke the Geometric Interpolate function 1 Enter the data in this example 25 0000 into the first data field in the series tab over intervening null fields and enter data in this example 50 0000 into the last data field Do not press the Tab or Enter key after entering data into the last
52. existing data Scenario Parameter Region Com Com Time Bou 1E 1990 2000 2010 2020 BASE COM_PROJ UTOPIA RH f po 0 2 Press the F8 key or click on Functions in the menu bar and choose Multiply by a Constant in the drop menu 3 Enter the required constant number in the Multiply by a Constant dialogue box shown below and click OK Multiply by Constant x Enter constant value to apply Cancel o 4 The calculated data is displayed in the Parameter spread and immediately saved to the Database Scenario Parameter Region Com Com Time Bou iE 1990 2o00 2mo 2020 BASE COM_PROJ UTOPIA RH O E0 0ocoaeaa an AUREL Mode 2 The currently active field is numbered 1 and the last field in the time horizon is numbered N To invoke the Multiply by a Constant function 1 Select the active data field containing existing data in this example 25 0000 Scenario Parameter Region Com Com Time Bou Ef 1990 2000 ano 2020 BASE COM_PROW uTOPiA RH b 0 40 0000 2 Press the F8 key 3 Enter the required constant number in the Multiply by a Constant dialogue box shown below and click OK Multiply by Constant Fa Enter constant value to apply Cancel o 4 The calculated data is displayed in the Parameter spread and immediately saved to the Database Scenario Parameter Region Com Com Time Bou i 1990 2000 amo
53. right mouse click on the TS Data spread and select the new Hide I E Column popup menu option ound IME 10 00 Toggle Size Hide Empty Numeric Columns Hide Region Column Reset Column Widths TS and TID Filter Form Apply Filter To display the I E column in the TS Data spread after hiding it again right mouse click on the TS Data spread and select the new Hide I E Column popup menu option Noble Soft Systems Pty Ltd 2004 09 section five 39 Data entry and editing 5 4 5 3 Changing the I E Option Code value in an existing TS Data Parameter Instance To change the I E Option Code value in an existing TS Data Parameter instance Either left mouse click on the I E cell which invokes ANSWER s DirectCell Edit facility for example if we left click in the cell in the ACT_BND row and I E column the cell changes into a combobox cell that we can drop down in order to make a different selection 2005 2010 2015 Ea e a a Sje EEE E e Or right mouse click on the I E cell and selecting the View Descriptions popup menu option View Descriptions Toggle Size Hide Empty Nurmeric Columns Hide Region Column Reset Column Widths TS and TID Filter Form which causes the following form to be displayed that contains both the Interpolate Extrapolate Option Codes and the corresponding Interpolate Extrapolate Action Description so facilitating the selection of the ap
54. see Section 6 2 Model status of Infeasible or Unbounded BatchRunSummary log WordPad OR x File Edit wiew Insert Format Help pelil alk al ela amp Started a batch of 3 runs at 6 02 2009 12 40 19 AM Finished GAMS run BASEBOTH involving scenarios BASE and regions DEMO UTOPIA Solve status Optimal GANS run ended Finished run 1 of hatch of 3 runs at 6 02 2009 12 41 50 an Finished GAMS run LIMRENWEW involving Scenarios BAsE LIMNREN 1 and regions DENO UTOPIA Solve status Infeasible GANS run ended Finished run 2 of batch of 3 runs at 6 02 2009 12 42 55 AM Finished GAMS run XREG UC involving scenarios BAsE XREG UC and regions DEMO UTOFIA Solve status Optimal GANS run ended Finished run 3 of batch of 3 runs at 6 02 2009 12 44 00 4AM Started Automatic Import of Results for batch of 3 runs at 6 02 2009 12 44 00 in Import of Results for GAMS Run 1 BaAsSEBOTH 1554 records imported GAMS Run 2 LIMRENEW failed Import of Results not attempted Import of Results for GAMS Run 3 HREG UC 1555 records imported 4 4 4 Finished Automatic Import of Results for batch of 3 runs at 6 02 2009 12 45 31 AM For Help press F1 ve Noble Soft Systems Pty Ltd 2004 09 section six 34 Running the Model 18 If the Import Results Automatically checkbox was unchecked in the Cases display the Status of each successful model run will be Not Imported Use
55. w Scroll LHS RHS Together Emissions On Commodity RES Close 2 Click on Synchronize and the RES graphic will change to that for the currently selected Item on the Data Results Screen Switch Background to White Black The Switch Background to White Black facility allows the user to switch the RES graphics background color from black to white and from white back to black This allows the user to retain the previous default background color of black for screen use and for presentations while switching to a white background for the purpose of capturing RES graphics screen snapshots to paste into documents and PowerPoint slides that may subsequently be printed on black and white or color printers Noble Soft Systems Pty Ltd 2004 09 section nine 10 Reference Energy System Graphics The screen snapshot below displays the RES graphic for Energy Carrier Item DSL Diesel in the REGION1 model in the default background color of black Reference Energy System REGIONI region based on Data for Selected Scenarios Commodity DIESEL Diesel SUPPLY OILCRO Co FINDSL GASOIL To switch the background color to white 1 Click anywhere within the RES graphic using the right hand mouse button and a pop up menu will appear shown below Print Switch Background to white h Increase Color Contrast l Refresh w Scroll LHS RHS Together Synchronize Emissions On Commodity RES Close
56. 05 23 50 2009 03 05 23 50 Ea LUMPY INVEST CASES Lumpy Investment Cases 2009 03 05 23 52 2009 03 05 25 52 UTOPIM4 DEMO CASES Assorted Cages from Utopia Demo databa 2009 03 05 23 47 2009 03705 23 47 New Copy Delete Edit 7 Now you are faced with three different situations a Wanting to save the Cases on the Batch Run form with the same Name and Description Comment as one of the existing stored Batch of Cases That is Noble Soft Systems Pty Ltd 2004 09 section six 37 Running the Model effectively wanting to edit one of the stored Batch of Cases to replace the Cases that currently comprise this Batch with the Cases on the Batch Run form b Wanting to save the Cases on the Batch Run form with a similar Name and Description Comment to one of the existing stored Batch of Cases C Wanting to save the Cases on the Batch Run form with a Name and Description Comment that are dissimilar to those of existing stored Batch of Cases In either of situations a or b select the Batch of Cases that has the same similar Name in the Stored Batches of Cases listview by clicking on its icon and then click on the Save button In situation c simply click on the Save button 8a Suppose that you are in situation a and select the existing Batch of Cases UTOPIA DEMO CASES and then click on the Save button The Save Batch of Cases dialogue box will appear with Name Description and Comment
57. 0ONLISTING Bale Scenarios C IYE GJ BASE LIMRE 5ET SHELL ANSWER Activate validation to force YAH _CAP COMPHOD and square obj costing 5ET ALIDATE NO oa GAHMS Ba f Solve fre GAMS Basis Initialize the environment variables f5ET DEBUG HO 5ET SOLVE NOW YES S5ET DUMPSOL YES 5ET HODEL_NAME TIMES GAMS Ba No Basi GAMS Ba alll Progress W Edit GAMS Control File Generate Files Do Not Run W Create Results For Import into ANSWER IY Regenerate Base DD File IY Suppress Pure Zero Time Series Results i Regenerate Non Base DDS Files Import Results Automatically If Regenerate Rule based DDSs Automatic Repair amp Compact after Import Cancel After making the desired editing changes select File Close and Start Run E Editing Ci AnswerTIMESY6 Gams _WrkTI LIMRENEW GEN File Edit SWER TIHES YERSIOH 6 5 0 TIMES YERSIOH 2 9 Me Open OL 0 SOLPRINT O8N ITERLIM 50000 AE PHOFILE 1 SOLYEOPT REPLACE Save S Close and Start Run Close and Do Wot Run Close and Abort Run Activate validation to force YAR_CAP COMPHD and square obj costing 5ET VALIDATE NO and when the following message box appears click on the Yes button to save the GEN file changes Noble Soft Systems Pty Ltd 2004 09 section six 11 Running the Model Editing C AnswerTIMESY6 Gams _W
58. 1 anew 2 anew N denote the values in these fields after a mathematical function has been applied Note that what we call field 1 is the first field highlighted by the user Mode 1 or the currently active field Mode 2 It is not necessarily the field corresponding to the first time period In the interests of simplicity the mathematics presented below stating how the values anew 1 anew 2 anew N depend on the values a 1 a 2 a N assumes that the Data Time Periods are equally spaced so for example 1990 2000 2010 2020 Of course in TIMES Data Time Periods need not be equally spaced The ANSWER TIMES mathematical functions apply regardless of whether or not the Data Time Periods are equally spaced 5 4 4 1 Extend Constant F2 The value a 1 in field 1 is extended to each of field 2 N overwriting any values that may already be present in fields 2 N Thus we have anew 1 a 1 anew n a 1 for n 2 N Noble Soft Systems Pty Ltd 2004 09 section five 28 Data entry and editing Mode 1 To invoke the Extend Constant function 1 Enter the data in this example 25 0000 into the first data field in the series and press the Tab or Enter key 2 Click on the left mouse key and highlight the required consecutive data fields including the first data field Scenario Parameter _ Region Com Com Time Bou iE 1990 2000 2010 2020 BASE COM_PROJ UTOPIA
59. 2 2 Detecting data inconsistencies 6 2 1 2 The lt Casename gt LST file 6 2 2 kkK sO LO kkK as ON 6 2 3 The lt Casename gt LST file or GAMS Listing File is generated for each model run to provide the user with a log of the model run This log will include any error conditions which can then be followed up by the user The lt Casename gt LST file is the primary file for detection of compilation errors execution errors infeasibilities and unbounded solutions A separate lt Casename gt LST file is generated for each Case Consequently the LST file will only be overwritten when the same Casename is re modelled The role of the lt Casename gt LST file in detecting and investigating errors is extensive and is discussed in detail in section 6 2 3 GAMS compilation errors section 6 2 4 GAMS execution errors and section 6 2 5 Errors at the model optimization report writing and results importing stages Detecting data inconsistencies The QA_CHECK LOG file or quality assurance log file is created by a utility module of the GAMS TIMES modeling system that does a number of quality assurance checks on the model input data The nature of the checks are for the generally less obvious data inconsistencies e g for consistency of Set Memberships relative to input Item data range checks on the Item s data checks on simple sums and more It provides the user with a log see exampl
60. 2004 09 section five 40 Data entry and editing 5 4 5 4 1 AddRow Example Suppose that the AddRow facility is used to dial up the TS Data Parameter CAP_BND Then a screen snapshot similar to that below will be displayed Scenario Parameter Region Process Commodity CommGroup CommGr Item5 Bouna jE 2005 2mo 2m5 2020 C pa permo oje er o o ae o 1000 1000 esse oruc 2 reat ecet o nees fee ana o os os a o C ease Neap cost a rect eccer oo oo o O e 0 oj a 400 00 400 00 C ease NcaP Ture a reci ecr oo o o o e o O o a j a E E a a CO a S A Note that the AddRow cell in the I E column contains 0 the default I E Option Code If the user specifies that the bound is UP by use of the Bound combobox then the TS spread will now appear as follows with the cursor placed in the 2005 column pending the user entering the CAP_BND value for 2005 Scenaria Parameter Region Process Commodity CommGroup CommGr item Boura Ie 2005 2mo 2m5 2020 asst permo ae ee o ANREP oom D base FLOLFUNC ReG1 eccaT NGas ELC ANNUAL fo oss oss oss 055 L BASE NCAP cosT REGI ECCGT fo ooo o ooo booo eooo po o o aooo soooo 400 00 400 00 i eE a a e e e a IIE a ta Add 3 The user should enter the desired CAP_BND values for 2005 2010 2015 2020 and then click on the 4 key or the Insert key to add this CAP_BND parameter instance into the TS spread and into the ANSWER TIME
61. ANSWER TIMES Interface Differences from ANSWER MARKAL the cell changes into a combobox cell that the user can drop down in order to make a different selection u ae o o Sje EEE T a See section 5 4 5 I E Option Code for Handling of TIMES Interpolate Extrapolate Options for additional details Noble Soft Systems Pty Ltd 2004 09
62. Click on the Copy button in the Item Management sub region or click on Edit in the menu bar and choose Copy Item in the drop menu 4 A Copy Commodity dialogue box shown below will appear Noble Soft Systems Pty Ltd 2004 09 Data entry and editing section five 6 E Copy Commodity GSL in Region UTOPIA from scenario BASE to scenario BASE Target scenario BASE it same as ongin scenario You must enter new Mame and Description for this Commodity ou may change Set f Copy From blove From Memberships or edit Comment SCenalio BASE Base scenario for Utopia model z Name Desc cosy UTOPIA Gasoline bi ltem Information Scenario PASE Base scenario for Utopia model Name Desc fas UTOPIA Gasoline Copy Declaration Orly Moat Data Set Memberships F Other OTH EY Residential RES Annual Time Slice Level i E Transportation TAM O Seasonal Time Slice Level a Energy Carrier NAG Weekly Time Slice Level sE Conservation CONSRY Day Night Time Slice Level HE Electricity ELC E Fossil FOSSIL E High Temperature Heat HTHEAT B Limited Renewable LIMRENEW B Low Temperature Heat LTHEAT i Fea I R O Commodity Unite petajoules Change Units The Region combobox is set to match the Region of the Item being copied and disabled This is because copying an Item in one Region to a different Region is not permitted The Copy From frame initia
63. Com TimeSlice iteme e 1990 2000 200 2020 pe BASE UC_AHSRT UTOPIA ELEMAx b hooo dbo bho none 0 0000 0 0000 0 0000 o oood DE ES a Scenario Parameter Region Constraint Side VarType Para TimeStice_ Value BASE UCLR_EACH UTOPIA eLeMax e pad BASE p When the Parameter field combobox in either Add Row is dropped down it will be seen to contain those Data Parameters that can be associated with the Item these are determined from the Item s Set Memberships but that have not yet been added to the Item To add a Data Parameter to an Item Noble Soft Systems Pty Ltd 2004 09 section five 18 Data entry and editing 1 Ensure that you are in Edit Data mode for the appropriate scenario and with the desired Item selected in the Items display In the example below this is the BASE scenario and with Process E01 in Region UTOPIA selected 2a Select the required Data Parameter by left clicking on the Parameter field combobox in the Add Row of either the Time Series or Time Independent Data spread in the example below the Time Series Data spread has been chosen and either type the first letter of the required Data Parameter or use the scroll bar to move to and click on the required Data Parameter e g CAP_BND shown below Scenario Parameter Region Process Com CommGroup Com Item Item VE 1950 200 2mo 7 BASE ACT_BND ajutor EOYs o S Base fact cost ajutor Ets 0 300
64. Compulsory UC__RHSRT Data Parameter created and Tee acne Rese fea e Re Com TimeSlice Items IE 1990 2000 2mo 2020 awaiting editing by the user i i TO one lO LOMO OOO CNN 0 00 Tad Base wf D D T E E E a Scenaro Parameter Region _ Constrsint_ Side esec REACH 2 UTOPIA ELEMAK add rer Lia dd BASE a i O Compulsory UC_R_EACH Data Parameter created Database CVAnswerlIMESvb answerDatabases Utopia_Lumpylnvestment t Edit Scenario BASE ot Having carried out any editing that is needed of the compulsory Data Parameters created by ANSWER the user should then use the Add Row facility to associate additional TS and TID Data Parameters with the Constraint Item as needed to specify the Constraint Use of the Add Row is discussed in detail in section 5 4 2 1 Adding a Data Parameter Add Row Noble Soft Systems Pty Ltd 2004 09 section five 17 Data entry and editing 5 4 2 5 4 2 1 Add row Add row Note that the Data Parameters that have been automatically created by ANSWER are those Parameters that are listed as C compulsory if the user clicks on the Data Results Parameter query button 2 to the right of the TS TID data combobox to bring up the Data Parameter Information form a Data Parameter Information for ELEMA for region UTOPIA and scenario s BASE Legend data parameter exists C compulsory O optional illegal missing com
65. Copy Scenario in the drop menu A Copy Scenario dialogue box similar to the New Scenario dialogue box above will appear Enter the new Scenario s Name and Description The OK button will then be enabled A Comment can also be added Click on OK and the copied non BASE Scenario will be displayed in the Scenarios display on the Home Screen It will also be saved to the Database 2 6 4 Deleting a Scenario and the role of the DELETED Scenario The Delete Scenario facility allows the deletion of a non BASE Scenario It is not possible to delete the BASE Scenario or the DELETED scenario When a Scenario is deleted 1 2 3 All on line Results Cases that involve this Scenario are deleted Each Item in the about to be deleted Scenario that does not occur in the remaining on line Results is permanently deleted from the database Each Item in the about to be deleted Scenario that does occur in the remaining on line Results is moved to the DELETED scenario As already noted the DELETED scenario is a special scenario whose role is to retain information about Items that occur in on line Results but that have been deleted from Data The Item information that is moved to the DELETED scenario comprises the Name Description Units Set Memberships and the specific TS and TID Data associated with the Item So for a Process the specific TS and TID Data comprises those TS and TID Data parameters that are displayed on the Sub
66. Data Dictionary E4 TIMES GAMS Data Dictionary CAnswer TIME Sv b r ns wrk Tibesti E Daw EUZ OD Browse RUM File specitving SET ALL_TS SET MILESTONYRA G_D YEAR C AnswerTIMESw6 ans_WwkT Itest VE DAWELLAUM Browse Import Step 1 Create New Database from DO info C Use Current Database f Sparse Import of TS Data C Dense Import of TS Data Import Step 2 Import into Scenario BASE Regions No of Significant Digits for Numeric Data le E S Import Step 1 Import Step 2 Close The first time that you invoke the Import TIMES GAMS DD facility the top two textboxes on the form will be empty and the Import Step 1 button will be disabled 3 As is evident from the form and the Import Step 1 and Import Step 2 buttons at the bottom of the form Import TIMES GAMS DD involves two Import Steps Import Step 1 must be successfully carried out before the Import Step 2 button becomes enabled permitting Import Step 2 to be attempted 4 Use the Browse button alongside the TIMES GAMS Data Dictionary textbox to select the TIMES GAMS DD to be imported This DD file is assumed to contain SET DATAYEAR in a standard GAMS format 5 Use the Browse button alongside the RUN File textbox to select the RUN file associated with the TIMES GAMS DD This RUN file is assumed to contain SET ALL_TS and SET MILESTONYR in a standard GAMS format 6 The Import Step 1 button will b
67. Database 4dd Mew Time Periods to Database Delete Time Periods From Database Check Integrity of TimeSlices Generate Global Region TimeSlices From Region TimeSlices Edit Global Time Slice Order SET ALL_TS Export d 14 8 1 File Check Integrity of TimeSlices This menu function performs a number of checks on the integrity of the TimeSlices in the database If you invoke this menu function for a database where all of the integrity checks are passed then the following message will be displayed All TimeSlice Integrity Checks Passed E P This database passes all the TimeSlice Integrity Checks Do vou wish to see the TimeSliceIntegrity check logfile For a database with the Same TimeSlices in Every Region if you click on Yes to view the TimeSlicelntegrityCheck logfile then the logfile will be displayed in Wordpad 4 TimeSliceIntegrityCheck log WordPad OF x File Edit View Insert Format Help oela SIR al leel Dl rea Check Each TimeSlice Name occurs at the Same Level In Every Region in which that Name occurs PASSED CHECK Check Every Region Contains Every Annual TimeSlice for no TimeSlices at this Level PASSED CHECK All Annual TimeSlices are present in every Region Check Every Region Contains Every Seasonal TimeSlice for no TimeSlices at this Level PASSED CHECK All Seasonal TimeSlices are present in every Region Check Every Region Contains Every Weekly TimeSlice for no Time
68. Email Noble Soft the UpdateSystemT ables log file if you are concerned about any warnings or errors in the log file Otherwise click on the No button T Click on the Close button to close the Update System Tables from Excel dialogue box 2 16 2 Update System Tables from Excel for a Database that is not Currently Open To update System Tables from Excel for an ANSWER database that is not currently open 1 This step is the same as step 1 in section 2 16 1 above 2 If some other ANSWER database is open inside ANSWER then close it via File Close Database while leaving ANSWER open 3 Click on File in the menu bar and choose Update System Tables from Excel in the drop menu This brings up the following dialogue box Browse Browse cose Excel Update File 4 Use the Browse button alongside the ANSWER Database textbox to select the ANSWER database that you wish to update For example you might select C AnswerTIMESv6 Answer_Databases VEDAWEU Sparse mdb 9 Use the Browse button alongside the Excel Update File textbox to select the Excel Update File to be used for the update For example for the ANSWER TIMES version 6 5 0 update select the file UpdateAnsTimesSysTables_v6 5 0 xls in your ANSWER TIMES home directory 6 Now the dialogue box appears as follows with the Update button enabled Update System Tables from Excel ca ANSWER Database C AnswerTIMES v
69. Filter gt 3 7 1 To Create and Apply a New Filter l Bring up the TS and TID Filter form by clicking on the TS and TD Filter Form icon Ball or by clicking on Tools in the menu bar and choosing TS and TID Filter Form in the drop menu or by right mouse clicking on the TS or TID spread and choosing TS and TID Filter Form in the pop up menu 2 The TS and TID Filter form see below will appear Y TS and TID Filter Mie E3 Specified Filter lt N ew Filte Delete Description Name IRAE ites Row Comparison Filter Show All Rows Time e a Filter SEE is i A Time eto Filter a eC a E Commodity item3 tem item Yem Clear TS Clear TID Copy TS gt To Save Save amp Apply prin Cancel Noble Soft Systems Pty Ltd 2004 09 section three 29 ANSWER s Data Results Screen 3 If the Filter in the Name combobox is not lt New Filter gt select lt New Filter gt in the combobox it is the top entry This will clear all existing Filter specifications from the form and place the focus on the Row Comparison Filter combobox 4 Choose whichever setting for the Row Comparison Filter combobox is appropriate The default setting is Show All Rows with Hide Identical Rows as the alternate setting Further details regarding the meaning of Hide Identical Rows are given in section 3 7 10 below The Row Comparison Filter setting applies to both the Time Series and Time
70. Global and work to the right through each Component in turn This ensures that any necessary precursor data has been entered into the Scenario before it is required for successive data entries For example if a coal fired steam turbine Item is to be created under the Process Component the user should first enter its input and output commodities i e coal and electricity under the Commodity Component Otherwise the coal fired steam turbine Process data entry will not be able to be completed Of course in such a situation the user can go to the Commodity tab and enter coal and electricity and then return to the Process tab to complete the specification of Data Parameters for the coal fired steam turbine technology 5 1 2 4 Define your Item first The specification of an Item s Set Memberships determines which compulsory Data Parameters are automatically ascribed to the Item by ANSWER see Section 5 2 2 Creating a New Item and also determines which other Data Parameters may optionally be associated with the Item Consequently ANSWER requires that an Item be created and fully defined before any Parameter data associated with that Item can be entered 5 1 2 5 Item naming ANSWER does not enforce any Item naming conventions on the user There are just some broad limitations 1 The combination of the Name and Region of an Item must be unique to that Item in the Database So there may be an Item with Name E01 in Region DEMO and a
71. In the Items display select the Item that is to be deleted or multi select the Items that are to be deleted 3 Click on the Delete button in the Item Management sub region or click on Edit in the menu bar and choose Delete Item in the drop menu 4a If at step 2 you selected a single Item and if that Item is able to be deleted then the following message box will appear asking you to confirm the Item deletion Noble Soft Systems Pty Ltd 2004 09 section five 8 Data entry and editing 5 2 4 1 5 2 5 Gre you sure that vou wish to delete Process P E21 LWR Nuclear Plant in Region UTOFIA From scenario BASE Note that all parameters involving this Process will also be deleted From scenario BASE 1 4b If at step 2 you selected several Items and if all of those Items are able to be deleted then the following message box will appear asking you to confirm the multiple Item deletion P All 4 Process Items that you selected can be deleted From scenario BASE i a Are vou sure that you wish to delete these 4 Items Mote that all parameters involving these Processes will also be deleted From scenario BASE Note that in the multi select case it can happen that only some of the selected Items are able to be deleted For example this would be the case where the user has selected as one of the Items an Item that is not in the currently editable scenario Then the message box will advise how many of the selecte
72. Independent spreads 9 Enter appropriate filtering criteria for the Time Series Filter and Time Independent Filter Details regarding allowable filtering criteria are given in section 3 7 11 below Note that if the Time Series and Time Independent criteria are rather similar it will be advantageous to first enter the Time Series Filter filtering criteria and then use the Copy TS gt TID button to copy the Time Series criteria to the Time Independent Filter All criteria except Parameter criteria will be copied from the Time Series to the Time Independent Filter The form might now look as follows Y TS and TID Filter Iof x Specified Filter lt ew Filter Name lt New Filter gt X Delete Description O OE Row Comparison Filter Show All Rows Time Series Filter Scenario Parameter Regon Region2 Process Commodity CommGroup CommGroup items teme JA NCAP_COST a Clear TS Clear TID Copy TS gt To Save Save amp Apply ee Cancel 6 Click on the Save amp Apply button or possibly on the Save amp Apply with Select All button This brings up a Save amp Apply Filter form or a Save amp Apply Filter with Select All form initially with the Name field set to lt New Filter gt and the Description field empty Save amp Apply Filter Mame faelevcm elites Description Apply s Temp Save amp Apply Cancel T Enter a Name for the Filter and
73. LIMRENEW is the selected Case and click on the Import button at the bottom of the Cases listview or click on File in the menu bar and choose Import then choose Case in the drop menu A message box will indicate the number of results records imported into the Database Click on OK to close the box Noble Soft Systems Pty Ltd 2004 09 section six 6 Running the Model 6 1 1 6 1 1 1 6 1 1 2 Manual Import of Results for Case LIMRENEW EA DD 570 records imported In the Cases display the Case LIMRENEW will now have the following icon m and its Status will now be Imported 18 It is possible that a model run might not terminate with Model status Optimal Instead a run might terminate with a GAMS execution error or much less commonly with a GAMS compilation error or with a Solve Status of Infeasible or Unbounded Any of these errors is an indication of a data omission or error whose source will need to be investigated see Section 6 2 Run Model Detection and correction of inconsistencies and errors Model Variant Specification Version 6 of ANSWER TIMES supports working with standard TIMES and also supports working with the Endogenous Technology Learning ETL and Lumpy Investment TIMES model variants There are other TIMES model variants that are not yet supported and consequently in version 6 of Specity Model Variant ANSWER TIMES neither the Model Variant combobox nor the button at
74. Menu option displays the ANSWER TIMES EXE version number the currently open database version and Noble Soft Systems contact information as follows About ANSWER ANSWER Version 6 5 4 Currently open database its version 6 3 TIMES Energy Modelling for Windows Copyright 2003 2009 Noble Soft Systems Pty Ltd For further information on ANSWER TIMES please contact Dr Ren Noble NHoble Soft Systems Pty Ltd 30 Beaumont Crescent The Ridgeway NSW Australia 2620 Email noblesoft netspeed com au Phone Fax 61 2 6297 1405 This product ts licensed to Fully registered ANSWER TIMES license for Noble Soft Systems Compag laptop 2 2 3 Help Status of Current Database This Help Menu option displays summary information about the current ANSWER TIMES database as follows Status of Current Database Utopia_LumpylInvestment mdb s This ANSWER TIMES database has TradeProcess tab facilities Process Items Filter and Rule based Constraint facilities and being TIMES has Flexible LD TimeSlice Facilities This database has the Same TimeSlices in Every Region Noble Soft Systems Pty Ltd 2004 09 section two 3 Starting ANSWER and the ANSWER Home Screen 2 3 The ANSWER Home Screen The ANSWER Home Screen provides the user with various facilities including facilities to create a new Database or open an existing Database create delete edit Regions in the on line Database the Region Management facility cre
75. Model status of Infeasible If the model being solved has no feasible solution i e is infeasible then at the end of the GAMS run ANSWER will display a message box that contains the line Model status Infeasible Model Run and Automatic Import of Results EA a Finished GAMS run EMISLIMT SF So eas GAMS run ended The most common causes of infeasibilities are 1 An end use demand is specified but a demand process is not specified to meet this demand 2 Inconsistencies amongst user specified constraints bounds such as e An upper or fixed bound on a process or group of processes leads to an inability to satisfy their specified end use demand e A lower bound exceeds an upper bound for a process or group of processes e Inconsistency between a bound on the output of a process and its activity e Inconsistency between a process specific bound and a bound applied to a group of processes i e using a user defined constraint e The system wide energy requirements exceed those which can be supplied due to constraints on supply this will be more likely in a database insufficiently rich in process or energy carrier options e Tight system wide constraints on say emissions this may be a symptom of a database insufficiently rich in process or energy carrier options To determine the cause of an infeasibility and rectify the problem search the lt Casename gt Ist file for occurrences of INFES using the Find
76. NCAP_FOM NCAP_FOM 3 000 0000 3 690 0000 690 900 0000 900 0000 40 0000 70 0000 500 0000 500 0000 75 0000 75 0000 4 4 4 4 Co ooo Co a E aa Co Co oO Co oC oO Co Co oO oC Co Co oO oo oo Alternatively click on the Expand Contract Parameters spread button E at the top left hand corner of the spread and the spread will expand as shown above 3 6 4 4 Data Parameter status field The Data Parameter status field shown below indicates whether the adjacent Parameter is a Base Scenario Parameter i e displayed as a null field or a non Base Scenario Parameter i e displayed as an M Note the M s associated with the NCAP_DISC Parameters that are specified for Process E70 in region UTOPIA for the non Base Scenario DSC Scenario Parameter Region Process _ Commodity CommGiroup Commtr Item Item IE 1990 2000 2010 C fase osu ajutor Ero Dsl bsi O02 ANNUAL 0 7S0000 780000 75 0000 C esse nepara juto en oo SSS om o oeo osoo oeoo C ease ncap cost ojutoma ero ooo SS 01 000 000 1000 1000 000 PM psc NcaPDisce L2quTOP Ero fe OT tt PM DSC NCAP DISC aquTOPIA E0 2 1o 1o 1 00 PM bsc NCAP Disce auTop Ezo ooo oo d 0 BASE NCAP_FOM__ UTOPIA EFO 88 30 0000 Noble Soft Systems Pty Ltd 2004 09 section three 26 ANSWER s Data Results Screen 3 6 4 5 Data Parameter Indicator for Null Data Row or Row
77. NST Stockpiling STK and Storage not NST or STK STGTSS These are disjoint options Standard ANSWER TIMES mechanics displays these three options as checkboxes the Additional Characterization radio buttons are already used Noble Soft Systems Pty Ltd 2004 09 appendix one 2 Areas where ANSWER TIMES differs from the TIMES documentation for Time Slice Levels but additional code within ANSWER TIMES ensures that at most one of these checkboxes can be checked concurrently e Asis the case in ANSWER MARKAL to minimize changes to ANSWER mechanics ANSWER TIMES uses the special GLOBAL region to represent TIMES parameters that do not have a region argument So for example the TIMES parameter UC_RHS Sum over Regions Periods Time Slices that does do not have a region argument appears in the ANSWER TIMES TID spread with GLOBAL as its region So in ANSWER TIMES the _GLOBAL region is the region that a parameter is in when it does not have a region Noble Soft Systems Pty Ltd 2004 09 appendix two Main ANSWER TIMES Interface Differences from ANSWER MARKAL Appendix Two Main ANSWER TIMES Interface Differences from ANSWER MARKAL This Appendix provides ANSWER MARKAL users with an overview of the main interface differences between ANSWER TIMES and ANSWER MARKAL A2 1 Main Home Screen differences from ANSWER MARKAL The Home Screen in ANSWER TIMES follows the same paradigm as in ANSWER MARKAL The main Home Screen differences of ANSWE
78. Noble Soft Systems Pty Ltd 2004 09 Running the Model 17a 17b section six 5 When a run is completed that reaches an optimal solution and if the Import Results Automatically checkbox was checked M Import Results Automatically a message box will appear indicating the Name of the run Solve status Optimal and indicating the number of results records imported into the Database Click on OK to close the box Model Run and Automatic Import of Results Ea B n Finished GAMS run LIMREME k Lj Solve status Optimal GAMS5 run ended 570 records imported In the Cases display the Case LIMRENEW will have the following icon Cand its Status will be Imported Results Management Cases B LIMRENEW Renewable Limit Run BASE LIMA 2009 02 05 22 01 Imported When a run is completed that reaches an optimal solution and if the Import Results Automatically checkbox was unchecked PHA ee eE d Ce A aek KE a message box will appear indicating the Name of the run and Solve status Optimal Click on OK to close the box Finished GAMS run LIMRENEW J Solve status Optimal GAM5 run ended In the Cases display the Case LIMRENEW will have the following icon i and its Status will be Not Imported Results Management Cases Created Status a LIMRENEW Renewable Limit Run BaSE LIMA 2009 02705 24172 Mot Imported To import the results for Case LIMRENEW ensure that
79. Options dialogue box Using the example results shown in 1 i above and the suggested chart options shown in 4 above the following chart is produced Chart Off x File Edit lmla l Case Region UTOPIA BASEUTOP Annual Investment Costs aggregated over vintages 000 US million dollars 1590 2000 2010 Years m E01 m E31 O E70 6 The chart can now be edited and printed using the MS Excel chart facilities or copied and pasted into a MS Word document Noble Soft Systems Pty Ltd 2004 09 section eight 4 Charting and analysing ANSWER TIMES Results 8 3 The Chart with Excel facility ANSWER s Chart with Excel facility exports the user s selected data results from ANSWER into a MS Excel worksheet with an embedded chart appearing on a separate worksheet in the same workbook The data results for the worksheet and embedded chart are not dynamically linked to the original ANSWER data results and consequently a change in the ANSWER data results will not result in a commensurate change to the worksheet and chart However the embedded chart is dynamically linked to the associated worksheet data results and consequently a change in the worksheet data results will result in a commensurate change to the chart To create a chart and associated worksheet using the Chart with Excel facility 1 Select the rows of data results in the Parameters spread to be exported by either i swiping the left hand column of
80. Periods and the Results Time Periods For example to specify the Data Time Periods multi select the desired Time Periods in the left hand listbox in the Data Time Periods frame and then click on the gt button to cause the selected Time Periods to appear in the right hand Periods in Database listbox Specify the Results Time Periods similarly using the left hand listbox in the Results Time Periods frame Note that in TIMES as compared with MARKAL Data Time Periods and Results Time Periods can differ and in general both Data and Results Time Periods can have unequal spacing Noble Soft Systems Pty Ltd 2004 09 section two 6 Starting ANSWER and the ANSWER Home Screen 6 The OK button will become enabled when a Description has been entered and Data Time Periods and Results Time Periods are specified in both the Data and Results Periods in Database listboxes T Leave the Create Initial Region checkbox checked to create an initial internal region named REGION1 in the new database Users who prefer that the new database is created without an initial region should uncheck this checkbox 8 Users should normally leave the Same TimeSlices in Every Region checkbox checked so that the new database that is created will have the same TimeSlices in every internal region As of December 2008 all existing TIMES models have the same TimeSlices in every internal region notwithstanding that the TIMES modeling framew
81. Process Component has been selected 2 Use the Subset Items facility to limit the Items that appear in the Items listview to the subset that you wish to appear in the report For example you may wish to limit to ELE Electric Generation Processes 3 Use the Regions button to further limit the Items that appear in the Items listview to particular region s that you wish to appear in the report For example you may wish to limit to just the UTOPIA region 3 Click on File in the menu bar and choose Print Item Subsets in the drop menu Aa If you elected to display for a subset of a Component ANSWER will immediately display the report in WordPad for editing and or printing In the example below the ELE Electric Generation Processes subset of the Process Component was selected and region was limited to just UTOPIA TtemSubsets prt WordPad Miil E3 File Edit wiew Insert Format Help ollel Siel al llel S ANSWER Item Subset Printout for Process Component Date 2009 02 24 00 05 Database C dnswerTIMESv6 Answer Databases Utopia Demo mdb Selected Scenarios BASE Item Subset s ELE Electric Generation Processes acenario Members Region Descriptions UTOPIA Coal Steam Electric UTOPIA LWE Nuclear Plant UTOPIA Hydro electric Plant UTOPIA Natural gas combined cycle plant UTOPIA Pumped Storage Power Plant UTOPIA Dil Plant For Help press F1 5b If you elected to displ
82. Same TimeSlices in Every Region ANSWER TIMES creates the new TimeSlice WIN DAY in every region including the _GLOBAL region and also auto generates TID parameter instances G_YRFR Fraction of the year and TS_ PARENT for these TimeSlices these parameters are not generated for the GLOBAL region Of course the TS_PARENT instances specify WIN as the Parent TimeSlice of WIN DAY as shown in the screen snapshot below Noble Soft Systems Pty Ltd 2004 09 section fourteen 5 Handling of TimeSlices in ANSWER TIMES Global TimeSlice Commodity CommGroup Process TradeProcess Constraint Parameter Items Filter l l E Sets heres frat Time Slices ALL TS Sets Filter Hamed Filter Name Regon Description Status p ltem Management WIN NOR Winter 4 items selected Sets WIN DAY GLOBAL Winter Day SS Se Wel Dnay AUS Winter Day Nem Eopyp Delete ma A wIN DAY FIN Winter D ae oe ee _ Select Alters e REE WINDA NOR Winter Day Subset Parameters Time Slice Specific TID data Scenario Parameter Region __ TimeSlice _ TimeSlice Value pa BASE GYRFA Ffas WINDA e pa BASE GYRFA FFIN WIN DAY e pe BASE GYRFA PGER WINDAY p Pa BASE G_YAFR F NOR WINDAY b BASE TS_PARENT_ FAUS WINDAY WIN 1 BASE TS_PARENT__ F FIN_____ WIN DAY WIN _ BASE TS_LPARENT 2 GER WINDAY WIN 1 BASE TS PARENT 2 NOR WINDAY WIN 1 E
83. Series data spread and the Time Independent data spread are displayed By adjusting the setting of the TS TID Data combobox the user may display just the Time Series data spread or just the Time Independent data spread In Edit Data screen mode shown below the Parameters region also provides facilities for 1 Adding a new Data Parameter and its data see Add row shown in blue 2 Editing a Data Parameter s data shown in white 3 Direct cell editing of a Data Parameter argument 4 Deleting an existing Data Parameter and its data Subset Parameters ec Process Specific rs TID data 2 scera Fame Pesen Poes omoa comas Siea y ee ve tes a 2010 Parameter argument L o esoo00 9 0000 83 0000 TOP EON 800 0000 1 300 0000 1 200 0000 TOP JEON 80 0000 70 0000 100 0000 tora Jen FT BASE I as ee ASE CAP _TLIFE BASE PRC_ACTUNT BASE RC_CAPACT Direct cell editing of Parameter argument These edit facilities are detailed in Section 5 Data Entry and Editing Noble Soft Systems Pty Ltd 2004 09 section three 20 ANSWER s Data Results Screen 3 6 1 The Subset Parameters combobox A Parameter may be specific to a single Component or related to two or more Components A Parameter that is specific to a single Component will not appear under any other Component apart from the Parameter Component which lists all Parameters For example the Data Parameter COM_PROJ Demand bas
84. Set Membership filter from the dropdown list The Items display will be re populated to display just those Items that match the selected Set Membership filter Alternatively 1 2 3 5 1 3 Ensure that the combobox has focus Quick key the first few characters of the filter Description to position at or near the desired filter in the combobox list For example quickly keying PRE while on the Process tab will position at or near the PRE Energy Processes entry If this procedure arrives near but not at the desired filter use the down arrow key or up arrow key to position at the desired filter in the Subset Items combobox The Items display will be re populated to display just those Items that match the selected Set Membership filter Additional Notes regarding the Sets Filter facility ANSWER automatically generates the Description field based on the particular subsets selected by the user No mechanism is provided by which the user can alter the Description The Sets Filter facility is available on all Component tabs except the Global tab However the facility is superfluous for the TimeSlice CommGroup and Parameter tabs since currently the corresponding Components do not have any Additional Characterization subsets The user is not required to select a leaf node from the treeview as is the case when carrying out the New Edit Item functions It is perfectly acceptable to select a non leaf parent node T
85. Slice Level by E Heat Generation HPL EL Material by weight PR bees B Material by volume PRY E Miscellaneous MISC T Night Storage NST L Stockpiling STE Description DMD DAYNITE Processes user defined Delete Cancel Click on the OK button If it did not previously exist a new entry with the above Description will be added to the Process Subset Items combobox the combobox entries are sorted by Description and the Process Items display will be re populated to display just those Processes that are members of the DMD and DAYNITE Process subsets saad Utopia_LumpylInvestment ANSWER TIMES Energy Modelling File Edit View Run Tools Functions Help risen Dk a Global TimeSlice Commodity CommGroup Process TradeProcess Constraint Parameter Items Filter f Sets Named DMD DAYNITE Processes user defined Sets Filter Named Filter ltem Management RHE UTOPIA Electric Boiler Tare Process Sets RHO UTOPIA Diesel Boiler Mew Copy Delete Edit Select All Items Hove FES subset Parameters c Process Specific zs 71D data cenario Parameter Region Process Commodity CommGroup CommGroup item5 Bouna IE 1950 2000 amo 1 BASE FLO_FUNC UTOPIA RHE ELC RH JANNUAL 10000 1 0000 1 0000 BASE NCAP AF F UTOPIA BHE b ANNUAL UP o 1 00000 1 00000 1 00000 BASE NCAPLBND UTOPIA RHE bho
86. Soft Systems Pty Ltd 2004 09 section two 57 Starting ANSWER and the ANSWER Home Screen e Inthe more general case where there are Results Time Periods in the ANSWER TIMES database that do not occur amongst the Data Time Periods then by importing Time Series data densely and retaining the IEOpt codes we expect to find that when we do a model run out of ANSWER the TS coefficient values that we interpolate extrapolate for these Results Time Periods will in general correspond very closely to what would have been interpolated extrapolated from the original set of full data Of course where the original import resulted in some lost Time Series information we must expect that some of these TS coefficient values will differ from what would have been interpolated extrapolated from the original set of full data Noble Soft Systems Pty Ltd 2004 09 sectiontwo 58 Starting ANSWER and the ANSWER Home Screen 2 12 Exporting Scenario Data to Excel The Export Scenario Data to Excel facility exports Scenario data to Excel in one of two formats So called new format that has been available from AnswerTIMESv6 exe version 6 5 4 onwards and that is now the recommended format for use with ANSWER TIMES File Import Model Data from Excel facility See section 2 10 The old format ITEMS TS DATA TID DATA format that prior to AnswerTIMESv6 exe version 6 5 4 was the only format available for ANSWER TIME
87. Systems Dr Ken Noble noblesoft netspeed com au Noble Soft Systems Pty Ltd 2004 09 sectionone 4 What is ANSWER TIMES an Overview 1 3 Operating ANSWER TIMES 1 3 1 What level of user skill is required to operate ANSWER TIMES Users must be competent in the Windows environment have a good understanding of how energy systems function and understand the physical and energy units of measurement 1 3 2 What backup is available to ANSWER TIMES users The user should first consult this User Manual but if still unable to resolve any aspect of the operation of the ANSWER TIMES software should contact Noble Soft Systems noblesoft netspeed com au Note that this email backup service is for enquiries regarding the operation of the ANSWER TIMES software as distinct from enquiries related to the TIMES modelling framework itself including data requirements and modelling techniques Enquiries regarding the latter may be addressed but at the discretion of Noble Soft Systems Also ETSAP provides limited support for enquiries related to the TIMES modelling framework email support etsap org Non ETSAP institutions who are interested in receiving more substantial support for the development of models based on the TIMES model generator may request ETSAP Support for the payment of an annual fee 1 3 3 What are the hardware software requirements of ANSWER TIMES ANSWER TIMES is PC based and is installed as an executable file with associat
88. Systems Pty Ltd 2004 09 3 section four Setting up Units in ANSWER 6 Click on OK and the unit will be deleted from the Database Note that where the same unit appears as say both a Commodity and a Process Activity unit deleting this unit from one group say the Commodity group does not delete it from the other group in this case the Process Activity group The user must ensure the unit is fully deleted 4 2 3 1 Deletion of a unit currently in use Note that ANSWER will not allow the deletion of any unit that is currently in use in the Database ANSWER will prompt the user shown below Answer AN This units currently in use within this database and cannot be deleted Also note that in ANSWER TIMES where there are multiple Money Macro Money units you will always be able to delete a Money Macro Money unit For further details see section 4 2 5 Money Units and Macro Money Units 4 2 4 Editing an allowable Unit To edit a unit s abbreviation and or description 1 Ensure that you are editing the BASE scenario You may be on the Home Screen or the Data Results Screen Click on Edit in the menu bar and click on Units in the drop menu The Units tree view will appear Highlight the unit to be edited and click on the Edit button The Unit Properties dialogue box shown below will appear ol a a Unit Properties Unit Abbreviation br pass km Unit Descriptions bilior passeng
89. a commodity Delivery cost for using a commodity Emission factor for a process flow or activity Load curve of availability of commodity to 4 process Relationship between 2 groups of flows Change in FLO_FUNC FLO_SUM by age Process wise market share in total commodity production Bound on share of flow in total consumption of commmodity Bound on share of flow in total production of commmodity Factor increasing the average demand Relationship between members of the same flow group Subsidy for the production use of a commodity Multiplier for commodity in col where each is summed into coe Tax on the production use of a commodity Avaltlability of capacity Annual availability of capacity Avaltlability of capacity for commodity group Pointer to availability change multiplier nn Time Independent Parameters T OO a O g O g O g PRO CAPACT ETL CCAPO ETL CCAPM ETL PRAT ETL SCO ETL SEG ETL TEG HCAP_PASTI HCAP_ PASTY Capacity to activity conversion factor Initial cum capacity starting point on learning curve Maximum cum capacity fending point on learning curve Progress ratio Investment cost corresp to starting point on learning curve Number of segments for cumulative cost curve Indicates technology for which learning curve is specified Capacity installed prior to study years Buildup years for past investments NCAP TLIFEp Technical lifetime of a process past years 3 6
90. a message box similar to the one below is displayed warning that there are more time periods in the imp file than in the target database N and advising that if Import Scenario proceeds the first N time periods of TS data in the imp file will be imported Record 6 indicates greater number of time periods 4 in the import File than in the database 3 Time Periods 1990 2000 2010 2020 Proceed with Import Scenario importing the First 3 tine periods in the import File Click on the Yes button to proceed with Import Scenario and on the No button to cancel Import Scenario 11 The Import Scenario dialogue box remains open so that the user can select another imp file to import see step 4 above specify another Import into Scenario see step 6 above and again click the Import button 12 Click on the Close button to close the Import Scenario dialogue box 2 9 2 1 When the Use IMP Filename as Scenario Name checkbox is checked When the Use IMP Filename as Scenario Name checkbox is checked and the user then selects an imp file in the Import from file listbox the imp filename is automatically assigned as the Scenario Name in the Import into Scenario combobox Noble Soft Systems Pty Ltd 2004 09 section two 33 Starting ANSWER and the ANSWER Home Screen Import Scenario Ea u oy Import Scenario allows scenario information existing as a text file on disk to w be imported into an exis
91. and multi select the Commodities to be traded as per the screen snapshot below where DSL and NGAS have been selected as the Commodities to be traded Where the Commodity being traded has the Same Name in All Regions a Trade Process may trade a number of different Commodities Specy the Traded Commodities below and then move to the Trade Matris tab to specify the Trade Matris for each Traded Commodit Traded Commodities Crude Oil 1 Crude Oil 2 Diesel MAG Electricity Gasoline Light Oil Natural gaz NAG Add Comm Aem Use Add Remove Comr Click on the OK button and DSL and NGAS will be added to the Traded Commodities spread Noble Soft Systems Pty Ltd 2004 09 section sixteen 4 Handling of Trade Processes in ANSWER TIMES Traded Trade Matriz Dia Ted G Hegre ua r Natural gas Initially the Trade Matrix Specified checkbox associated with each of DSL and NGAS will be unchecked since no Trade Matrix has been specified for either of these Commodities 16 2 6 Trade Matrixes where Same Commodity Name in All Regions Specifying the Trade Matrixes for each of the Commodities that can be traded by a Trade Process where these Commodities have the Same Name in All Regions iv same Commodity Mame in All Regions is carried out via the Trade Matrix tab as described below e Specifying the Trade Matrixes is carried out in an essentially identical fashion for both a Bilateral Trade Process and a Market Tra
92. and compact is complete E The database has been Repaired and Compacted 4 Click on the OK button and the repaired and compacted database will be reopened 2 13 3 User initiated Repair and Compact of a Database that is not Currently Open To repair and compact a Database that is not currently open in ANSWER 1 Close any currently open database see Section 2 4 3 Closing a Database 2 Click on Tools in the menu bar 3 Click on Repair and Compact Database in the drop menu 4 A Repair and Compact Database dialogue box will appear shown below Repair and Compact Database El Ei Look in O Answer Databases e f amp e Fe My Recent Documents E Deskto m My Documents E hy Computer r k wi My Network Places 4h VEDAWEU dense mdb 4 Utopia_LumpyInvestment mdb 4 VEDAWEU Sparse mdb 4 REGION1 dense2 mdb 4 UwesExample4 Lumpy Investment mdb 4 BASE MATISSE mdb 4 Example4 D5C dense mdb testMewDE mdb 4 MATISSE dense2 mdb MATISSE dense mdb 41 FULYIA IM amp 4 dense mdb 4 M2TITRIX dense mdb 4 REGION1 sparse mdb 4 Jexample _dsc_dsc dense mdb 4 File name MATISSE dense mdb Files of type Access Database mdb 2l Stanford Demo with Interpolate Extrapolate mdb 4 TIMES DEMO dense rr laD _FR_IT3 dense mdb LA REGION dense mdb lal BASEEDFA dense mdt LAIITRI Demo Final mdb lal Stanford Demo mdb lal Tiry model 1 m
93. and the results have been imported unless ou want to prematurely terminate the GAMS runs The Progress frame of the Batch Run form is used to display the progress of the runs in the batch And also serves as a visual reminder to the user that a Batch Run is being carried out and that ANSWER should not be used Shortly after the batch run is initiated the Progress frame might appear as follows Progress Started a batch of 3 runs at 6 02 7009 12 40 19 AM MW Create Results For Import into ANSWER I Import Results Automatically Automatically Repair and Compact Database After Import Aun Batch As the GAMS run for each Case is successfully completed the Status of that Case in the Cases display is changed from GAMS Running to Not Imported and summary information regarding the Case scenarios regions model status finish time is written to the file BatchRunSummary log in the ANSWER Work folder C AnswerTIMESv6 Ans_WrkT1 In addition the Progress frame of the Batch Run form is updated and the icon associated with that case in the Cases Comprising Batch Run listview changes from Running amp to Not Imported Fd so that it is easy to see how the runs in the batch are progressing When the GAMS run for the final Case is completed automatic import of results is carried out for each successful model run assuming that the Import Results Automatically checkbox was checked Summary
94. as a stored Batch of Cases 1 Click on the Save Batch button on the Batch Run form This brings up the Batch Management form displayed below for the situation in which there are no stored Batches of Cases in the database Noble Soft Systems Pty Ltd 2004 09 section six 35 Running the Model E Batch Management Save Batch of Cases from Batch Run form Oy x Stored Batches of Cases Modified Mew Eopy Delete Edit Note the phrase Save Batch of Cases from Batch Run form in the caption of the Batch Management form 2 Click on the Save button and a Save Batch of Cases dialogue box will appear with Name Description and Comment empty and with the Cases comprising this Batch listview populated with the Cases from the Batch Run form Save Batch of Cases from Batch Run form Enter Name Description Comment and optionally modify Batch of Cases from Batch Run form Hame Description Comment Cases comprising this Batch 7 BASEBOTH Base scenario for Utopia Demo model BASE B LIMRENEW Renewable Limit Run BASE LIMAEN 1 Remove ES SAREGUC Cross Region User Defined Constraint BASE sREG UC Remove All dd Up On Cancel 3 Enter the Name and Description for the new Batch of Cases perhaps as follows Save Batch of Cases from Batch Run form Enter Name Description Comment and optionally modify Batch of Cases fram Batch Run form Mame
95. bar and choose Edit Item in the drop menu An Edit Commodity dialogue box shown below will appear Click on the Change Units button and the Units combobox s will become enabled E Edit Commodity TX in Region UTOPIA in scenario BASE SS Edit Name Description for Commodity TX in Region UTOPIA or change Set Memberships Units if necessary or edit Comment Scenario pase se scenario for Utopia model Name Desc Tx E ITOPIA gt Automobile Transportation Set Memberships and Units Set Memberships Commodity COM I Demand for Energy Services DEM amp Agricultural AGR E Commercial COM B Industrial IND 5 Non Energy NE Other OTH fF Residential RES f Transportation TRAN a Energy L Carrier er Ma Fea gt kim ONRI MS t Additional Characterization Annual Time Slice Level C Seasonal Time Slice Level C Weekly Time Slice Level C Day Night Time Slice Level Units Noble Soft Systems Pty Ltd 2004 09 section five 11 Data entry and editing 5 2 9 3 5 2 6 5 2 7 6 Choose the appropriate unit s in the combobox s In the above example possibly million passenger kilometers might be a more appropriate unit than petajoules T Click on OK and the edited Item will be saved to the database with the new unit s specified in the combobox s Note that ANSWER TIMES does not check for the p
96. be displayed based on the last sub title used The suggestion is fully editable It can also be edited on the chart itself using MS Excel chart editing facilities The Sub title combo box also stores the last four sub title entries used lil Style a suggested chart style based on the data to be charted will be displayed The Style combo box stores other suitable chart styles for selection by the user if required IV X Axes Label a suggested label based on the first data results row will be displayed The suggestion is fully editable shown above In the situation of a chart requiring two X axes labels editing of the label can be done on the chart itself using MS Excel chart editing facilities V Y Axes Label a suggested label based on the first data results row will be displayed The suggestion is fully editable shown above In the situation of a chart requiring two Y axes labels editing of the label can be done on the chart itself using MS Excel chart editing facilities 5 Click on the OK button and the Chart with Excel will be generated and displayed as specified by the Chart options Using the example results shown in 1 1 above and the suggested chart options shown in 4 above the following chart is produced on Sheet 2 of the Workbook The data results appear on Sheet 1 EJ Microsoft Excel Book1 Miel File Edit View Insert Format Tools Data Window Help Type a question for help X ISGHBGIEG RIT Hs aA FI CA
97. button will become enabled when any of these changes is made Click on OK and the edited Batch of Cases information will be saved to the Database and displayed in the Stored Batches of Cases listview of the Batch Management form Noble Soft Systems Pty Ltd 2004 09 section seven 1 ANSWER TIMES Results Section Seven ANSWER TIMES Results This Section introduces the user to the Results Parameters used in ANSWER TIMES to present the results of a model run or Case It then takes the user through the facilities for viewing the results of a TIMES Case 7 1 ANSWER TIMES Results Parameters The results typically determined by a TIMES model run include 1 The activity and capacity level for each process in each time period 2 The level of new capacity for each process developed in each time period 3 A full range of energy prices such as the price of electricity by season and time of day the price of gas the price of energy provided by renewable technologies 4 The emission levels for each process and the total energy system in each time period In ANSWER TIMES there are currently only a limited number of Results Parameters only a few of which represent the aggregation of other lower level results parameters This contrasts with ANSWER MARKAL where there are an extensive set of Results Parameters including about 20 Results Tables containing aggregated Results Parameters 7 2 Viewing a Case s results The results
98. color is an indicator that the values in such cells may not be edited Background Color Edit default is white The color given to cells that are in the editable scenario when editing Data This color is an indicator that the values in such cells may be edited see section 5 4 2 1 Background Color Add Row default is light blue The color given to all cells in the Add Row except those that are comboboxes and contain either a single Item or an empty Item list Background Color Add Row Single Item default is dark blue Noble Soft Systems Pty Ltd 2004 09 section three 40 ANSWER s Data Results Screen The color given to all cells in the Add Row that are comboboxes and that contain a single Item This color is an indicator to the user that there is no point in dropping down the combobox since it contains just a single Item Background Color Add Row Empty List default is light red The color given to a cell in the Add Row that is a combobox and where the combobox Item list is empty That is given the choices already made in comboboxes to the left of this one together with any Filter that may be applied it is not possible to proceed further This color is an indicator to the user that there is no point in dropping down the combobox since its Item list is empty Background Color Filter Active default is bright yellow The color given to all cells when browsing Data Results and when a Filter i
99. conjunction with a lower bound and or an upper bound e A fixed bound takes precedence over any lower bound or upper bound that may be specified for a given parameter instance Where a fixed bound is specified the resultant effect in the model that is generated by the TIMES GAMS code is that both the lower bound and upper bound for the variable in a given time period if a TS parameter are set to the data value specified for the fixed bound in that time period if a TS parameter Handling of UC__RHSnnn Parameters in ANSWER TIMES In TIMES there are a number of UC__RHSnnn Parameters that are used to specify the type and right hand side RHS for assorted types of User Defined Constraints For each type of User Defined Constraint A bound of LO fora UC__ RHSnnn Parameter specifies a gt User Defined Constraint A bound of FX fora UC__ RHSnnn Parameter specifies an User Defined Constraint A bound of UP fora UC__ RHSnnn Parameter specifies a lt User Defined Constraint The treatment of the UC__RHSnnn Parameters is very similar to the treatment of Parameters that are Bounds 1 Specifying an explicit zero in a UC__ RHSnnn data field has a very different effect from leaving the data field blank specifying an explicit zero generates a Constraint in which the RHS is zero whereas leaving a blank causes no Constraint to be generated However this behaviour applies not only for a bound of FX or a bound of UP but also for a bound of LO
100. criteria are ORed For example suppose that the Time Series Filter contains filtering criteria in the Look for row and in the following or row as follows Y TS and TID Filter OF x Specified Filter lt Filter Deleleted Name lt New Filter gt X Delete Description o Row Comparison Filter Show All Rows Time Series Filter Scenario Parameter Region Region2 Process Item2 Item tem Item Item ACT_BND Between E00 And E99 FLO_DELIV 4 Time Independent Filter Scenario Parameter Region Region Process Commodity tema tem tem item Look torf o Clear TS Clear TID Copy TS gt To Save Save amp Apply eta Cancel The composite row criteria for the Look for row obtained by ANDing the criteria for individual cells becomes Parameter ACT BND AND Process Between E00 And E99 while the composite row criteria for the or row also obtained by ANDing the criteria for individual cells becomes Parameter FLO _DELIV AND Process Like E Any Time Series Parameter instance that satisfies either the Look for composite row criteria OR the or composite row criteria will be displayed in the Time Series spread Noble Soft Systems Pty Ltd 2004 09 section three 37 ANSWER s Data Results Screen 3 8 The TradeProcess Tab The TradeProcess tab displays Bilateral and Market Trade Processes and their associated Data R
101. e Identifying the potential impacts of the introduction or removal of taxes and subsidies on energy production energy consumption and energy using technologies e Identifying the potential role of improved technologies such as clean coal technologies renewable technologies and more energy efficient technologies Noble Soft Systems Pty Ltd 2004 09 sectionone 2 What is ANSWER TIMES an Overview 1 1 3 TIMES input requirements To determine the least cost configuration of the energy system the user must detail in TIMES both the items that constitute the energy system and the technical and cost data that are necessary to adequately characterise each item The user must also detail all possible constraints on the system such as availability of fuels emission limits and load constraints TIMES like other optimisation models requires comprehensive and detailed data on the energy system in order to deliver useful results To be an effective analytical tool users must be aware that considerable time and effort is required to develop a comprehensive database of the energy system to be modelled However once the database is adequately populated with the data necessary for the modelling tasks it is then available for ongoing policy analysis with only limited update and maintenance 1 2 ANSWER TIMES 1 2 1 What is ANSWER TIMES ANSWER TIMES is a Windows interface to the TIMES family of energy system models developed using Microsoft
102. el Region Management Batch Management Data Management Scenarios Selected Scenarios Name Description Created Modified gt Name Description Modified Copy Delete Edit Results Management Cases Run Model jrowse Data Edit Data Selected Cases ases Name Description Scenario Created _ gt Name Description Created Import View LST Delete Edit 2 1 2 Exiting ANSWER To exit ANSWER 1 Double click on the ANSWER icon i in the top left corner of the Home Screen or click on File in the menu bar and choose Exit in the drop menu Noble Soft Systems Pty Ltd 2004 09 1 sectiontwo 2 Starting ANSWER and the ANSWER Home Screen 2 2 The ANSWER Help menu In ANSWER TIMES invoking Help from the menu bar displays the following options Utopia_Lumpylnvestment ANSWER TIMES Energy Modelling File Edit View Run Tools Functions Help al rr x T v6 TIMES5 User Manual ela a HY ANSWER Y TIMES Load Templates Manual Data Hanagement Scenarios About ANSWER Descripti a Status of Current Database DELETED Items deleted from Data 2 2 1 Help ANSWERv6 TIMES User Manual This Help Menu option allows the user to bring up PDF of the ANSWERv6 TIMES User Manual provided that the file ANSWERv6 TIMES User Manual pdf is located in folder C AnswerTIMESv6 UserManuals 2 2 2 Help About ANSWER This Help
103. facility This may or may not reveal the cause of the infeasibility since the cause of some infeasibilities can be very difficult to determine e Some sophisticated LP solvers have associated infeasibility finders that may be useful in determining the cause of an infeasibility 6 2 5 1 2 Run Model status of Unbounded For version 2 9 0 of the TIMES GAMS code it is extremely unlikely that the model being solved will have an unbounded solution The text below is retained from the ANSWER MARKAL User Manual for ease of subsequent modification in case subsequent versions of the TIMES GAMS code have changes introduced such that unbounded solutions become more likely Text and screen snapshot taken from the ANSWER MARKAL User Manual If the model being solved has an unbounded solution i e if there are feasible solutions which will make the objective function as small as we wish remember TIMES is a cost minimizing model then at the end of the GAMS run ANSWER will display a message box that contains the line Model status Unbounded Model Run and Automatic Import of Results i Finished GAMS run UMBENDHCO LD Model status Unbounded Error detected Errorisi in LP OPTIMIZATION An unbounded solution is less common than an infeasibility and is generally due to Noble Soft Systems Pty Ltd 2004 09 section six 27 Running the Model l The level of exports imports and or production of an energy carrier having not b
104. filter that is currently specified click on the No button In the above example all 132 Items in the Items listview will be selected 3 9 3 2 Maximum Items to Select without Prompt for Multi select of Items by the user When multi select of Items by the user other than by use of Select All Items would result in a large number of Items being selected in the Items display a prompt is displayed inviting the user to make a new multi select to reduce the number of selected Items Noble Soft Systems Pty Ltd 2004 09 section three 43 ANSWER s Data Results Screen Maximum Items to Select without Prompt Yalue Exceeded Ed Current Multi Select for the Items listview will result in 129 Items being selected we This exceeds the Maxinum Items to Select without Prompt value of 100 Items To alter this value of 100 invoke Tools Options From the menu bar Would you like to make a new multi select for the Items listview to reduce the number of Items and then try again In the above example your current multi select would result in 129 Items being selected and the Maximum Items to Select without Prompt value has been set at 100 down from the default value of 500 so the prompt is displayed If the Maximum Items to Select without Prompt value had been gt 129 then the prompt would not have been displayed When the above prompt appears 1 To change your current multi select click on the Yes butto
105. following example the Commodity tab has been selected 2 Select the Item that is to be edited by clicking on the Item s name in the Items display 3 Click on the Edit button in the Item Management sub region or click on Edit in the menu bar and choose Edit Item in the drop menu 4 An Edit Commodity dialogue box shown below will appear E Edit Commodity GSL in Region UTOPIA in scenario BASE Edit NameDescription for Commodity GSL in Region UTOPIA of change Set Memberships Units if necessary or edit Comment ltem Information Scenario FASE Base scenario for Utopia model Name Desc fas UTOPIA Gasoline Set Memberships E Other OTH E Residential RES Annual Time Slice Level E Transportation TRN Seasonal Time Slice Level 7 Energy Carrier NRG O Weekly Time Slice Level yer Coneoivaton CONSA Day Night Time Slice Level H FS Electricity ELC E Fossil FOSSIL E High Temperature Heat HTHEAT B Limited Renewable LIMAENEW B Low Temperature Heat LTHEAT E Nuclear NUCLA HE Synthetic SYNTH LE Unlimited Renewable FRERE NE J Environmental Indicator EN EL Greenhouse Gas GHG Commodity Units f petajoules Change Units Noble Soft Systems Pty Ltd 2004 09 section five 10 Data entry and editing 5 10 5 2 5 2 If changes are required to the Item s Name and or Description enter the new Name and or Description If changes are required to the Set Membersh
106. information regarding the import of each Case s results is written to the file BatchRunSummary log When the import of results has finished an appropriate message is written to the Progress frame of the Batch Run form and if the Automatically Repair checkbox was not checked a message box appears as follows Noble Soft Systems Pty Ltd 2004 09 section six 33 Running the Model Progress 444 Finished Automatic Import of Results for batch of 3 runs at 6 02 2009 12 45 31 AH Finished Batch Run involving 3 GAMS runs Do you wish bo see the BatchRunsSummary logfile Automatically Repair and Compact Database After Import Aun Batch If the Automatically Repair and Compact Database After Import checkbox was also checked then when the import of results has finished the Batch Run form is closed the database is repaired and compacted and the following message box appears Automatic Repair and Compact of the Database was carried out Do you wish to see the BatchRunSummary logfile 2 Finished Batch Run involving 3 GAMS runs 17 Click on the Yes button to display the BatchRunSummary log file in Wordpad See below If for any run in the batch the BatchRunSummary log file indicates a Model status that is not one of Optimal Locally Optimal or Integer solution this is an indication of a data omission or error for that particular run whose source will need to be investigated
107. iy ed Ss IS A ed Pe Reply with changes End Review g A j fe Case 1 Case IParameter Units Region Process TimeSlice 1990 2 BASEUTOP VAR_LACT L PJ UTOPIA E01 FAD 1 1 3 BASEUTOP VAR_ACT L PJ UTOPIA E01 FAN 0 03 3 46 4 BASEUTOP VAR_LACT L PJ UTOPIA E01 SPD 0 19 0 83 5 BASEUTOP WAR ACT L PJ UTOPIA E01 SPN 0 21 0 66 6 BASEUTOP VAR_ACT L PJ UTOPIA E01 SUD 0 26 0 45 7 BASEUTOF VAR_LACT L PJ UTOPIA E01 SLIN O05 0 1 8 BASEUTOF VAR_LACT L PJ UTOPIA E01 VID 1 36 4 59 Noble Soft Systems Pty Ltd 2004 09 section nine 1 Reference Energy System Graphics Section Nine Reference Energy System Graphics This Section introduces the user to ANSWER s Reference Energy System RES graphics facility ANSWER s Reference Energy System RES facility provides the user with simplified graphics of the model s system For each Process or Commodity Item the RES provides a diagrammatic representation of the commodity relationships associated with that Item RES graphics is a valuable tool for visualising the often numerous and complex flows in the energy system The RES Graphic can be invoked from either the Commodity tab or Process tab in the Data Results Screen The RES Graphic is always based on commodity flow input output data for a set of Scenarios where the generic word commodity indicates energy carrier or material or end use demand or emission The set of Scenarios is determined by whether the RES facility is i
108. message box will be displayed confirming that the Cases from the Batch Run form have been Saved and after clicking on the OK button for this message box you will be returned to the Batch Run form 8c Suppose that you are in situation c and click on the Save button The Save Batch of Cases dialogue box will appear with Name Description and Comment matching whatever happens to be the currently selected Batch this will be Batch EMIS LIMIT CASES CO2 see screen snapshot at 6 above again with the Cases comprising this Batch listview populated with the Cases from the Batch Run form Simply enter the desired Name in the Name textbox then tab to the Description textbox and enter the desired Description and likewise for any Comment and click on the OK button Again a message box will be displayed confirming that the Cases from the Batch Run form have been Saved and after clicking on the OK button for this message box you will be returned to the Batch Run form 9 Note that after you click on the Save Batch button on the Batch Run form to bring up the Batch Management form and before you click on the Save button it is allowable to use Noble Soft Systems Pty Ltd 2004 09 section six 38 Running the Model the New Copy Delete Edit buttons on the Batch Management form to modify the currently stored Batches of Cases 6 3 3 Using the Load Batch button The Load Batch button allows
109. most one checkbox may be checked in any row and at most one checkbox may be checked in any column Noble Soft Systems Pty Ltd 2004 09 section sixteen 17 Handling of Trade Processes in ANSWER TIMES All Links Bi Directional Checkbox Links Bi Directional This checkbox is provided to simplify the specification of a Trade Matrix in which all trade links are to be bi directional When this checkbox is checked M All Links Bi Directional checking a checkbox e g checking the REG1 REG2 checkbox automatically causes the reverse direction checkbox e g REG2 REG1 checkbox to be checked and likewise unchecking a checkbox e g unchecking the REG1 REG2 checkbox automatically causes the reverse direction checkbox e g REG2 REG1 checkbox to be unchecked Noble Soft Systems Pty Ltd 2004 09 appendix one 1 Areas where ANSWER TIMES differs from the TIMES documentation Appendix One Areas where ANSWER TIMES differs from the TIMES documentation There are just a few areas where ANSWER TIMES differs from the TIMES documentation e Currently ANSWER TIMES does not support advanced TIMES model variants such as TIMES MACRO or Stochastic TIMES e Some multi dimensional TIMES sets are represented as TID parameters with the TID parameter having the same name as the corresponding TIMES set and with Value 1 e ANSWER TIMES does not have a TID parameter corresponding to the TIMES set PRC_CG commodity groups for a process Specifica
110. not known to the ANSWER database and then attempts Import Case This will result in one or more Import Case errors occurring where some of the records in the ANT file are unable to be imported into the ANSWER database When an Import Case error occurs 1 A message box will appear advising the number of records that have been imported and the number that have not been able to be imported and giving the user the option of viewing the error log Model Run and Automatic Import of Results Ea es Finished GAMS run ETL1 Jj Model status Integer solution GAMS run ended REGIONI Records imported 404 not imported 9 View error log filets Click on the Yes button An error log will appear and will list all of the results records that could not be imported along with the reason that each record could not be imported The generic error message Could not find GAMS parameter in the error log indicates that the ANSWER database is not aware of some of the GAMS TIMES Results Parameters that are being created in the lt Casename gt ANT file If you encounter such errors and are unable to resolve them by applying ANSWER s File Update System Tables from Excel facility to your database s using the most recently distributed UpdateAnsTimesSysTables XLS please contact Ken Noble of Noble Soft Systems noblesoft netspeed com au Noble Soft Systems Pty Ltd 2004 09 section six 29 Running the Model 6 3 Batch R
111. o B Weight MAT_WT E Financial Indicator FIN Commodity Units petajoules Change Units 5 Click on a leaf node in the Set Membership tree view to display the current default units associated with a Commodity that has this Set Membership For example above the current default unit of petajoules associated with Energy Carriers NRG is displayed Noble Soft Systems Pty Ltd 2004 09 section four 8 Setting up Units in ANSWER To change the current default units click on the Change Units button Change Units and the 6 default units comboboxes will become enabled T Click on the required combo box and choose an appropriate allowable unit If the appropriate allowable unit is not listed exit this facility and re specify allowable units as shown in Section 4 2 2 Specifying a new allowable Unit 8 Having clicked on the appropriate allowable unit click on the OK button now enabled and the new default unit s will be written to the Database While each Edit Default Unit s for dialogue box will vary marginally with the Component concerned their operation is identical Below the Edit Default Unit s for Process dialogue box is shown Specify Set Memberships for the Process subset whose Default Unit s pou wish to edit k Click on Change Units choose the new Default Unit s and click OF Set Memberships and Units Set Memberships Process PAC B Combined Heat amp Power CH
112. of Uranium IMPGSL1 Import of Gasoline New Copy Delete Edt IMPHCOT Import of Hard Coal IMPOIL Import of Crude p EE CAE subset Parameters 0 Trade Process Specific 3 TID data Scenario Parameter Region Region Process Commodity Itema CommGr item5 tems IE 1990 200 2 PASE IRE PRICE 2 UTOPIA IMPEXP IMPDSL1 DSL ANNUAL IMP f o 100000 10 0000 1 ee eee eee Scenario Parameter Region Region2 Process Commodity Item3___ Item Item Value Pease PAC_ACTUNT 2 IMPEXP iMPoSLI pse doo BASE PACACTUNT 2 UTOPIA IMPOSLT pse ooo E BAsE PAC_CAPACT 2 IMPEXP imposi eooo ooo o do f f aooo BASE PAC_CAPacT_ 2 UTOPIA iMmPosLi Jeo oo ooo oo d d aoo BASE TOPIRE 2 JIMPEXP UTOPIA IMPOSLT DSL p ho DSL ee d e ee o The Data Parameters that are displayed make it clear that IMPDSL1 involves trade between just two regions IMPEXP and UTOPIA The single TOP_IRE parameter instance makes it clear that the Trade Process IMPDSL1 involves the import of DSL from region IMPEXP into region UTOPIA 3 8 3 TS and TID Filter on the TradeProcess Tab The operation of the TS and TID Filter is the same on the TradeProcess tab as for other tabs In particular it may be useful to place filtering criteria in the Region or Region2 columns Noble Soft Systems Pty Ltd 2004 09 section three 38 ANSWER s Data Results Screen 3 9 Tools Options The
113. of the TS Data Parameter row must contain the numeric values for the parameter instance in each of the Data Time Periods e Note that null may be used in a cell to indicate a null value As an alternative to putting null in a cell the cell may simply be left empty Any Item referenced in the Item1 ltem6 positions must either already exist in the ANSWER database into which the data is being imported or must be specified in one of the Item Data worksheets of the Excel file That is the combination of the Item name in the Item1 ltem6 position and the Region name for this worksheet as specified in cell B1 must either already exist in the ANSWER database or must be specified in one of the Item Data worksheets of the Excel file Item Comment Column after last numeric value Column The cell in the column after the last numeric value column of the TS Data Parameter row may contain a Comment for the TS Data Parameter Specification of a Comment is optional and the cell after the last numeric value cell may be left empty 2 10 4 4 Time Independent Data Format TID DATA A worksheet that contains TID DATA in cell A1 is assumed to contain Time Independent data there may be several such worksheets in the Excel file Cell B1 of each TID DATA worksheet must contain a single Region name For each instance of a Time Independent Data Parameter being specified there must be a single row in the following format specifying Parameter Item1 Item2 Item3 I
114. of the user to choose the units to be used in the Database for costs flows and levels of energy carriers levels of end use demands levels of emissions and activity and capacity levels of processes However given the volume and variety e g economic cost technical energy of data ina TIMES Database it is important that the user approach the specification of units in a disciplined and consistent manner Similarly to ensure model results are not meaningless and to encourage national and regional comparability the units must be consistent and common for all Database Items occurring in a particular relation In practice only a handful of different units is necessary to cover all Items of an energy system The following set of units for TIMES should be used where possible eee ltem Description Abbreviation Currency e g constant 2000 million US dollars Energy Carrier End use Demand except Transport Passenger Transport End use Demand Freight Transport End use Demand Emissions Process activity except Transport Passenger Transport Demand Process activity Freight Transport Demand Process activity Conversion Process capacity Demand Process capacity except Transport Passenger Transport Demand Process capacity Freight Transport Demand Process capacity Noble Soft Systems Pty Ltd 2004 09 petajoules Ene EPEE ENEA A AE billion passenger kilometres million tonnes contained C
115. or click on the required Database file name and click on the Open button 3 The Database and its Scenarios and Cases will be loaded into ANSWER 4 The library of Scenarios and Cases in the Database will be displayed respectively in the Scenarios display and the Cases display on the Home Screen The BASE Scenario will also be displayed in the Selected Scenarios display 2 4 3 To close a Database Closing a Database 1 Click on File in the menu bar and choose Close Database in the drop menu 2 The Database will then close and be removed from the Home Screen Noble Soft Systems Pty Ltd 2004 09 sectiontwo 9 Starting ANSWER and the ANSWER Home Screen 2 5 Region Management By default the Database created by use of the New Database facility contains a single internal Region with Name REGION 1 and Description Initial internal region Alternatively the user may choose to create a new Database that does not contain an initial internal region Note that a new ANSWER TIMES Database always contains the GLOBAL region this is a special region that ANSWER TIMES uses to represent TIMES parameters that do not have a region argument such as UC_RHS Sum over Regions Periods TimeSlices The Region Management facility allows the user to 1 View the Names and Descriptions of existing Regions and see whether a Region is Internal or External 2 Create a new Region 3 Delete an existing Region 4 Edit the Name and or De
116. prompting Under each of these user options an Excel file that is error free is imported with no prompting of the user Where the options differ is in the way that Excel files that do contain errors are handled 2 10 3 4 1 Prompt user to decide whether to Import for each Excel File that has errors radio button For each Excel file that has errors the user will be prompted to view a log file that details the nature of the errors that have been detected before then being prompted to decide whether or not to proceed with the import This user option provides control of the import process at the individual Excel file level but may require considerable user intervention and hence may negate some of the benefits of importing multiple Excel files as compared with importing Excel files one at a time Noble Soft Systems Pty Ltd 2004 09 sectiontwo 44 Starting ANSWER and the ANSWER Home Screen When importing a single Excel file this is the recommended option since it provides the user with maximum control of the import process 2 10 3 4 2 Import only from Excel Files that are error free without prompting radio button Only Excel files that are completely error free are imported If an Excel file contains any errors then none of the records in that file is imported This user option does not require any user intervention 2 10 3 4 3 Import error free records from all Excel Files without prompting radio button 2 10 4
117. reboot the PC On PCs running older operating systems edit the AUTOEXEC BAT file in directory C to include the GAMS installation directory in the path and reboot the PC Before attempting Run Model from ANSWER be sure to test your GAMS installation by opening an MS DOS Window changing to some directory such as C TEMP other than the GAMS installation directory and typing L gamslib trnsport il gams trnsport You should get an optimal solution value of 153 675 Note that you cannot properly test your GAMS installation unless you carry out the gamslib trnsport and gams trnsport commands in a directory which differs from the GAMS installation directory 1 4 4 Testing the ANSWER TIMES installation To test that ANSWER has been correctly installed 1 From the Start button choose Programs and then choose AnswerTIMESv6 This should bring up the ANSWER Home Screen including empty Data Management and Results Management regions 2 Click on the Open Database toolbar button or choose File Open Database from the menu bar This will take you into the Answer Databases folder 3 Click on one of the demonstration ANSWER databases mdb s to highlight it and then click on Open to load this database into ANSWER 4 Click on the BASE icon in the Selected Scenarios display and then click on the Run Model button 5 Change the Case Name to BASETEST uncheck the Import Results Automatically checkbox and t
118. section 15 Handling of Processes in ANSWER TIMES A2 2 6 TradeProcess Tab New Edit Form On the TradeProcess tab if you click on the New or Edit buttons in the Item Management frame the form that appears has Traded Commodities and Trade Matrix tabs that allows you to specify the Traded Commodities and Trade Matrix of Export and Import Commodities for Regions between which Trade occurs Where the Commodities being traded have the Same Commodity Name in All Regions these two tabs might appear as follows Noble Soft Systems Pty Ltd 2004 09 appendix two 5 Main ANSWER TIMES Interface Differences from ANSWER MARKAL W Edit Trade Process BITRD SAME in scenario TRD DEMO Oy x Edit NameDescrption for Trade Process BITAD SAME Or change Set Memberships or Units Or use Traded Commodities and or Trade Matrix tabs to Se change Traded Commodities and or Trade Matrixes Item Information Where the Commodity being traded has the Same Name in All Regions a Trade Process may trade a number of different Commodities Specify the Traded Commodities below and then move to the Trade Matrix tab to specify the Trade Matrix for each Traded Commodity Diesel Gazoline k 5 m a E E E m E l m E l l E Add Comm Remove Comm Specity TM Trade Matrs Same as Master Use Add Remove Comm buttons to add remove Traded Commodities Use Commodity combobox to specify the Hame of the Traded Commodity an
119. section fifteen 5 Handling of Processes in ANSWER TIMES 15 2 Copying a Process To create a new Process by copying an existing Process make the Scenario in which you wish to create the new Process the editable Scenario move to the Process tab and select the Process that you wish to copy and click on the Copy button in the Item Management frame to bring up the ANSWER TIMES Copy Process form Copy Process OILREFIN in Region REG4 from scenario BASE to scenario BASE Ww Target scenario BASE is same as origin scenario You must enter new Name and Description for this Process You may change Set Memberships or 1 0 Commodities or PCG or edit Comment o Copy From Move From Scenario BASE Stanford demo Name Desc on TLREFIN REG4 Oil refinery Scenario pasr Stanford demo Name Desc JOILREFIN REG4 z joi refinery F Copy Declaration Only Not Data Set Memberships Units 140 Commodities Set Memberships E Process PRC S amp S Combined Heat amp Power CHP Annual Time Slice Level F Demand Device DMD fF Electric Generation ELE amp Energy PRE haa Se cc ica Extraction TRACT aterial by weight Material by volume PRV L Import Export IRE amp Miscellaneous MISC Z kaat Renewable RENEW I Stockpiling STK I Storage not NST or STK STGTSS Seasonal Time Slice Level C Weekly Time Slice Level C Day Night Time Slice Level Process Ac
120. see the logfile before deciding whether or not bo proceed with the Import Click on the Yes button to examine in Wordpad the error messages that appear in the file ImportDataExcel n log n 1 2 3 in the ANSWER Work folder After examining these messages whether you respond Yes or No or Cancel to the following prompt y Boyou wish to Import Excel File C 4nswerTIMeEsv eans_ wrk TT Wbopia Demo MainData xls A i Click Yes to do the Import Click Wo to cancel the Import Click Cancel to cancel the Import and to abort Further Imports will depend upon the nature and number of the errors Noble Soft Systems Pty Ltd 2004 09 section two 39 Starting ANSWER and the ANSWER Home Screen Responding Yes results in error free records in the current Excel file being imported and allows the import of subsequent Excel files to proceed Responding No cancels the import of the current Excel file and allows the import of subsequent Excel files to proceed e Responding Cancel cancels the import of the current Excel file and also aborts the import of subsequent Excel files For a detailed discussion of the checks that are carried out on data in the Excel import file and of the error messages that may be encountered see section 2 10 5 Checking of Data in the Excel Import File and Log File Errors 13 At the end of the Import Model Data from Excel process where multiple Excel files have been
121. specified for the Process Component 4 3 1 Reviewing and editing default Units for each Component Note that a change to the Component s default unit s will only be applied to new data having the same Set Membership i e no existing data unit specification will be changed This must be done individually by the user see Section 4 4 Specifying and editing Units for the individual Database Items To review or edit the default units for each Component 1 Ensure that you are editing the BASE scenario You may be on the Home Screen or the Data Results Screen 2 If you are on the Data Results Screen choose the required Component tab e g the Commodity tab was selected below 3 If you are on the Home Screen click on Edit in the menu bar click on Unit Defaults and choose the required Component e g Commodity in the drop menu If you are on the Data Results Screen click on Edit in the menu bar and choose Unit Defaults in the drop menu 4 The Edit Default Unit s for Commodity dialogue box shown below will appear E Edit Default Unit s for Commodity x Specity Set Memberships for the Commodity subset whose Default Unit s you wish to edit Click on Change Units choose the new Default Unit s and click OF Set Memberships and Units Set Memberships 3 Commodity COM ES Demand for Energy Services DEM fete Energy Carrier NAG B Environmental Indicator ENW E Material MAT B Volume MAT_ OL
122. the Import button below the Cases display in the standard fashion to Import the results for each successfully run Case into ANSWER 19 Batch run details are retained in memory Thus provided that ANSWER remains open and with the same database loaded the next time the user clicks the Batch Run button the listview on the Batch Run form will contain the same runs as appeared when the user last clicked on either the Run Batch or Close button However there is a caveat if the user clicks on the Run Batch button and with the Automatically Repair and Compact Database After Import checkbox checked the batch run details are not retained 6 3 2 Using the Save Batch button The Save Batch button allows the user who has built up a list of Cases on the Batch Run form to save this Batch inside the ANSWER database with a Name for subsequent easy recall to the Batch Run form by use of the Load Batch button See section 6 3 3 below and also section 6 4 for details of the Batch Management facility Suppose that the Cases on the Batch Run form are as follows i Batch Run Mikl Ei Cases Comprising Batch Run Description Scenarios Add a BASEBOTH Base scenario for Utopia Demo model BASE ee amp LIMRENEW Renewable Limit Run BASE LIMAEN 1 APRS Cross Region User Defined Constraint BASE REG UC Remove All U D Load Batch Save Batch eel To save the list of Cases on the Batch Run form to the ANSWER database
123. the Yes button in the message box e Where the Process being deleted has an associated true Commodity Group in the editable Scenario ANSWER TIMES also deletes this true Commodity Group from the editable Scenario e Soin the above example if Process REFINERY in region REGS has an associated true Commodity Group REFINERY G in region REGS in the editable Scenario BASE then ANSWER TIMES will delete REFINERY G in region REG5 from scenario BASE and also delete all parameters involving REFINERY G in region REGS from scenario BASE Noble Soft Systems Pty Ltd 2004 09 section fifteen 8 Handling of Processes in ANSWER TIMES 15 4 Editing a Process To edit an existing Process make the Scenario in which the Process exists the editable Scenario move to the Process tab and select the Process for example select the Process OILREFIN in region REGS StanfordDemoNo 2007 ANSWER TIMES Energy Modelling OF x File Edit View Run Tools Functions Help a E JEREJ fl al Edit Data Regions Filter Items An F Scenarios Al Global TimeSlice Commodity CommGroup Process TradeProcess Constraint Parameter Items Filter Lae Sets C _ Processes PRC Sets Filter Named Filter fen OILREFIN REG Dil nan Sets OILREFIN REG3 Oil refinery OILREFIN REG4 Oil refinery ew Copy Delete Edt 2 h ie teal Select All Items Move RE s Pee am i Ce a eo i Er Ne ea e
124. the Batch Management form 6 4 4 Deleting a Batch of Cases To delete a Batch of Cases 1 2 3 4 Invoke the Batch Management facility to bring up the Batch Management form In the Stored Batches of Cases listview highlight the Batch of Cases that is to be deleted Click on the Delete button A Confirm Deletion of stored Batch of Cases information box will be displayed Confirm Deletion of Batch of Cases UTOPI4 DEMO CASES P Confirm deletion of the stored Batch of Cases UTOPIA DEMO CASES Cancel Click on OK and the Batch of Cases will be deleted from the Database The Batch of Cases will also be deleted from the Stored Batches of Cases listview of the Batch Management form 6 4 5 Editing a Batch of Cases To edit the Name or Description or Comment or change the Cases comprising a Batch of Cases or change the Case order 1 Ogee Invoke the Batch Management facility to bring up the Batch Management form In the Stored Batches of Cases listview highlight the Batch of Cases that is to be edited Click on the Edit button An Edit Batch form similar to the New Batch form above will appear Change the Name and or Description and or Comment for the Batch of Cases or use the Add or Remove or Remove All buttons to change the Cases comprising the Batch of Cases Or use the Up and Dn buttons to alter the order in which the Cases occur within the Batch The OK
125. to be part of the sum over regions so excluding the _ GLOBAL region specify the User Defined Constraint XREG USRCONSTR along with associated coefficients chosen from UC_ACT UC_CAP etc in the normal way That is create it by clicking on the New button in the Item Management frame and specifying Name XREG USRCONSTR Region and Description ensuring that under Set By Pernod Sum over Regions Time Slices UCT leak node ie calecied Memberships the and then clicking on OK Then use the AddRow to specify the associated coefficients chosen from UC_ACT UC_CAP etc If Summing over just two regions DEMO and UTOPIA we would create Constraint XREG USRCONSTR along with associated coefficients for each of the regions DEMO and UTOPIA 2 On the Constraint tab specify the User Defined Constraint XREG USRCONSTR for the _GLOBAL region by clicking on the New button in the Item Management frame and specifying Name XREG USRCONSTR Region GLOBAL and Description ensuring that under Set Memberships the same HY Ferod Sum over Regions Time Slices UCT leaf node is selected as at step 1 and then clicking on OK For a GLOBAL region Constraint with these Set Memberships only one TS data parameter is allowed namely UC__RHST that specifies the RHS by period and no TID data parameter is allowed and hence the TS and TID data spreads will appear as follows Noble Soft Systems Pty Ltd 2004 09 section el
126. undo this deletion of all information From the BASE Scenario OK If the user clicks on the OK button to confirm the deletion of all information in the target scenario then before importing from the Excel file all information in the target scenario is deleted for region s being imported with a few exceptions that are summarised in the message that you get if you click on the Details button to the right of this radio button Details re Before Import Delete All Information in the Target Scenario for Region s being Imported E3 Before importing information From the Excel File we delete all target scenario information declarations and TS TID data For region s being imported except as Follows 1 IF the target scenario is the BASE scenario we do not delete Timeslice Items nor a Few other Items such as LOJFSIUPS that are needed For AMSER to Function 2 We do not delete Global TS and TID data parameters 2 10 3 4 Alternative options to control level of user intervention if ANSWER detects errors in any of the Excel Files being imported Three alternative user options are available to control whether user intervention will be asked for if ANSWER detects errors in any of the Excel Files being imported f Prompt user to decide whether to Import for each Excel File that has errors Import only from Excel Files that are error free without prompting Import error free records from all Excel Files without
127. user supplied annual percentage increase S is used to determine the common ratio between values in adjacent columns and values anew 2 anew N are determined such that the numbers a 1 anew 2 anew N form a geometric progression assuming equally spaced Data Time Periods The common ratio R between values in adjacent columns is determined as R 1 S 100 r where NYRSPER is the number of years in each time period and we have anew 1 a 1 anew n a 1 R for n 2 N Mode 1 To invoke the Geometric Extrapolate function 1 Enter the data into the first data field in the series 2 Click on the left mouse key and highlight the required consecutive data fields including the first data field Scenario Parameter Region Com Com Time Bou iE f 1990 2000 ano 2020 BASE COM_PROJ UTOPIA RH f po 0 3 Press the F7 key or click on Functions in the menu bar and choose Geometric Extrapolate in the drop menu 4 Enter the required annual percentage increase in the Geometric Extrapolate dialogue box shown below and click OK Noble Soft Systems Pty Ltd 2004 09 section five 33 Data entry and editing Geometric Extrapolate Enter annual percentage increase to apply Cancel 5 The calculated data is displayed in the Parameter spread and immediately saved to the Database Scenario Parameter Region Com Com Time Bou iE 1990 2000 amo 2020
128. 0 2000 2010 2020 P BASE COM_PROW JUTOPIA RH db O 25 0000 Rag 32 5000 Mode 2 The linear extrapolate function assumes that the currently active field is numbered 2 with the immediately preceding field numbered 1 Then linear extrapolate is carried out according to the formula above To invoke the Linear Extrapolate function 1 Enter the data into the first and second data fields in the series Do not press the Tab or Enter key after entering data into the second data field Scenario Parameter _ Region Com Com Time Bou iE 1990 2000 2010 2020 BASE COM_PROJ UTOPIA RH p 0 26 0000 27 5000 2 Press the F4 key 3 The calculated data is displayed in the Parameter spread and immediately saved to the Database Scenario Parameter _ Region Com Com Time Bou iE 1990 2000 2010 2020 BASE COM_PROJ UTOPIA RH f f 0 25 0000 5 4 4 4 Geometric interpolate F5 Geometric interpolation is carried out between the value a 1 in field 1 and the value a N in field N overwriting any values that may already be present in fields 2 N 1 Geometric interpolation means the determination of values anew 2 anew N 1 such that the numbers a 1 anew 2 anew N 1 a N form a geometric progression assuming equally spaced Data Time Periods Thus the common ratio R between values in adjacent fields is given by R a Ny a 1 J and we have anew 1 a 1
129. 00 5 0000 5 0000 5 0000 BASE NCAP TUFE 2 REGS REFINERY e 8 a Scenario Parameter _ Region Process Commodity Item3 Item Year Value BASE PRC_LACTUNT 2 REG5 REFINERY REFINERYG fp 1 PU JBASE PRC_CAPACT 2 REG5 REFINERY dbo oo o bo fp 100 BASE TOPIN___ M PREG5S REFINERY oL do o o o o ooo o eooo bo oo PASE TOP OUT 2 REGS REFINERY DSL ho o o o o bo o o bo So 1 BASE TOPOUT 2 REGS REFINERY GSL bo o o bho o bho do y 1 E ee eee eee ee eee Database C AnswerlIMESve 4newer Databases StantordD ema av2007 mi Edit Scenario BASE vt Noble Soft Systems Pty Ltd 2004 09 section fifteen 10 Handling of Processes in ANSWER TIMES 15 4 4 Note that the OILREFIN G to REFINERY G changes are applied not only to the PRC_ACTUNT parameter instance but also to the FLO FUNC and FLO_SHAR parameter instances in the TS data spread Also on the CommGroup tab OILREFIN G is renamed to REFINERY G for region REGS as shown in the following screen snapshot OILREFIN G FEG4 PCG for OILREFIN Oil refinery Mew Copy Delete Edit HJ REFINER Y G REGS PCG for REFINER Oil refinery Select Alt hi PES RHEAT REGI Residential heating _SelectAlltems a Hove ms Subset Parameters o Commodity Group rro data z Scenario Parameter Region Commodity CommGroup TimeSlice Value BASE COMGMAP 2 REG5 DSL REFINERY G 1 BASE COM GMAP 7 REG5S GSL
130. 004 09 section two 31 Starting ANSWER and the ANSWER Home Screen nature of the additional checking that is carried out The import process will be a little more time consuming with Strong Checking activated than if it is not 9 Click on the Import button of the Import Scenario dialogue box 9a If the Name specified in the Import into Scenario combobox is an existing Scenario in the target Database and if the Description for this Scenario matches that in the imp file the Import Scenario process will immediately be carried out data in the imp file will be merged with the already existing data for that Scenario That is the data in the imp file will be imported into the existing Scenario according to the following rules L If an Item in the imp file has both the same Name and the same Data Parameters as an Item in the existing Scenario then the imported Item and its Data Parameters will overwrite the existing Item and its Data Parameters ii If an Item in the imp file has the same Name but some different Data Parameters to an Item in the existing Scenario then those Data Parameters that are additional will be appended to the existing Item and its Data Parameters lil If an Item in the imp file does not exist in the existing Scenario then the Item and its Data Parameters will be copied into the existing Scenario IV Those Items in the existing Scenario that do not exist in the imp file and their Data Parameters will
131. 04 09 section twelve 4 Process Items Filters in ANSWER TIMES 12 2 Process ltems Filters Form The Process Items Filter form allows the user to define powerful Process Item Filters where any of Process Name and or Process Description and or Process Set Membership and or Input Output Commodity can form part of the filter These filters are powerful both because they allow any of Name and or Description and or Set Membership and or Input Output Commodity to be used as filtering criteria and also because they provide for union OR and negation NOT of criteria For users who have strict Naming and or Description conventions within their databases the Name and or Description aspects of these filters will prove valuable in filtering down to the desired subset of processes Even for users whose databases do not have strict Naming and or Description conventions the Set Membership aspects alone will prove valuable since these filters allow the user to specify Set Membership filters that provide for union OR and also for negation NOT The capability to filter down to a subset of processes that have specified Input and or Output Commodities will provide an enhancement that a number of ANSWER users have suggested as desirable The screen snapshot below shows an empty Process Items Filter form Y Sew Process Items Filter Ed Enter Name Description Comment and Specify Filter for New Process tems Filter Mame Description
132. 09 section two 10 Starting ANSWER and the ANSWER Home Screen 2 5 2 Creating a new Region To create a new Region 1 Invoke the Region Management facility to bring up the Region Management dialogue box 2 Click on the New button below the Regions display 3 A New Region dialogue box shown below will appear 4 Enter the Name and Description for the new Region The OK button will then become enabled A Comment can also be added Mew Region Enter name description and optional comment tor the new region and optionally change the Internal External Region setting Mame Description p pa Comment a f ntermal Region C External Region Cancel 5 Ensure that the Internal Region option button is selected if wanting to create an Internal Region or that the Extemal Region option button is selected if wanting to create an External Region and then click on OK and the newly created Region will be saved to the Database It will also be displayed in the Regions display of the Region Management dialogue box 2 5 3 Deleting a Region WARNING Deleting a Region from a Database is a serious step When a Region is deleted all Data and Results involving this Region are deleted permanently from the Database To delete a Region 1 Invoke the Region Management facility to bring up the Region Management dialogue box 2 In the Regions display highlight the Region that is to be deleted 3 Click on
133. 13 6 Run Model Considerations for Rule based Constraints 13 7 Run Model Considerations for Rule based Constraints Fine Points Section Fourteen Handling of TimeSlices in ANSWER TIMES 14 1 Overview 14 1 1 ANSWER TIMES TimeSlice differences from the TIMES documentation 14 2 Creating a New TimeSlice 14 3 Copying a TimeSlice Noble Soft Systems Pty Ltd 2004 09 contents 11 14 4 Deleting a TimeSlice 14 5 Editing a TimeSlice 14 6 TS PARENT TID parameter to specify Parent TimeSlice 14 7 TS ORD _SEASON TS_ORD_WEEKLY TS_ORD_DAYNITE TID parameters to specify Global Ordering of TimeSlices at Each TimeSlice Level 14 8 File menu functions for TimeSlices 14 8 1 File Check Integrity of TimeSlices 14 8 2 File Generate Global Region TimeSlices from Region TimeSlices 14 8 3 File Edit Global TimeSlice Order SET ALL_TS 14 9 Additional Rules where Different Regions have Different TimeSlices 14 9 1 Special Case Editing a TimeSlice where Different Regions have Different TimeSlices but where TimeSlice being Editing occurs in Other Regions Section Fifteen Handling of Processes in ANSWER TIMES 15 1 Creating a New Process 15 1 1 Item Information Set Memberships Units 15 1 2 I O Commodities Primary Commodity Group 15 1 3 When the New Process is saved to the Database 15 2 Copying a Process 15 2 1 Copying a Process with no change to I O Commodities and Commodities comprising PCG 15 2 2 Copying a Process wi
134. 2 Click on Switch Background Color to White This switches the background color from black to white as follows r Reference Energy System REGIONI region based on Data for Selected Scenarios Commodity SUPPLY DIESEL Diesel USE OILCAD Coe FIND SLOOO Fuel Tech Diesel to FINDSL SREFOOO Upstream refinery GASHIL To switch the background color from white to black repeat steps 1 and 2 as follows 1 Click anywhere within the RES graphic using the right hand mouse button and a pop up menu will appear shown below Print Switch Background to Black Increase Color Contrast Refresh w Scroll LHS RHS Together Synchronize Emissions On Commodity RES Close 2 Click on Switch Background Color to Black This switches the background color from white to black Noble Soft Systems Pty Ltd 2004 09 section nine 11 Reference Energy System Graphics 9 2 9 Increase Color Constrast The Increase Color Contrast facility is not currently relevant to ANSWER TIMES since in an ANSWER TIMES RES graphic neither of the colors red nor green is currently used The text below is retained from the ANSWER MARKAL User Manual The Increase Color Contrast facility when invoked allows the user to slightly modify the colors that are used on the RES form so that they may better contrast with the black background e g when projecting the ANSWER RES screen If the Increase Color Contrast facilit
135. 2 The Tool bar The tool bar provides the main operational facilities as one step icons The operation of its facilities will be detailed in subsequent Sections The tool bar also provides comboboxes that determine the screen mode the Items to be displayed and the Parameters to be displayed In addition the Regions Filter button in the tool bar allows the user to select a subset of Regions for which data or results is displayed and so provides a Region filtering facility that applies across all Component tabs 3 3 2 1 Screen mode combobox lf Edit Data mode Browse Data mode and Results mode have been enabled Edit Data the user can switch between modes within the Data Results Screen by clicking Edit Data on the required mode in the Screen mode combobox Data Alternatively the user can click on View in the menu bar and click on Edit a Data Browse Data or Results in the drop menu 3 3 2 2 Items display combobox disabled in Results mode The Items display combobox determines which Items are displayed Items All BASE display Base Scenario Items only tems Modified Modified display Items which occur only in the selected non Base Scenario s tems All and Base Scenario Items whose Parameters have been modified in non Base Items BASE Scenario s All display both BASE and non Base Scenario s Items 3 3 2 3 Parameters spread combobox The Parameters spread combobox determines which Parameters are displaye
136. 2009 02705 24172 Mot Imported To subsequently import the results select the Case in the Cases listview and click on the Import button at the bottom of the Cases listview 6 1 4 9 Run Model Automatic Repair amp Compact after Import checkbox option If you run with the Automatic Repair amp Compact after Import checkbox checked which is only possible if the Import Results Automatically checkbox is checked then when the GAMS run is completed and provided that an optimal solution is obtained so that automatic import of results occurs then Repair and Compact of the database will be initiated After Repair and Compact is completed a message appears confirming that an optimal solution has been obtained that the import of results has occurred and that automatic Repair and Compact has been carried out Model Run and Automatic Import of Results E4 1 Finished GAMS run B amp SEBOTH LD Solve status Optimal G4MS5 run ended S70 records imported Automatic Repair and Compact of the Database was carried out 6 1 5 Run Menu Options for Run Model If you invoke Run on the menu bar you will see that there are a number of menu options Utopia_Lumpylnvestment ANSWER TIMES Energy Modelling File Edit View Run Tools Functions Help Sl gl ee Data Managen Scenarios Edit GEN File Template Check Integrity of TimeSlices _DELETED Generate Global Region TimeSlices from Region TimeSlice
137. 2720 13 48 LUMPYINY Specify Lumpy Investment parameters PRCLDOSCNOAP NL 2008 12 25 10 26 Regions aree 4 To browse the Milestone Years B and E for the model run for this Case click on the Browse Milestone Years button at the middle right of the form 5 To browse the Regions that comprised the model run for this Case click on the Regions button near the bottom right of the form 6 Optionally change the Name and or Description and or Comments for the Case The OK button will be enabled T Click on the OK button and the edited Case will be displayed in the Cases listview on the Home Screen 2 7 7 Moving a Case s between the Cases listview and the Selected Cases listview The Results Management region is split into two displays being the Cases listview and the Selected Cases listview The Cases listview shows all the on line Cases in the current Database The Selected Cases listview shows the Cases that the user has selected for browsing of results To move individual or all Cases from the Cases listview to from the Selected Cases listview and back again use the selection buttons as shown below i Move selected Case in Cases listview to Selected Cases listview T5 Move all Cases in Cases listview to Selected Cases listview g Remove selected Case in Selected Cases listview from Selected Cases listview Eg Remove all Cases from Selected Cases listview Noble Soft Systems Pty Ltd 2004 09
138. 3 1 Status of a Parameter The Data Parameter Information display also shows the compulsory optional illegal status of each Data Parameter and whether the Parameter currently exists for the specified Item The indicators are as follows C Data Parameter exists Existing compulsory Data Parameter Noble Soft Systems Pty Ltd 2004 09 section three 22 ANSWER s Data Results Screen O Optional Data Parameter Existing illegal Data Parameter X Missing compulsory Data Parameter For example C indicates that this compulsory Parameter has been created for the Item the data itself may not be entered An X indicates that this compulsory Parameter has not been created An I indicates that the Parameter is illegal for the Item under its current Set specification ANSWER should not allow the creation of an illegal Parameter If more than one Item is selected in the Items display the Data Results Parameter query button 4 is disabled gt Results Parameters are created by the ANSWER TIMES report generator Consequently the Results Parameter Information display status of indicates that the Results Parameter and its results exists 3 6 3 2 Changing the Status and Properties of a Data Parameter and a Results Parameter A Data Parameter has a number of properties namely the number of decimal places its default value and its compulsory optional status Although these properties are pre set in ANSWER a user may
139. 45 ANSWER s Data Results Screen 1 Bring up the Options dialogue box by clicking on Tools in the menu bar and choosing Options in the drop menu Initially the Invoke Automatically checkbox will be checked and the If Database Size in MB exceeds value will be 512 as indicated below Repair and Compact Current Database WM Invoke Automatically If Database Size in MB exceeds 2 To turn Automatic Invoking of Repair and Compact Current Database off simply uncheck the Invoke Automatically checkbox and then click on the OK button Note that it is recommended that you retain the default setting of checked To subsequently turn Automatic Invoking on bring up the Options dialogue box and check the Invoke Automatically checkbox 3 To change the Database Size of Invoking Repair and Compact Current Database simply alter the value for If Database Size in MB exceeds and then click on the OK button Note that changing the default value of 512 applies only to the currently open ANSWER database If you change the value for Database Size to say 384 MB and Invoke Automatically is checked then the Repair and Compact Database facility will be automatically invoked when the database size reaches 384MB If working with a very large multi region model where the default of 512MB is too tight then key in a larger number than 512 But note that certain parts of ANSWER slow down very considerably if you
140. A Bo Pinia or a y ee T gl S a H i Fe Reply with Changes End Review p a Case Region UTOPIA BASEUTOP Annual 3 Investment Costs aggregated over vintages eal 6 Ea Ea 12 1s 14 fa 16 a 16 me 20 fan 22 24 25 26 Ea 2000 Years I a 34 35 M4 ob H Sheeti 5 Sheet jal Ready 0 amp 0 PS PP PP PR PR PS PR P ae ae se ss se i oo a i ee Ee a ee bo oa 2000 US million dollars DJ DJ fe Lu 6 The chart and data results can now be edited and printed using the MS Excel chart and data editing facilities Noble Soft Systems Pty Ltd 2004 09 section eight 6 Charting and analysing ANSWER TIMES Results 8 4 The Analyse with Excel facility ANSWER s Analyse with Excel facility exports the user s selected data results from ANSWER into a MS Excel worksheet There is no associated chart The data results for the worksheet are not dynamically linked to the original ANSWER data results and consequently a change in the ANSWER data results will not result in a commensurate change to the worksheet To create a worksheet using the Analyse with Excel facility 1 Select the rows of data results in the Parameters spread to be exported by either I swiping the left hand column of the required data results rows shown below to select all information and all periods for the selected rows or __lese __fPeenste ____ Reeim__ Rtesse___ omet
141. AIMP oe __ REGI REG REGS REGA REGS Noble Soft Systems Pty Ltd 2004 09 section sixteen 6 Handling of Trade Processes in ANSWER TIMES e Use the Commodity comboxbox to select NGAS then click on the checkboxes in the EXPort IMPort spread to specify the regions between which NGAS is traded For example below each of regions REG2 REG3 and REG4 exports DSL to the Market Region REG2 Commodity igas Natural gas T Al Links Bi Direc EXP IMP ewe o REGI REG2 REGS REG4 REGS NGAS NGAS NGAS 16 2 7 When the New Trade Process is saved to the Database Since the specification of the new Trade Process BITRDPRC is complete click on the OK button at the bottom of the New Trade Process form to save this Trade Process to the ANSWER TIMES database e ANSWER TIMES creates the new Trade Process BITRDPRC in each of the regions REG1 REG2 REG3 REG4 that are involved in the Trade of DSL or NGAS and auto generates PRC _ACTUNT and PRC_CAPACT parameter instances for BITRDPRC in each of these regions In addition ANSWER TIMES auto generates the TOP_IRE parameter instances that specify the Trade as shown in the screen snapshot below Global TimeSlice Commodity CommGroup Process TradeProcess Constraint Parameter Items Filter i l 6 Sets Named fan Trade Processes Sets Filter Hamed Filter ltem Management Curent Trade Process 4 BITRDPRIC _Sets ew Copy Delete Edit RES EB BITAROR
142. AL Bilateral Trade in Diesel and Natural Gas Select All Items Move subset Parameters O Trade Process Specific tm data Scenario Parameter _ Region Region2 Process Commodity Itema Item6 item6 Value PM TSTTRADE PRC_ACTUNT REGT BITRDPRE NRG bh po PM TSTTRADE PACLACTUNT REG2 BITRDPAC NAG ooo M TSTTRADE PRCACTUNT REG3 BITRDPRC NRG ph pho Jo 1 M TSTTRADE PRC_ACTUNT P REG4 BITRDPRC NAG p po o Jo PM TSTTRADE PACLCAPACT 4 REGI BITRDPAC bho dbo db 1o00 M TSTTRADE PRCLCAPACT _ P REG2 BITRDPRC bho bho bh 1o00 M TSTTRADE PRC_CAPACT _ P REG3 BITRDPRC pho bho bho 1o PM TSTTRADE PACLCAPACT 4 PREG4 BITRDPAC bho dbo db 1o00 M TSTTRADE TOF_IRE FREGI REG2 BITRDPRC DSL f p fbs 1 M TSTTRADE TOF_IRE FREGI REG3 BITRDPRC NGas f p NGas 1 PM TSTTRADE TOPIRE REG2 REGI BITRDPAC DSL p DSL M TSTTRADE TOPIRE F REG2 REG4 BITRDPRAC NGas f p NGas 1 M TSTTRADE TOPIRE F REG3 REGI BITRDPAC NGAS f p NGas 1 PM TSTTRADE TOPIRE REG3 REG4 BITRDPAC DSL p DSL M TSTTRADE TOPIRE F REG4 REG2 BITRDPRC NGas f p NGaSs 1 M TSTTRADE TOPIRE REG4 REGS BITRDPRC DSL f fp Bst 1 A S S S S S e e So far as the PRC_ACTUNT instances are concerned note that for Trade Process BITRDPRC whose Commodity Type is NRG the Primary Commodity Group Item3 entry auto generated by ANSWER TIM
143. ANNUAL TimeSlices Also since ANSWER TIMES automatically manages TimeSlices in the special _GLOBAL region ANSWER TIMES disallows the deletion by the user of GLOBAL region TimeSlices Noble Soft Systems Pty Ltd 2004 09 section fourteen 9 Handling of TimeSlices in ANSWER TIMES 14 5 Editing a TimeSlice To edit an existing TimeSlice make the BASE Scenario the editable Scenario move to the TimeSlice tab and select the TimeSlice that you wish to edit and click on the Edit button in the Item Management frame to bring up the Edit TimeSlice form For example in the screen snapshot below TimeSlice WIN NITE in region AUS has been selected as the TimeSlice to be edited E Edit TimeSlice WIN NITE in Region AUS in scenario BASE Edit Timestlice vviIN NITE in Region AUS with Description Winter Night Edit Name andor Description for the TimeSlice or change Global TimeSlice Order or Parent Time Slice or edit Comment NOTE Database has the Same TimeSlices in Ever Region s0 TimeSlice Changes Apply in All Regions TimeSlice Information Scenario BASE TIMES model BASE scenario Name Region Description WIN NITE aus 7 winter Night Global TimeSlice Order Name Description SUM DAtr Summer D ay SUM NITE Summer Night AUT DA Autumn Day ALIT NITE Autumn Night Wl Dar Winter Dap Ef wiN NITE Winter Might SPR DAN Spring Day SPR NITE Level Global Order Parent TimeSlice Lev
144. ANSWER TIMES involves simpler treeview structures than those in ANSWER MARKAL particularly for Processes as compared with Technologies and so the Include Parent in Filter checkbox is not needed in ANSWER TIMES 3 5 2 The Items display The Items display shows those Items whose Set Memberships correspond to those of the Subset Items combobox with the caveat that the Items display may be further restricted by the setting of the Items display combobox see section 3 3 2 2 or by the Region subset see section 3 3 2 4 The display has a number of features to assist the user to view search for and select an Item s namely dis a te 3 5 2 1 Expansion of the Items display Item search Item Multi select and Select All Items Sort Items display by Name or by Region Refresh Items display Expansion of the Items display Due to screen size limitations the Items display normally shows only nine Items at a time at 1024 x 768 resolution However the display incorporates a Toggle Size button that expands the display to about 32 Items at 1024 x 768 resolution To activate the Toggle Size button 1 2 Right mouse click anywhere on the Items display and choose Toggle Size from the pop up menu The display will expand as shown below Noble Soft Systems Pty Ltd 2004 09 section three 14 ANSWER s Data Results Screen Utopia_LumpyInvestment ANSWER TIMES Energy Modelling File Edit View Bun Tools Functions He
145. ANSWERv6 TIMES User Manual version 6 5 5 March 2009 Noble Soft Systems Pty Ltd Noble Soft Systems Pty Ltd 2004 09 Foreword 1 Foreword This manual provides users with the first self contained detailed guide to the use of the ANSWER TIMES software for working with the TIMES energy system model generator developed by the International Energy Agency s IEA Energy Technology Systems Analysis Programme ETSAP The TIMES model is an integrated energy system optimization model that determines the least cost means of satisfying the demand for energy services The model was developed by the International Energy Agency s IEA Energy Technology Systems Analysis Programme ETSAP TIMES modellers can access a world wide users support network established under the auspices of the IEA Energy Technology and Systems Analysis Project ETSAP For further details refer to the ETSAP website http www etsap org The overall paradigm underlying the ANSWER TIMES software is very similar to that underlying the ANSWER MARKAL software which is used by more than 100 institutions world wide for working with the IEA ETSAP MARKAL energy system model Many of the facilities operate in an identical or very similar fashion so readers who have reasonable familiarity with the ANSWER MARKAL software may find that they can quickly browse some sections of the manual and focus their main attention on those sections which are specific to TIMES As already n
146. AR is also displayed on the Global tab if region GLOBAL is selected Likewise TIMES data parameter UC_RHST RHS of User Constraint that is By Period Summing over Regions TimeSlices defined in the XREG UC scenario for a User Constraint named XREG USRCONSTR might appear in ANSWER TIMES on the Parameter tab as follows Noble Soft Systems Pty Ltd 2004 09 section eleven 2 The special GLOBAL region and Cross Region Constraints in ANSWER TIMES Global TimeSlice Commodity CommGroup Process TradeProcess Constraint Parameter Items Filter l G Celts f Hamed faut Data Parameters Sets Filter Hamed Filter ltem Management Name Description Stats UC RHSA RHS and type of user constraint by Region ar ee Sete UIC ARHSAT AHS and type of user constraint by Region Pernod dd gt gt WC AHSATS AHS and type of user constraint by Region Period Ti Hew Eopy Delete Edit A AHS and type of user constraint by Period UC AHSTS AHS and type of user constraint by Period TimneSlice Select All Items Hove BES T3 data Scenario Parameter Region Constraint Bouna E 1980 2000 2010 REG UC TOC RST BBL GLOBAL XREGUSRCONSTR P10 10 0000 12 0000 15 0000 al E zi io ooo 0 0000 0 ooog Note the occurrence of GLOBAL in the Region column Parameter UC_RHST is also displayed on the Constraint tab if constraint XREG USRCONSTR in region GLOBAL is selected ANS
147. AREG UC Cross Region User Defined Constraint 2009701719 21 29 MAEG UC2 Cross Region User Defined Constraint 20097 01728 17 30 Scenario Details 5 Use standard Windows mechanisms to multi select the Cases to be added to the batch For example to multi select the Cases BASEBOTH LIMRENEW and XREG UC select BASEBOTH by clicking on it then while holding down the Ctrl key click on LIMRENEW and XREG UC The form now appears as follows E Batch Run Case Selection multi select allowed IOJ X SJ BASEBOTH Base scenario for Utopia D emo model 2009702705 22 59 B BASEUTOF Base scenaro for Utopia madel 2008712730 16 58 LIMARENE Renewable Limit Aun 20097 02705 22 25 sep SAEG UC Crose Region User Defined Constraint 20097 01719 21 29 AEG UC2 Cross Region User Defined Constraint 2009701728 17 30 Scenario Details 6 Click on OK The listview on the Batch Run form now contains the Name Description and Scenarios for each of the Cases that were multi selected at step 5 See below Noble Soft Systems Pty Ltd 2004 09 section six 31 Running the Model E Batch Run Ioj Cases Comprising Batch Run ase ae Se Fe be BASEBOTH Base scenario for Utopia Demo model BASE Seer S LIMARENEW Renewable Limit Aun BASE LIMAREN 1 8SREG UC Cross Region User Defined Constraint BASE REG UC Remove All up bn Load Batch Save Batch Progress I Create Results For Import into ANSWER Import Results Aut
148. Browse Data Edit Data Run Model Batch Aun Edit selected Scenario Initiate Batch of Runs Delete selected Scenario from Database Initiate Model Run Copy selected Scenario Input edit data of editable Scenario Create new Scenario Browse data of selected Scenario s 2 6 2 Creating a new non BASE Scenario To create a new non BASE Scenario 1 Click on the New button below the Scenarios display or click on Edit in the menu bar and choose New Scenario in the drop menu 2 A New Scenario dialogue box shown below will appear Noble Soft Systems Pty Ltd 2004 09 sectiontwo 13 Starting ANSWER and the ANSWER Home Screen Hew Scenario Es Enter name description and optional comment for the new scenario Hame Description Comment Enter the Name e g CO2LIMIT and Description for the new Scenario The OK button will then become enabled A Comment can also be added Click on OK and the newly created non BASE Scenario will be displayed in the Scenarios display on the Home Screen It will also be saved to the Database 2 6 3 Copying a Scenario This facility allows the creation of a new Scenario by the direct copying of an existing non BASE Scenario Copying the BASE Scenario is not permitted To copy a Scenario 1 2 In the Scenarios display highlight the non BASE Scenario that is to be copied Click on the Copy button below the Scenarios display or click on Edit in the menu bar and choose
149. C Cross Region User Defined Constraint 20097 01728 16 12 Scenario Selection display MAREG UL2 test import of SAE G UC als 2009701728 18 21 Multi select the required non Base Scenarios and click on the OK button This returns you to the Run Model dialogue box and adds the multi selected Scenarios to the Scenarios comprising this run listview 10 To remove a non Base Scenario which is no longer required for the model run click on the appropriate non Base Scenario and click on the Remove button Repeat as required 11 To reorder the selected non Base Scenarios to determine precedence for overlapping Scenario data during the model run click on the appropriate non Base Scenario and click on the Up or Dn buttons as required The non Base Scenario which is lowest in the order has precedence 12 If desired change the subset of Regions that will be used for the model run by clicking on the Regions button This brings up the Select Regions To Appear in GAMS DD DDS form E Run Model Iof x Select Regions To Appear in GAMS DDZ DDS MJE DEMO ES UTOPIA SelectAll Deselect All Noble Soft Systems Pty Ltd 2004 09 section six 4 Running the Model Note that only internal Regions are displayed Select the Regions that you wish to be used for the model run and click on the OK button The initial default for a new Case is all Regions If re running an existing Case the selected Regions will default to
150. CO2 ANNUAL f jo 890000 89 0000 88 0000 uP O 0 8000 0 8000 0 8000 o 1 400 0000 1 300 0000 1 200 0000 o 40 0000 70 0000 100 0000 ofj 4 PASE NCAPLAFA ajutora EM eo ooo b eo o Neap cost 2 UTOPIA fe Ncap FoM fotora eon NCAP_TLIFE UTOPIA EM e d e e e eo E Me U a Enter numeric data in each data field Note the availability of mathematical functions to expedite the entry of data in such cases as each Time Series entry having the same value See section 5 4 4 5 Having entered the required numeric data i Press the 4 key or the Insert key when the cursor is in any numeric field in the Add Row The contents of the Add Row will be displayed in the Item s Parameter spread and saved to the Database The Add row will return to its initial state and the same process may be used to add subsequent Data Parameters If the user attempts to use the J key or the Insert key before all the comboboxes in the Add Row have been specified a message box will be displayed advising that the Add Row is not yet complete 5 4 2 1 1 Adding a Trade Data Parameter In TIMES there are a number of Trade Data Parameters that differ from other Data Parameters in that each of them is defined over a pair of Regions Examples of Trade Data Parameters include IRE_FLO IRE_PRICE and TOP_IRE When these Parameters are displayed in ANSWER TIMES Noble Soft Systems Pty Ltd 2004 09 section five 20 Data entry and editing the
151. Database form See Where ANSWER brings up the New Database form the settings on the form will be as follows e Template Version set to correspond to a TemplateTIMES database that will accommodate the longest item name occurring in the DD file e Base Scenario Description defaulting to the filename of the DD file being imported So for example if VEDAWEU2 DD is being imported then the Description will default to VEDAWEU2 and thus also become the default filename for the New Database that is created so VEDAWEU2 MDB e Where you specified the option f Sparse Import of TS Data Data Time Periods will default to match SET DATAYEAR and Results Time Periods will default to match SET MILESTONYR and Results Time Periods will default to match SET MILESTONYR Create Initial Region checkbox unchecked Same TimeSlices in Every Region checkbox checked Normally you will accept these settings and click on the OK button to carry out the New Database procedure possibly preferring to modify the default Description provided and the filename for the New Database that is created This results in the New Database becoming the Current Database and the remaining steps that occur are the same as if you had chosen The Current Database is checked as follows e Will it accommodate the longest item name occurring in the DD file If it will not you are warned that if import proceeds some information in the DD file will n
152. Description SUM NITE WwEL z Summer Night TimeSlice Level Global TimeSlice Order 5 Time Slice ALL_TS Annual ANNUAL SUM Daty Summer ay Seasonal SEASON SUM NITE Summer Night Weekly WEEKLY AUT DAY Autumn Day E Day Night DAYNITE AUT NITE Autumn Night SPR NITE Spring Might EF SUM NITE Summer Night Parent TimeSlice Since region WEU has no Weekly TimeSlices this Day Night TimeSlice should have a Seasonal TimeSlice as Parent TimeSlice SUM Sunmnmer Noble Soft Systems Pty Ltd 2004 09 section fifteen 1 Handling of Processes in ANSWER TIMES Section Fifteen Handling of Processes in ANSWER TIMES 15 1 Creating a New Process To create a new Process make the Scenario in which you wish to create the Process the editable Scenario move to the Process tab and click on the New button in the Item Management frame to bring up the ANSWER TIMES New Process form initially the Name and Description textboxes will be empty the Region combobox may not be set to REGS the Set Memberships will not be specified and the Units comboboxes and PRC_CAPACT Value textbox will be empty Mew Process in scenario BASE Enter Name and Description for the new Process Check the Region combobox setting Specify Set Memberships and change Units if necessary Specify 10 Commodities and PCG Optionally enter Comment After clicking OF specify parameter data as appropriate Item Information Name Desc DILREFIN REGS
153. E last used for this Case e Toalter the Milestone Years for the Run change the checkboxes that are checked in the Milestone Years row e f desired change the Beginning and Ending Year option button setting and according to the option button selected in the spread specify either First B and Last E or First B or First B and Every E and then click on the Auto generate B and E button ANSWER TIMES will auto generate the remaining B and E e Click on the OK button to exit the form The Load Default Milestone Years B and E button allows you to populate the form with the Default Milestone Years B and E for this database and the Save As Default Milestone Years B and E button allows you to save the current settings of the form as the new Default Milestone Years B and E for this database Note also that the Run Default Milestone Years B and E menu option allows you to directly edit the Default Milestone Years B and E for the current database For details see section 6 1 5 2 Run Default Milestone Years B and E below Specifying GAMS Basis Restart and Save Files The section of the Run Model form containing the GAMS Basis Restart File and GAMS Basis Save File options allows the ANSWER TIMES user to access the GAMS Savepoint and Loadpoint facilities described in the TIMES User Note TIMES LoadPoint pdf Antti Lehtila VTT see C AnswerTIMESv6 Doc GAMS Basis Restart File f Solve from scratch
154. E3 UTOPIA Hydro electric Plant New Copy Delete Edit E41 UTOPIA Natural gas combined cycle plant E51 UTOPIA Pumped Storage Power Plant _Selectallitems Move RES E YU UTOPIA Oil Plant E IMPOSL1 IMPEXP Import of Diesel E IMPOSLI UTOPIA Imoort of Diesel xl Subset Parameters E C Process Specific Irs TID data Q 3 An Items Filter frame containing a pair of option buttons allows the user to choose either a Sets Filter or a Named Filter that is a Named Process Items Filter Initially the Sets option button is selected f Sets with the Subset Items combobox presenting ANSWER s standard Set Memberships based filters default All Processes PRC Noble Soft Systems Pty Ltd 2004 09 section twelve 2 Process Items Filters in ANSWER TIMES 4 To the right of the Subset Items combobox there are two buttons Sets Fiter and Named Filter SA The Sets Filter button allows the user to invoke a form to specify a Set Memberships Items Filter 5 The Named Filter button is initially disabled but it becomes enabled when the Named option button is selected 9 Mamed as can be seen in the screen snapshot below Utopia_LumpyInvestment ANSWER TIMES Energy Modelling Mil Ea File Edit View Bun Tools Functions Help F JEJEJ E HY Edit Data Regions Filter Items All Scenarias All Global TimeSlice Commodity CommGroup Process TradeProcess Constraint Para
155. ECK LOG file to detect data inconsistencies and the lt Casename gt LST file to investigate GAMS compilation execution errors and Run Model status of Infeasible or Unbounded The Batch Run facility for batching up a number of model runs to be carried out one after the other The Batch Management facility for storing Batches of Runs inside an ANSWER Database Before attempting to carry out a model run ensure that you have installed GAMS and in particular ensure that the PATH includes your GAMS installation directory See section 1 4 3 Installation of GAMS 6 1 The Run Model Facility ANSWER s Run Model facility allows the user considerable flexibility in carrying out model runs In particular the run model facility allows the user to carry out model runs in which the BASE Scenario is varied by not just one but several non BASE Scenarios The user also has control over the Name and Description of the model run the TIMES Model Variant to be used the Milestone Years and the Regions that are to comprise the model run To start a model run 1 If on the Data Results Screen return to the Home Screen by clicking on the Home Screen icon FF 2 In the Selected Scenarios display click on the Scenario that is to be modelled 3 Click on the Run Model button below the Selected Scenarios display or click on Run in the menu bar and choose Run Model in the drop menu 4 A Run Model dialogue box shown below will ap
156. EN file created by ANSWER is not adequate for their purposes 6 1 5 1 1 Details of the Run Edit GEN File Template facility ANSWER creates the GEN file using a template approach in which a special text file Template GEN that contains keywords contained in lt gt brackets is copied to create the lt casename gt GEN file and then the keywords are replaced by relevant information from the Run Model form such as Run Name and Description Model Variant etc ANSWER s Run Edit GEN File Template feature is provided to allow the advanced user to edit the Template GEN file The changes made will persist in all GEN files created by the Run Model procedure until the user next edits the template To edit the GEN File Template 1 If on the Data Results Screen return to the Home Screen by clicking on the Home Screen icon ial 2 Click on Run in the menu bar and choose Edit GEN File Template in the drop menu 3 This brings up the Template GEN file in the Gams Source folder inside WordPad see below Z Template GEN WordPad Iofs File Edit wiew Insert Format Help neal elel al GEM file for use with ANSWER TIMES Gans code ANSWER will replace the keywords below enclosed in lt gt brackets Replacement does not occur if line starts with Keywords are case sensitive Possible keywords include lt Run gt lt IneludeDDLines gt lt TPList gt lt ParameterBandParameterE lt RuleBasedConstraint gt lt Include RA
157. ER database will become out of sync if it the ANT file contains references to an Item that is no longer known to the ANSWER database perhaps because the user has renamed the Item before then attempting import of the ANT file An out of sync situation cannot arise if the default setting for the I Import Results Automatically checkbox of checked is retained Noble Soft Systems Pty Ltd 2004 09 Running the Model 6 2 5 3 1 section six 28 Import Case into an ANSWER Database that is not aware of newly introduced GAMS TIMES Results Parameters The situation where Import Case is attempted into an ANSWER database that is not aware of newly introduced GAMS TIMES Results Parameters could arise as follows 1 2 The user installs an enhanced version of the GAMS TIMES code that introduces some new GAMS TIMES Results Parameters The user forgets to apply ANSWER s File Update System Tables from Excel facility to make their ANSWER database s aware of the new GAMS TIMES Results Parameters Normally when an enhanced version of the GAMS TIMES code is distributed to ANSWER clients an UpdateAnsTimesSysTables XLS will also be distributed for use with the Update System Tables from Excel facility and the accompanying distribution note will remind the user to update their ANSWER databases The user carries out a model run that creates a lt Casename gt ANT file that contains references to one or more Results Parameters that are
158. ES is the pre defined NRG Commodity Group See also the discussion in the following section Noble Soft Systems Pty Ltd 2004 09 section sixteen 7 Handling of Trade Processes in ANSWER TIMES 16 2 7 1 ANSWER TIMES specification of PRC_ACTUNT parameter instances that specify Primary Commodity Groups for a Trade Process Above it was noted that ANSWER TIMES auto generates a number of parameter instances for the Trade Process including the PRC_ACTUNT parameter instances that specify the Primary Commodity Groups Right now ANSWER TIMES makes some simplifying assumptions when creating the Primary Commodity Groups These assumptions are shown in the following table Attributes of Trade Process Primary Commodity Group assumed Comment by ANSWER TIMES W Same Commodity Name in All Regions multiple commodities traded W Same Commodity Name in All Regions single commodity traded Same Commodity Hame in All Regions export and import commodity names in a region are the same Same Commodity Hame in All Regions export and import commodity names in a region are different Pre defined Commodity Group matching Commodity Type of Trade Process So if Commodity Type is NRG PCG will be pre defined CG NRG in each region Single Commodity So if DSL is single commodity traded PCG will be DSL in each region Single Commodity So if NGAS1 is export and import name in region REG1 PCG in REG1 will be NGAS1 etc Pre defined C
159. EWEL Results Parameters Levels Delete T Alternatively the user can select a Component tab other than the Parameter tab and then browse the results applying to specific Items in that Component in the same manner as when browsing data In the example below the Process Item E01 Coal Steam Electric in Region UTOPIA has been selected and its results displayed Global TimeSlice Commodity CommGroup Process TradeProcess Constraint Farameter Items Filter l l G Sets Named Fan Processes PRC Sets Filter Hamed Filter Mame Region Description Status a p ltem Management E UTOPIA Coal Steam Electric a sal Process Gets E2 UTOFIS LR Nuclear Plant C E3 UTOPIA Hydro electric Plant Hew ony Delete Braves E4 UTOPIA Natural gas combined cycle plant E5 UTOPIA Pumped Storage Power Plant SEAL Fee pe Subset Parameters Process Specific Irs data p Parameter Region Process 2010 ASEUTOP 46 E UMPYINY BASEUTOP COST_FOM an LUMPYINY COST_FOM BASEUTOP COST_INY LUMPYINY COSTIN UTOPIA i 1 0 F al m eni om al bors i C umumrcC m 0 0 LUMPYINY VAR_ACT L 0 D 1 0 BASEUTOP WAR_ACT L 0 N 3 0 0 3 C o LUMPYINY VAR_ACT L a1 4 2 UTOPIA EDI 1 0 E0 1 0 EG 1 Oo ASEUTOP VAR_ACT L UMPYINY VAR_ACT L ASEUTOP VAR_ACT L mean Agar AT o oo oo Noble Soft Systems Pty Ltd 2004 09 section eight 1 Charti
160. Excel for Current Database in the drop menu This brings up the following dialogue box rile System Tables from Excel amom eee Databases Utopia Lumpylryvestment mdb Browse Excel Update File Browse e 3 Use the Browse button alongside the Excel Update File textbox to select the Excel Update File to be used for the update For example for the ANSWER TIMES version 6 5 0 update select the file UpdateAnsTimesSysTables_v6 5 0 xls in your ANSWER TIMES home directory 4 Now the dialogue box appears as follows with the Update button enabled apoa System Tables from Excel Excel Update File E AnswerTIM ESvb UpdatednsTimesSysT ables v6 5 0 xls 5 Click on the Update button A message box appears confirming that the update has been completed and summarising the number of records added edited renamed Noble Soft Systems Pty Ltd 2004 09 section two 70 Starting ANSWER and the ANSWER Home Screen Update Completed ES gt Update Completed iy 5 j Last record Found on row 52 24 record s added already present 2 record s edited 0 recordis renamed 0 warnings Found 0 error s Found Do you wish bo view the File UpdatesystemTables log 6 In the unusual event that warnings or errors are generated as part of the update process you can examine them in the file UpdateSystemTables log in the C AnswerTIMESv6 Ans_WrkTI folder by clicking on the Yes button
161. Extrapolation 5 4 5 2 Hiding the I E column in the TS Data Spread 5 4 5 3 Changing the I E Option Code value in an existing TS Data Parameter Instance 5 4 5 4 Using the AddRow to specify a new TS Data Parameter Instance Default I E Option Code Value is Generated 5 4 5 4 1 AddRow Example Printing Item details and data Print Item Subsets Print Item s Data Section Six Running the Model The Run Model Facility Model Variant Specification 6 1 1 1 Endogenous Technology Learning ETL model variant Noble Soft Systems Pty Ltd 2004 09 7 contents 6 1 1 2 Lumpy Investment model variant 6 1 1 1 Default Model Variant Specification 6 1 2 Specifying Milestone Years 6 1 3 Specifying GAMS Basis Restart and Save Files 6 1 4 Assorted Run Model Checkbox Options 6 1 4 1 Run Model Edit GAMS Control File checkbox option 6 1 4 2 Run Model Generate Files Do Not Run checkbox option 6 1 4 3 Run Model Regenerate Base DD File checkbox option 6 1 4 4 Run Model Regenerate Non Base DDS Files checkbox option 6 1 4 5 Run Model Regenerate Rule based DDSs checkbox option 6 1 4 6 Run Model Create Results for Import into ANSWER checkbox option 6 1 4 7 Run Model Suppress Pure Zero Time Series Results checkbox option 6 1 4 8 Run Model Import Results Automatically checkbox option 6 1 4 9 Run Model Automatic Repair amp Compact after Import checkbox option 6 1 5 Run Menu Options for Run Mode
162. F B Demand Device DMD B Electric Generation ELE w E nergy PRE B Heat Generation HFL E Material by weight PR B Material by volume PRY B Miscellaneous MISC Default Process Activity Units petajoules Default Process Capacity Units petajoules annum ad Default PAC_CAPACT Value ji Change Units Noble Soft Systems Pty Ltd 2004 09 section four 9 Setting up Units in ANSWER 4 4 Specifying and editing Units for the individual Database Items Care must be taken by the user to ensure that the consistency and standardisation of units throughout the Database is retained In Section 4 2 Specifying allowable Units for the Database the units that are allowable in the Database were reviewed and edited In Section 4 3 Reviewing and editing default Units for each Database Component the default units for each Component in the Database were reviewed and edited However as mentioned a change to the Component s default unit s will only be applied to new data having the same Set Membership when it is entered into the Database In other words the units of data already in the Database with the identical Set Membership will not be changed using this default facility Additionally some individual Items within a Component are likely to have units that do not conform to the default units of the Component notably Transport Demand in the Commodity Component and the corresponding Transport Process Items in th
163. File GAMS Basis Restart File Modify GAMS Basis Save File No Basis Save File Default Basis Save File f Userepecitied Basis Save File GAMS Basis Save File JC W4nswerllIMESvb Gams_ Wik Tl GamssaveSLIMRENEW pods Modify Cee Edit GAMS Control File Generate Files Do Not Run M Create Results For Import into ANSWER W Regenerate Base DD File I Suppress Pure Zero Time Series Results IM Regenerate Non Base DDS Files i Import Results Automatically IY Regenerate Rule based DDS Automatic Repair amp Compact after Import OK Cancel Steps 5 14 discuss each aspect of model run details which may be changed In particular steps 9 11 discuss how to specify the non Base Scenarios which comprise a model run 5 To change to a different model run click on the Change Run button and choose from among the model runs that are currently on line 6 Alternatively if desired edit the Name Description and Comment associated with the model run If you edit the Name a new Case with this Name will be created when you run the model and the previously existing Case will remain unaltered in the Database Thus to Copy an existing Case to create a new Case with similar attributes simply bring up the Case to be copied and then edit the Name and Description and modify other attributes as required 7 Right now ANSWER TIMES supports working with standard TIMES and also with the Endogenous Technology Learning ETL and Lumpy Inves
164. File System The license file system for ANSWER TIMES is specific to an individual PC That is an ANSWER TIMES license file answerTIMESv6 lic from one PC will not work on another PC Also an ANSWER TIMES license file for a PC is specific to the user logon for that PC The ANSWER TIMES license file system works as follows 1 Noble Soft emails you an initial license file answerTIMESv6 lic that contains your Owner Details and an Unlock Key You should put this file in your ANSWER TIMES home folder default is C AnswerTIMESv6 before attempting to run AnswerTIMESv6 exe as explained in section 1 4 1 above 2 Before you first run AnswerTIMESv6 exe ensure that you are logged on with the same user logon as the person who will be using this PC for ANSWER TIMES work 3 When you first run AnswerTIMESv6 exe it changes the license file answerTIMESv6 lic in your ANSWER TIMES home folder so that it now also contains a Product ID that is specific to your PC This new license file lets you run in production mode for 60 days Each time that you run ANSWER TIMES you will be advised how many days remain during which ANSWER TIMES will run in production mode 4 As soon as possible after you first run AnswerTIMESv6 exe you should email back to Noble Soft the new license file answerTIMESv6 lic that is in your ANSWER TIMES home folder As noted at 3 above this license file contains a Product ID that is specific to your PC as well as Unlock Key an
165. For this example we replace none by LO since the sense of the constraint is gt and we retain the default zeros in each time period as follows Subset Parameters c User Defined Constraint Ts TID data Scenario ProciFiter Commodity TimeSlic Item VE 1990 2000 2010 UC_RHSAT F DEMO RENEWELC bo b d Lo p f oowoo o oo 0 0000 es E Noble Soft Systems Pty Ltd 2004 09 section thirteen 5 Defining a Rule based Constraint in ANSWER TIMES 5 Use the Parameter combobox in the TS spread AddRow to select the appropriate parameter This can be done either by dropping down the combobox and using the scroll bar to display the parameters of interest or more conveniently by right mouse clicking on the AddRow Parameter combobox and selecting View Descriptions which displays all the available rule based constraint parameters and their descriptions as follows E Add Row Parameter Selection Mi UC RHSET RHS and type of user constraint by Region Period Do AactT Multiplier of VAR ACT variables Oc CAP Multiplier of VAR CAP variables DC CONCON Multiplier of VAR COMNCON variables correct Desc needed UC COMNMNET Multiplier of VAR COMMET variables Uc COMPRD Multiplier of VAR COMPRD variables Uc FLO Multiplier of VAR FLO variables UL IRE Multiplier of VaR IRE variables UC Necap Multiplier of VaR NCAP variables Uc T EACH Specifies perioda for which constraint is generated Set UCRULE ACT Multiplier of VA
166. GS joi Refinery Then clicking on the OK button will cause ANSWER TIMES to change not just the Process Name from OILREFIN to REFINERY for region REGS but also to automatically change the associated true PCG Name from OILREFIN G to REFINERY G for region REGS as shown in the following screen snapshot StanfordDemoNov2007 ANSWER TIMES Energy Modelling Oy x File Edit View Run Tools Functions Help w Fl JEE El al Edit Data Regions Filter Items All Scenarios All Global TimeS lice Commodity CommGroup Process TradeProcess Constraint Parameter ltem Filter l l f Sets Named fran Processes FRC Sets Filter Hamed Filter Name Region Description O lt lt Staue p ltem Management OILREFIN REG Dil refinery poeta Sets OILREFIN REG3 Dil refinery OILREFIN FEG4 Oil refinery Hew Copy Delete Edit EEN REFINERY REGS Dil refinery RHEATELC REGI Elec device la piovide ies heal ealach A ierte Move mes El subset Parameters Process Specific hi Ts TID data x Scenario Parameter Region Process Commodity CommGroup CommGroup Item6 Bound 2005 2010 2015 2020 BASE FLO_FUNC 7 REG5S REFINERY OIL REFINERY GANNUAL 0 9900 0 9900 0 9900 0 9900 BASE FLO_SHAR 2 REGS REFINERY GSL REFINERY G ANNUAL UP 0 3000 0 3000 0 3000 0 3000 BASE NCAP_COST 2 REGS REFINERY deo d 8 00
167. H SumMmMe By default the checkbox is unchecked and any Name and or Description changes that are made will apply not only to TimeSlice SUM NITE in region WEU but also to TimeSlice SUM NITE in region s other than WEU A change to the Parent TimeSlice will apply in region WEU only However it may be the case that the user wishes to change the Name and Description in region WEU only while retaining SUM NITE Summer Night as the Name Description in region s other than WEU In that case the user should check the Apply Name and or Description Changes Only to Region WEU checkbox The form will now appears as follows where in particular it should be noted that a new row Bf SUM NITE Summer Night has been added at the bottom of the Global TimeSlice Order listview pending the user changing the Name and Description in region WEU only Noble Soft Systems Pty Ltd 2004 09 section fourteen 19 Handling of TimeSlices in ANSWER TIMES E Edit Time Slice SUM MNITE in Region WEU in scenario BASE ea Edit Timeslice SUM NITE in Region WEU with Description Summer Night Edit Name andor Description for the TimeSlice or change Global Time Slice Order or Parent TimeSlice or edit Comment NOTE Database has Different TimeSlices in Ditterent Regions TimeSlice SUM NITE being edited occurs in Other Regions i Apply Name and or Description Changes Only to Region EU TimeSlice Information Scenaric BASE hth Name Region
168. HG MINA MJE UTOPIA SelectAll Deselect All 6 By default the data for all Data Time Periods in the database will be exported to the imp file That is the default setting for the Start Year for Export of TS Data combobox will be the year corresponding to the first Data Time Period in the database and the default setting for the Final Year for Export of TS Data combobox will be the year corresponding to the final Data Time Period in the database To export data for fewer periods change the default settings of either or both of these comboboxes to correspond to the Start and Final Years for which you want TS data to be exported T Retain the default setting under which the f New Format option button is selected lt would be rather unusual to select the Old Format option button 8 Click on the Export button of the Export Scenario dialogue box to invoke the Export Scenario facility A message box shown below will appear to advise that the Scenario has been exported to C AnswerTIMESv6 Ans_WrkTI as text file lt name gt imp lt i Scenario information for scenario BASE exported to disk as text File c answertimesvolans_ wrktibase imp Also the frame immediately above the Export and Close buttons displays a message reminding the user of the scenario that has just been exported 9 The Export Scenario dialogue box remains open so that the user can select another Scenario to export by choosing the Sc
169. Items region provides the facilities for adding new Items and for copying deleting editing and moving existing Items An exception is the Parameter Component where the Items display shows all the Data Results Parameters In Edit Data mode for the Parameter Component the Items region provides the facility to edit the properties of Data Parameters see Section 3 6 3 2 Changing the Status and Properties of a Data Parameter The Items region is made up of three sub regions Iter Filter w Sets t Named 1 The Items Filter frame the Subset Items combobox and the Sets Filter and Named Filter buttons 2 The Items display 3 The Item Management sub region lenis Filter tc ae amed Filter G Sots E ran Processes PRC Sets Filter Hamed Filter buttons l Name o Region Description Status a p ltem Management B fn UTOPIA Coal Steam Electric E a Process Sets Ez UTOPIA LWA Nuclear Plant iem Ex UTOPIA Hydro electric Plant Mew Copy Delete Edit Management E41 UTOPIA Natural gas combined cycle plant Select sl It mace PES sub region E5 UTOPIA Pumped Storage Power Plant _SelectAlltems Be BNE revel ai _ hes EO UTOPIA Oil Plant Items Filter When the Sets option button is selected 6 Sets C Named the default the Subset Items combobox is populated with pre defined and any user defined Set Membership filters the Sets Filter button is enabled and the Named Fil
170. Like PD G gt EOL gt E01 EOL lt E01 Suppose for example that a user wants to specify a filter to select processes that have coal COA as an Input Commodity and electricity as an Output Commodity where there are several different electric commodities whose names all match ELC Then the user would specify Input and Output Commodity criteria as follows Processes to be Included Nae sd Description Set Memberships Input Commodity Output Commodity Like ELC Note that in both the Processes to be Included and Excluded specification areas spreads the filtering options that are available for all cells include negation options e g Not Between Not In Not Like for Name cells Not Like for Description cells Not for Set Membership cells In particular this affords the user the additional flexibility of being able to specify negation options within the Processes to be Included spread if that is more convenient or appropriate than placing the positive option Between In Like within the Processes to be Excluded spread Noble Soft Systems Pty Ltd 2004 09 section twelve 8 Process Items Filters in ANSWER TIMES The screen snapshot below shows a completed Process Items Filter form that specifies a Filter to select all Transport demand devices that have diesel as an Input Commodity Y New Process Items Filter Miel x Enter Mame Description Comment and Specify Filter for New Proce
171. MES GAMS code For details see section 6 1 The Run Model Facility A2 1 5 File Import TIMES GAMS DD The ANSWER TIMES File Import TIMES GAMS DD facility differs significantly from the File Import GAMS DD facility in ANSWER MARKAL Areas of difference include e The Import TIMES GAMS DD facility can automatically create a new ANSWER TIMES database into which data in the TIMES GAMS DD will be imported or can import into the current database e The user can specify either sparse or dense import of Time Series data with the Data Time Periods and Results Time Periods determined accordingly e The user can specify the number of significant digits to which numeric data is imported For details see section 2 11 Importing a TIMES GAMS Data Dictionary Noble Soft Systems Pty Ltd 2004 09 appendix two 3 Main ANSWER TIMES Interface Differences from ANSWER MARKAL A2 2 Main Data Results Screen differences from ANSWER MARKAL The Data Results Screen in ANSWER TIMES follows the same paradigm as in ANSWER MARKAL Most Data Results screen facilities operate in an identical fashion to the same facilities in ANSWER MARKAL The main Data Results Screen differences of ANSWER TIMES from ANSWER MARKAL are listed below A2 2 1 ANSWER TIMES has fewer tabs and some tabs are named differently In ANSWER TIMES there are fewer tabs and some tabs are named differently Utopia Demo ANSWER TIMES Energy Modelling
172. Manual The Technology RES always displays the Emissions associated with a Technology Where the emissions related parameters have positive coefficients Emissions are shown as outputs from the technology where they have negative coefficients they are shown as inputs to the technology For example the Technology RES below indicates that Emission NOX is an output from technology TXG Noble Soft Systems Pty Ltd 2004 09 section nine 12 Reference Energy System Graphics Reference Energy System UTOPIA region based on Data for Selected Scenarios Technology TXG Gasoline C INPUT S Oe ee OUTPUT S 35L _ By default the Commodity RES for commodities other than Emissions does not display the Emissions associated with Technologies that occur in the Commodity RES To display these Emissions it is necessary to invoke the Emissions On Commodity RES facility To invoke Emissions On Commodity RES 1 Click anywhere within the Commodity RES graphic using the right hand mouse button and a pop up menu will appear shown below Print Switch Background to hite Increase Color Contrast Refresh w Scroll LHS RHS Together Synchronize Emissions On Commodity RES 2 Click on Emissions On Commodity RES The Commodity RES graphic will be redrawn to display the Emissions associated with Technologies that occur in the Commodity RES For example the Commodity RES below for End Use Demand TX displays the NOX Emission
173. Memberships of a Constraint from standard to rule based then all of the UC_ parameters associated with the Constraint will be retained unchanged e And after the change the UCRULE_ parameters will now also be available for selection in the TS spread AddRow Parameter combobox 3 If the user changes the Set Memberships of a Constraint from rule based to standard then after asking the user to confirm change of Set Memberships the UC__RHS parameter and any UC_ parameters that may be associated with the Constraint will be retained unchanged e But ANSWER will automatically delete existing UCRULE_ parameters associated with the Constraint and these parameters will no longer be available for selection in the TS spread AddRow Parameter combobox Noble Soft Systems Pty Ltd 2004 09 section thirteen 8 Defining a Rule based Constraint in ANSWER TIMES 13 5 Displaying how a Rule based Constraint will be resolved at Run Model time As mentioned previously an added benefit of the Rule based Constraints is that they are resolved at run time to ensure that all processes found in the various scenarios involved in the run are considered dynamically as candidates for the constraint This is discussed further below but ANSWER also provides a facility to enable the user to preview how the Rule based Constraint will be resolved as discussed here 1 To display how a Rule based Constraint will be resolved at Run Model time that is to disp
174. Money or Money Macro group make repeated use of Delete to delete all Money Macro Money units except the one that is appropriate for your database As already noted at section 4 2 3 1 Deletion of a unit currently in use above in ANSWER TIMES where there are multiple Money Macro Money units you will always be able to delete a Money Macro Money unit 3b If the Money Macro Money unit that is appropriate for your database is not one of the Money Macro Money units that is displayed on the Units dialogue box under the Money or Money Macro group make repeated use of Delete to delete all but a single Money Macro Money unit and then use Edit to change the single Money Macro Money unit to what is appropriate for your database Noble Soft Systems Pty Ltd 2004 09 section four 7 Setting up Units in ANSWER 4 3 Reviewing and editing default Units for each Database Component Before entering data into the Database the user should review the default units that ANSWER has pre specified for each Component in the Database If these default units are to be changed care must be taken by the user to ensure that the consistency and standardisation of units throughout the Database is retained ANSWER organises units according to the Component type Note that default units are not relevant for the Global TimeSlice CommGroup and Parameter Components For the TradeProcess Component default units are taken to be those
175. N region based on Data for Scenarios associated with Selected Cases INPUT S OlLCRD section nine 5 Process SREFOOO Upstream refinery OUTPUT S DIESEL centred on Commodity DIESEL as shown below Note also that when the RES graphic for DIESEL is initiated the Data Results screen automatically switches from the Process tab to the Commodity tab and Commodity Item DIESEL is selected That is the Component and the selected Item on the Data Results screen remain synchronized with the Item on which the RES is centred Global TimeSlice Commodity CommGroup Process TradeProcess Constraint Parameter r ltems Filter F npe f Sets Named L Al1l Commodities COM E el Filter L Hamed Filter Description REGIONI REGIONI IMFESF REGIONI REGIONI SUPPLY OILCRD Woody biomass Current Commodity I DIESEL Woody biomass hy esses Carbon dioxide New Copy Delete RES Hard coal Select All ltems Move Hard coal eit es icra Commodity DIESEL Diesel C FINDSL GASOIL 9 2 4 Overflow indicators In some instances shown below the RES graphic will display on screen overflow indicators to indicate insufficient space to display all inputs and or outputs for an Item or to display all Items 1 Insufficient space to display all inputs and or ou
176. NUAL f Oo oseoo 03200 0 3200 5 4 2 2 3 Entering and editing a Data Parameter s numeric data To enter and or edit a Data Parameter s numeric data 1 Click on the required data field 2 If the field does not contain any numeric data simply enter the desired numeric data If the field contains incorrect numeric data that needs to be edited carry out this editing by entering the desired numeric data the numeric data that is entered will overwrite the previous incorrect numeric data 3 Using the arrow keys Tab key pointer move to the next required data field and enter or edit data 4 The data is displayed in the Data Parameter row and immediately saved to the Database with each move 5 4 2 2 4 Clearing data from a numeric data field For some TIMES Data Parameters particularly those which represent Bounds it may be appropriate that some numeric data fields are null that is that they contain no numeric data possibly implying no bound in some Data Time Periods Hence if the user inadvertently specifies numeric data in a field that should be null it will need to be cleared To clear data from a numeric data field 1 Click on the numeric data field from which data is to be cleared or click on the left mouse key and highlight a series of consecutive numeric data fields from which data is to be cleared Noble Soft Systems Pty Ltd 2004 09 section five 23 Data entry and editing 2 Press the Delete key t
177. New button 5 The Unit Properties dialogue box shown below will appear Unit Properties Unit Abbreviation Unit Descriptions Applies To This unit will apply to the group of units called Commodity Also apply to the group of units called e Commodity I Process Activity 6 Fill in the Unit Abbreviation maximum of 15 characters and Unit Description maximum of 50 characters and the OK button will become enabled T In TIMES the activity of a process is measured in terms of the amount of commodity produced Consequently the same unit is normally required for both the Commodity variables and the Process Activity variables Indicate this by ticking in the relevant check M Commodity box Jf Process Activity 8 Click on OK and the unit will then appear in the Units tree view Where the same unit has been required as both a Commodity and a Process Activity unit it will appear in both locations 4 2 3 Deleting an allowable Unit To delete a unit 1 Ensure that you are editing the BASE scenario You may be on the Home Screen or the Data Results Screen 2 Click on Edit in the menu bar and click on Units in the drop menu 3 The Units tree view will appear 4 Highlight the unit to be deleted and click on the Delete button 5 A Confirm deletion of Unit information box shown below will appear Answer 2 Confirm deletion of unit bilion passenger kilometres br pass km Cancel Noble Soft
178. Noble Soft Systems Pty Ltd 2004 09 section two 46 Starting ANSWER and the ANSWER Home Screen Item Description Column D The cell in column D of the Item row must contain the Item s Description The Description should not exceed 100 characters in length and must not contain either a single quote or a double quote 9 Item Unit s Column E The cell in column E of the Item row is used to specify the Item s Unit s where the Component for the Item being specified is such that a Unit s is are required as indicated in the following table Component PU nit sy a Process Process Activity Process Capacity Units PJ GW Commodity Commodity Unit PJ True Commodity Group not required TimeSlice not required User Defined Constraint optional Note that even for an Item where a Unit s is are required as per the above table the cell in column E may be left empty in which case ANSWER will assign default units according to the ltem s Set Memberships and the default Units setting of the current database See also section 4 3 1 Reviewing and editing default Units for each Component The unit s specified in column E must already exist in the ANSWER database into which the data is being imported Item Set Memberships Column F The cell in column F of the Item row must contain the Item s Set Memberships You can most easily see what ANSWER TIMES requires by way of individual Sets for say Processes if you use ANSWER to
179. Numeric Value Columns The cell in column of the TID Data Parameter row must contain the TID numeric value for the parameter instance e Note that null may be used in a cell to indicate a null value As an alternative to putting null in a cell the cell may simply be left empty Any Item referenced in the Item1 ltem6 positions must either already exist in the ANSWER database into which the data is being imported or must be specified in one of the Item Data worksheets of the Excel file That is the combination of the Item name in the Item1 ltem6 position and the Region name for this worksheet as specified in cell B1 must either already exist in the ANSWER database or must be specified in one of the Item Data worksheets of the Excel file Item Comment Column J The cell in column J of the TID Data Parameter row may contain a Comment for the TID Data Parameter Specification of a Comment is optional and the cell in column J may be left empty 2 10 4 5 Time Series Trade Data Format TS TRADE A worksheet that contains TS TRADE in cell A1 is assumed to contain Time Series Trade data there may be several such worksheets in the Excel file Cell B1 of each TS TRADE worksheet must contain a comma delimited list of Region names indicating the Regions for which Trade data between regions is being specified For each instance of a Time Series Trade Data Parameter being specified there must be a single row in the following format specifying Re
180. Oil Refinery Set Memberships Units 1 0 Commodities Set Memberships 2 Process PAC Additional Characterization Combined Heat amp Power CHF Annual Time Slice Level a Demand Device DMD Seasonal Time Slice Level Electric Generation ELE Weekly Time Slice Level EY Energy PRE Day Night Time Slice Level B Heat Generation HFL CI Extraction TRACT 3 Material by weight PR I Import Export IRE H B Material by volume PAW LE Miscellaneous MISC F Night Storage NST 4 Aefinery REF Renewable RENEW T Stockpiling STE Storage not NST of STK STGTS5 Process Activity Units petajoule af Process Capacity Units petajoules annum E PRC_CAPACT Value i Change Units Ok Cancel 15 1 1 Item Information Set Memberships Units Specifying the Name Region Description Set Memberships and Units for the Process as has been done above is straightforward 15 1 2 I O Commodities Primary Commodity Group The ANSWER TIMES New Process form allows you indeed requires you to specify the Input and Output Commodities for the Process along with the associated PCG Primary Commodity Group To do this click on the I O Commodities tab to bring up the following display initially the CommIN and CommOuT spreads will be empty Noble Soft Systems Pty Ltd 2004 09 section fifteen 2 Handling of Processes in ANSWER TIMES Mew Process in scenario BASE Enter Name and Description for the new
181. PSWRITE OPTION SYSOUT ON S ONLISTING SONEHMPTY 4 After changing OFFLISTING to ONLISTING click on File in the menu bar and then Close and Start Run E Editing C AnswerTIMESv6 Gams_WrkTI EXECERR GEN File Edit New SWER TIMES VERSION 6 5 0 TIMES VERSION 2 9 ees OL 0 SOLPRINT ON ITERLIM 50000 PROFILE 0 SOLYEOPT REPLACE Save Save As Close and Start Run Close and Do Not Run Close and Abort Run SET SHELL ANSWER 5 ANSWER will display the same message box as previously Click on the View LST button below the Cases listview to bring up the lt Casename gt LST file in Wordpad This time the LST file will show all of the lines in the GAMS TIMES code 6 To locate line 18897 search the lt Casename gt LST file for 18897 Line 18897 appears in the LST file as follows 18897 OBJ_CRF OBJ_ICUR R V P CUR COR_SALVI R V P CUR 1 1 1 G_DRATE R V CUR 1 1 G_DRATE R V CUR ROUND NCAP_ELIFE R V P It happens to be a very long line so has been shown above split over two lines but in GAMS syntax it might equally well have been spread over several lines in the LST file terminating with a semi colon We need to scan the entire statement looking for the division operand and then note any expression that might lead to division by zero and the Data Parameter that is involved The example above is not particularly obvious but in fact the expression that has been highlight
182. Process Check the Region combobox setting Specify Set Memberships and change Units if necessary Specify 10 Commodities and PCG Optionally enter Comment After clicking OF specify parameter data as appropriate Item Information Name Desc DILREFIN REGS Oil Refinery Input Output Commodities i nput based Process Activity Oil TWAT aaa aa aes Add Comm Remove Comm Add Comm Remove Comm Use Add Remove Comm buttons to add remove Input Commodities Use Add Remove Comm buttons to add remove Output Commodities In the PCG column check Commodities of the same Type that comprise the PCG e First decide whether the Process is Output based the default or Input based If the Process is Input based click on the Input based Process Activity option button e Tospecify Inout Commodity Commodities for the Process click on the Add Comm button below the CommIN spread and multi select the Input Commodity Commodities from Commodities in region REGS E Input Commodity Selection for region REGS multi select allowed Oe x Set Memberships DSL Diesel in REGS GSL Gasoline LOIL Light Dil NGAS Natural gas ES mn Dil In this case just the single Input Commodity OIL has been selected e Tospecify Output Commodity Commodities for the Process click on the Add Comm button below the CommOUT spread and multi select the Output Commodity Commodities from Commodities in region REGS Noble Soft S
183. R ACT variables rule based UCROLE CAP Multiplier of VAR CAP variables rule based DCROLE FLO Multiplier of VAR FLO variables rule based UCROLE IRE Multiplier of VAR IRE variables rule based UCRULE MCAF Multiplier of VAR NCAP variables rule based Cancel Note that for a Rule based Constraint and only for a Rule based Constraint five new UCRULE_ parameters UCRULE_ACT UCRULE_CAP UCRULE_FLO UCRULE_IRE and UCRULE_NCAP are available in addition to the standard UC_ parameters UC_ACT UC_CAP etc that are available for all Constraints For this example we select UCRULE_ACT and click on the OK button 6 After selecting LHS in the Side combobox drop down the Proc Filter combobox in the AddRow and select the appropriate named Process Filter from the list of Process Filters that is displayed subset Parameters ec User Defined Constraint Ts TID data Scenario Parameter Region Constraint Side Procite Commodity TimeSlic iteme YE 1390 a a SE 0 a E o o ooo E LHS ett 1 0000 ALLELE RENEW ELE TAN DSL b For this example we select RENEW ELE Alternatively right mouse click on the Proc Filter combobox and select View Descriptions Subset Parameters Jec User Defined Constraint Ts TID data Scenario Parameter Region Constraint Side Proc Fiter___ Commodity TimeSlic Item6 IE ie Se ee ea i a a S Ee 0 00 Ladd BASE UCRULE ACT v a FEE i 1 00 V
184. R Load curve of availability of commodity to a process FLO FUNC Relationship between 2 groups of flows FLO FUNCH Change in FLO FUNC FLO SUM hy age FLO MARE Process wise market share in total commodity production FLO MRECOM Bound on Share of Elow in total consumption of conmmodity FLO MREPRD Bound on share of flow in total production of commodity FLO PKCOI Factor increasing the average demand FLO SHAR Relationship between members of the same flow group FLO SUE Subsidy for the production use of a commodity FLO SUM Hultipier for commodity in cal where each is summed into cqz E Cancel Select the desired option of CAP_BND by clicking on it and then click on the OK button Noble Soft Systems Pty Ltd 2004 09 section five 19 Data entry and editing 3 Having selected the required Data Parameter as per step 2a or step 2b ANSWER will automatically fill the Region and Process comboboxes with UTOPIA and E01 respectively and will move the active field to the next field in the Add Row that requires argument or data specification For the CAP_BND Parameter this is the Bound argument Item6 column that requires specification of the type of Bound whether LO or FX or UP Either type the first letter of the required Bound or drop down the combobox and choose the required Bound as shown below where UP is about to be selected Scenario Parameter Region Process Com CommGroup Com items teme VE 19950 200 2mo pe JBAsE aC
185. R TIMES from ANSWER MARKAL are listed below A2 1 1 File New Database To support TIMES data year model year independence the ANSWER TIMES New Database form differs significantly from ANSWER MARKAL e The user can select whether the new database that is created will have maximum Item Name lengths of 16 characters or of 24 characters e Data Time Periods and Results Time Periods can differ e Both Data and Results Time Periods can have unequal spacing e A checkbox allows the user to nominate whether the new ANSWER TIMES database will have the Same TimeSlices in Every Region or otherwise For details of the operation of the File New Database facility see section 2 4 1 Creating a New ANSWER Database A2 1 2 File Import Model Data from Excel The form that is displayed when File Import Model Data from Excel is invoked is very similar to that for ANSWER MARKAL and the facility operates in a very similar fashion but with the following important differences e A new format involving ITEMS TS DATA TID DATA TS TRADE and TID TRADE worksheets has been introduced that in particular simplifies the specification of Item data being imported e There are as yet no ANSWER TIMES smart load templates but ANSWER TIMES smart load templates based on the new format are envisaged e Since ANSWER TIMES handles the TIMES Interpolate Extrapolate options the File Import Model Data fr
186. REFINERY G E o ee eee eee a In fact just as the Process Name change from OILREFIN to REFINERY is applied for region REGS throughout the entire database so the true PCG Name change from OILREFIN G to REFINERY G is applied for region REGS throughout the entire database Editing a Process with changes to I O Commodities and or Commodities comprising PCG The above two screen snapshots indicate that the Edit of Process OILREFIN in region REGS changed only the Process Name and left the I O Commodities unchanged the TOP IN and TOP OUT are unchanged and the Commodities that comprise the PCG unchanged the COM _GMAP are unchanged Of course if the Edit of Process OILREFIN in region REGS had changed the I O Commodities then TOP IN and TOP OUT would have been changed accordingly and if the Edit had changed the Commodities that comprised the PCG then the COM_GMAP would have been changed accordingly Noble Soft Systems Pty Ltd 2004 09 section sixteen 1 Handling of Trade Processes in ANSWER TIMES Section Sixteen Handling of Trade Processes in ANSWER TIMES 16 1 Overview ANSWER TIMES allows the user to construct a multi region TIMES model which has Trade Processes in either of the categories e Bilateral Trade or e Market Trade Within these two categories of Trade Processes ANSWER TIMES provides support for most of the variations that are supported by the TIMES GAMS code For both categories of Trade Pro
187. RH gt f p 0 3 Press the F2 key or click on Functions in the menu bar and choose Extend Constant in the drop menu 4 The calculated data is displayed in the Parameter spread and immediately saved to the Database Scenario Parameter Region Com Com Time Bou iE 1990 2000 2010 2020 C Teese com PRO UTOPA aa l eeaeee Mode 2 The currently active field is numbered 1 and the last field in the time horizon is numbered N To invoke the Extend Constant function 1 Enter the data in this example 25 0000 into the first data field in the series but do not press the Tab or Enter key Scenario Parameter Region_ Com Com Time Bou iE 1990 2000 2010 2020 BASE COM_PROJ UTOPIA RH gt f po 0 a 2 Press the F2 key 3 The calculated data is displayed in the Parameter spread and immediately saved to the Database 25 0000 25 0000 25 0000 25 0000 5 4 4 2 Linear interpolate F3 Linear interpolation is carried out between the value a 1 in field 1 and the value a N in field N overwriting any values that may already be present in fields 2 N 1 Thus assuming equally spaced Data Time Periods the common increment between values in adjacent fields is given by a N a 1 N 1 and we have anew 1 a 1 anew N a N anew n a 1 n 1 1 for n 2 N 1 Mode 1 To invoke the Linear Interpolate function 1 Enter the data into the first and last dat
188. Region TimeSlice _ Value BASE T5_ORD_DAYNITE GLOBAL AUT DaY 3 BASE T5_ORD_DAYNITE GLOBAL AUT MITE 4 BASE T5_ORD_DAYNITE GLOBAL SPR DAY 7 BASE T5_ORD_DAYNITE GLOBAL SPR MITE 8 BASE TS5_O0RD_DAYNITE GLOBAL SUM DAY GLOBAL WIN NITE amp dd 13 a tl Most aspects of dealing with TS ORD SEASON TS _ORD_WEEKLY and TS_ORD_DAYNITE parameter instances are handled by ANSWER TIMES with minimal intervention required by the user For example it would be unusual and is unnecessary to use the Parameter tab AddRow to create TS ORD_XXxX instances or to alter the Values of existing TS ORD_XXxX instances in order to change the global order of TimeSlices at some TimeSlice Level When ANSWER TIMES is used to create a new TimeSlice the appropriate TS ORD_XXX parameter instances will be auto generated See section 14 2 Creating a New TimeSlice Noble Soft Systems Pty Ltd 2004 09 section fourteen 14 Handling of TimeSlices in ANSWER TIMES 14 8 File menu functions for TimeSlices Three new File functions for TimeSlices are available on both the Home Screen and the Data Results Screen namely e Check Integrity of TimeSlices e Generate Global Region TimeSlices from Region TimeSlices e Edit Global TimeSlice Order SET ALL_TS as displayed in the following screen snapshot Eile Edit View Run Tools Functions Help Mew Database Ctrl M Open Database Chrl 0 Close
189. Restore Trade Matrix Button Restore TM This button is enabled only when Editing an existing Trade Process Where M Same Commodity Name in All Regions click on this button to restore the checkboxes in the Trade Matrix for the currently selected Commodity to the original settings for the Trade Process Where J Same Commodity Name in All Regions click on this button to restore both the commodity comboboxes and the checkboxes in the single Trade Matrix to the original settings for the Trade Process Check TM Integrity Click on this button to check the integrity of the currently specified Trade Matrix ANSWER TIMES carries out the following integrity checks Check Trade Matrix Integrity Button e If the checkbox corresponding to trade from Export region REGi to Import region REGj is checked then an Export Commodity must be specified in the Comm column for Export region REGi and an Import Commodity must be specified in the Comm row for Import region REGj For the Same Commodity Name in All Regions situation if an Export Commodity is specified via combobox in the Comm column for Export region REGi there must be at least one checkbox that is checked in the Export region REGi row For the Same Commodity Name in All Regions situation if an Import Commodity is specified via combobox in the Comm row for Import region REGj there must be at least one checkbox that is checked in the Import region REG column e For Bilateral Trade only at
190. S File Import Model Data from Excel facility Also see section 2 10 The operation of this facility is similar to the operation of the File Export Scenario facility To export Scenario Data to Excel 1 2 3 5 Open the origin Database Click on the Scenario to be exported Click on File in the menu bar and choose Export then choose Scenario Data to Excel in the drop menu An Export Scenario Data to Excel dialogue box shown below will appear in which the Scenario to be exported will default to the Scenario chosen at Step 2 Export Scenario Data to Excel Fa Export Scenario Data to Excel allows scenario information in an ANSWER database to be exported to disk as an Excel file Export from Scenario Change Scenario to be exported Regions Start Year for Export of TS Data 19390 Final ear for Export of TS Data 20 T Export as cLanswertinesvb ans_ wrktbase sls BASE Change name aiven to text file base xls ba estan xls batetest xls bdmingas xls test Baug xls trdngas ls uccarelc sls Utopia D emo M ainD ata xls Utopia Demo U serConstraints xls HPeg UC xls Export Format f New Format Old Format Export Hode Hide Excel during Export close when finished Hide Excel during Export show when finished Export Close To vary the Scenario to be exported choose a different Scenario from the Export from Scenario combob
191. S database As already noted above once this parameter instance has been added into the TS spread its I E Option Code may be changed if necessary NOTE For now I E Option Code values should not be specified in respect of TS Data Parameter instances that can occur in Rule based Constraints If I E Option Code values are specified for such TS Data Parameter instances they will not be taken into account when the user carries out the Resolve Rule based Constraint right mouse click popup menu function on the Constraint tab nor will they be put out to the special lt Run gt _RULES lt region gt DDS file s generated by ANSWER when Run Model is carried out Noble Soft Systems Pty Ltd 2004 09 Data entry and editing 5 5 5 5 1 section five 41 Printing Item details and data ANSWER provides facilities for producing text files of the Items details and their data for each Component or for a subset of a Component These ANSWER generated text files are exported to WordPad for viewing editing on line and printing by the user as required Print Item Subsets This facility produces a WordPad report listing the Name Region and Description for every Item that appears in the Items listview for the current Component tab The WordPad report is created as a text file named ItemSubsets prt in the C AnswerTIMESv6 Ans_WrkTI folder To create this WordPad report 1 Click on the required Component tab In the following examples the
192. SE Scenario icon in the Selected Scenarios display 2 A Base Model Edit Password dialogue box shown below will appear Base Model Edit Password Editing of the Base Model is password protected Please enter the password Password i iO Cancel 3 Enter the password The OK button will then become enabled 4 Click on OK and the BASE Scenario will now be editable Noble Soft Systems Pty Ltd 2004 09 section two 68 Starting ANSWER and the ANSWER Home Screen 2 15 2 3 Removing the BASE Scenario Edit password protection To remove the edit password protection from a BASE Scenario 1 Open the Database 2 Click on Tools in the menu bar and choose Change Base Model Edit Password in the drop menu 3 A Change Base Model Edit Password dialogue box shown below will appear Change Base Model Edit Password z Enter your old Base Model Edit password then SEs enter Your new password in both the New Password and Very fields Old Password New Password Po Verity Po i Cancel 4 Enter the Old Password the OK button will then become enabled but leave the New Password and Verify fields empty 5 Click on OK and an ANSWER dialogue box shown below will confirm that the BASE Scenario does not require an edit password G NOTE now no password is required to edit the Base Model Noble Soft Systems Pty Ltd 2004 09 section two 69 Starting ANSWER and the ANSWER Home Screen 2 16 U
193. Slices at this Level PASSED CHECK This database does not contain any Weekly TimeSlices Check Every Region Contains Every Day Night TimeSlice for no TimeSlices at this Level PASSED CHECK 411 Day Night TimeSlices are present in every Region ttt Check that every non ANNUAL Region TimeSlice has an associated TS_PARENT instance PASSED CHECK ttt Check that TS_ PARENT for every Region TimeSlice is at the appropriate TimeSlice Level for the Region PASSED CHECK For Help press F1 Noble Soft Systems Pty Ltd 2004 09 section fourteen 15 Handling of TimeSlices in ANSWER TIMES The logfile indicates the integrity checks that are performed In general these checks are performed for Internal Regions and not for External Regions For a database with Different TimeSlices in Different Regions the third fourth and fifth checks are not performed since they are not appropriate If you invoke this menu function for a database where not all of the integrity checks are passed then the following message will be displayed Some TimeSlice Integrity Checks Failed E P This database Fails some of the TimeSlice Integrity Checks Do vou wish to see the TimeSliceIntegrity Check logfile For a database with Different TimeSlices in Different Regions if you click on Yes to view the TimeSlicelntegrityCheck logfile then the logfile displayed in Wordpad might be as follows TimeSliceIntegrityCheck log WordPad me x File Edit
194. Solve from default Basis Restart File Solve from user specified Basis Restart File GAMS Basis Restart File Modify GAMS Basis Save File f No Basis Save File Default Basis Save File f Userspecitied Basis Save File GAMS Basis Save File Modify Noble Soft Systems Pty Ltd 2004 09 section six 8 Running the Model As noted in this TIMES User Note The savepoint facility makes it possible to save basis information levels and dual values of variables and equations into a gdx file after model solution The loadpoint facility makes it possible to load previously saved basis information from a gdx file and utilize it for a so called warm start to speed up model solution According to the GAMS Basis Restart File option and the GAMS Basis Save File option selected by the user ANSWER TIMES automatically generates the needed SET SPOINT and or SET LPOINT lines in the GEN file to ensure that the GAMS Savepoint and Loadpoint facilities incorporated within the TIMES GAMS code are invoked The following table summarizes how the GAMS Basis Restart File option and the GAMS Basis Save File option selected by the ANSWER TIMES user correspond to the GAMS Savepoint and Loadpoint facilities described in the TIMES User Note TIMES LoadPoint pdf GAMS Basis Restart File option GAMS Basis Save File Line s in GEN Correspondence option file auto in TIMES generated by LoadPoint pdf ANSWER f Solve from scratc
195. TID data TS_0RDWEERLY Global Order of Weekly TimeSlices Scenario Parameter Region TimeSlice vale BASE T5_ORD_SEASON 7 GLOBAL AUT 2 BASE T5_DRD_SEASON GLOBAL SPR A BASE T5_DRD_SEASON 7 GLOBAL SUM 1 PU JBASE T5 ORD SEASON 7 GLOBAL WIN 43 AA OO M Likewise the following TS_ORD_DAYNITE instances specify the global ordering of the Day Night Timeslices TS_ORD_DAYNITE GLOBAL SUM DAY 1 TS_ORD_DAYNITE _GLOBAL SUM NITE 2 TS_ORD_DAYNITE GLOBAL AUT DAY 3 TS_ORD_DAYNITE GLOBAL AUT NITE 4 TS_ORD_DAYNITE _ GLOBAL WIN DAY 5 TS_ORD_DAYNITE _ GLOBAL WIN NITE 6 TS_ORD_DAYNITE _ GLOBAL SPR DAY 7 TS_ORD_DAYNITE _ GLOBAL SPR NITE 8 On the Parameter tab these TS_ORD_DAYNITE instances would appear as follows Global TimeSlice Commodity CommGroup Process TradeProcess Constraint Parameter Items Filter l l G Ses C ie fan Data Parameters Sets Filter Hamed Filter Mame Desmpin Stats plem Management TOP IN Input commodity for process Set so eae Sets TOP OUT Output commodity for process Set J eg TS ORD DAYNITE Global Order of Day Night TimeSlices Hew Copy Delete Edit T5_ORD_SEASON Global Order of Seasonal TimeSlices a Select All ltems EA BES TID data T5_ORD_WEEELY Global Order of Weekly TimeSlices y Scenario Parameter
196. TOPIA region Looking at the details this Scenario contains TS data and TID data for this region but does not contain Item data In fact scenario LUMPYINV contains TS and TID data for process E70 but the Item data for process E70 is contained in the BASE scenario Noble Soft Systems Pty Ltd 2004 09 sectiontwo 18 Starting ANSWER and the ANSWER Home Screen 2 7 The Results Management region 2 7 1 Features of the Results Management region of the Home Screen Results Management Cases Selected Cases BASEUTOP Base scenario for BASE 2008 1225 09 59 Imported 5 gt BASEUTOP Base scenario for Utopia mo 2008 12 25 09 59 B LUMPYINY BASE Lumpy ln BASE LUM 2008 12 25 10 07 Imported B LUMPYINY BASE Lumpy Investment 2006 12 25 10 07 B MULTI BASE MULTI BASE MUOLTI 2008 12725 10 11 Imported 4 E BASEUTOP and LUMPYINV Cases selected for browsing of results Import View LST View QC Delete Edit Results tab Sync Scen Edit selected Case Synchronize Selected Scenarios Delete selected Case with Selected Cases View quality assurance log of most recent Case Browse results of selected Cases View List LST file report of selected Case for diagnostics Import selected model run Case into ANSWER 2 7 2 Importing a Case On the Run Model dialogue box there is an Import Results Automatically checkbox whose default setting is checked So by default ANSWER automatical
197. TRULEDDLines lt ETL gt lt LumpyiInvestment gt lt ImportResultsiIntodnswer gt lt SuppressPureceraTskesults gt lt savepointLoadpointLines gt lt G DYEARValue gt 4 ee ee TITLE WNOBLE SOFT AMNSWER TIMES VERSION 6 5 0 TIMES VERSION 2 9 0 OPTION LIMROW 0 LIMCOL 0 SOLPRINT ON ITERLIMN 50000 OPTION RESLIM S50000 PROFILE 1 SOLVEOPT REPLACE OPTION LP CPLEE OPTICN LFE MNPSURITE OPTION S SOUT cn SOFFLISTING ONEMFPT SONLISTING S5ET SHELL ANSWER t Activate validation to force VAR CAP COMPRD and square obj costing SET VALIDATE No For Help press F1 Noble Soft Systems Pty Ltd 2004 09 section six 16 Running the Model 4 Carefully edit Template GEN to make the desired changes and exit WordPad 5 If you make a mess of editing the Template GEN file carefully use Explorer to delete this file from the Gams Source folder C AnswerTIMESv6 Gams_ SrcTl and then copy the file DefaultTemplate GEN and rename it to create a new Template GEN 6 Note that the various SETs associated with different model variants are automatically generated by ANSWER using a table driven approach so that there is no need for the user to edit the GEN file template to provide them T Note also that the Run Model e Edit GAMS Control File checkbox at the bottom of the Run Model form is available for the user to make one off changes to a particular lt casename gt GEN file prior to
198. T_BND UTOPIA Em o oo ooo po ANNUAL ue 0 PASE ACTLCOST ajutora Em oo ooo osoo asooo 03000 BASE FLO_FUNC UTOPIA Em hco ELC ANNUAL f O 0 3200 03200 0 3200 BASE FLO_SUM___ JUTOPA EM HCO HCO CO2 ANNUAL f L BASE NCAPAFA 2 UTOPIA EM po BASE NCAP_COST_ UTOPIA o 88 0000 89 0000 89 0000 o b b JP o osoo osoo oeoo ooo bo 14000 0000 1 300 0000 1 200 0000 PASE NcaP FoM UTOPIA em o ooo o e e o o o BASE NCAP_TLIFE UTOPIA EH fe ee eal g aaa 40 0000 70 0000 100 0000 a y a a A Lo UP The Bound argument of UP could also be specified by right clicking in the Item6 column combobox selecting View Descriptions from the popup menu that appears and then selecting UP on the Add Row Item Selection form but for such a simple choice of argument just dropping down the combobox is obviously more efficient 4 Having chosen the required Bound ANSWER will move the active field to the next field in the Add Row that requires argument or data specification For the CAP_BND Parameter this is the first numeric data field 1990 Scenario Parameter Region Process Com CommGroup Com Item5 Item VE 19950 200 2mo pe BASE ACT_BND afutora Em o ooo po ANNUAL ue 0 Pease act cost afutora em o o ooo osoo ozooo 0 3000 BASE FLO_FUNC UTOPIA Em HCO ELC ANNUAL f jO 03200 03200 0 3200 BASE FLO_SUM UTOPIA EM HCO HOO
199. The operation of other facilities are detailed in subsequent Sections The Tool Bar including the Region Management and Batch Management buttons On the Home Screen the Tool Bar provides a one step icon for opening an existing Database This is detailed in Section 2 4 2 Opening an existing Database The Tool Bar plays a greater role on the Data Results Screen The Region Management button in the Tool Bar row allows the user to create delete edit Regions in the on line Database This is detailed in section 2 5 Region Management below The Batch Management button in the Tool Bar row allows the user to create delete edit Batches of Runs in the on line Database Since Batch Management is related to running the model the operation of this facility is detailed in section 6 Running the Model see in particular section 6 4 Batch Management facility The Data Management region and the Results Management region The facilities of the Data Management and the Results Management regions are detailed in Sections 2 6 The Data Management region and 2 7 The Results Management region Home Screen terminology what is a Database a Scenario and a Case A Database is the specified Microsoft Access mdb file containing a BASE Scenario and its associated non BASE Scenario s If the Scenarios have been run under TIMES the Database will also contain a BASE Case and non BASE Case s A Scenario
200. This returns you to the Import Model Data from Excel dialogue box If a subset of Regions is specified this common subset applies to all of the Excel files to be imported The setting for the Target Scenario combobox will default to the Scenario that is currently selected in the Scenarios display Note that the Target Scenario is common to all of the Excel files to be imported To vary the Target Scenario either choose a different existing Scenario from the Target Scenario combobox or key the name for a new Scenario into the combobox Before clicking on the Import button ensure that appropriate user options are selected to control the import process These options are detailed below in section 2 10 3 Import Model Data from Excel User Options Note that your user option settings are saved to the registry and will be used as the default settings the next time that the Import Model Data from Excel facility is invoked Click on the Import button If the Excel file contains a Region s that is not currently in the database and that is selected as one of the Regions to be imported a message similar to the following is displayed to allow you to OK the automatic creation of this these new region s Noble Soft Systems Pty Ltd 2004 09 section two 38 Starting ANSWER and the ANSWER Home Screen 11b 12 12a 12b 2 The L5 file contains the following region s that do not exist in the current database
201. To change the Name of an existing Filter copy the Filter as detailed in section 3 7 5 to create a new Filter with the desired Name Then delete the original Filter as detailed in section 3 7 6 3 7 8 Three Categories of Filters There are three broad categories of Filters Data Only Filters that are useful for Data only They were created for data mode of Data and have filtering criteria in the Parameter column or in the Scenario column Noble Soft Systems Pty Ltd 2004 09 section three 33 ANSWER s Data Results Screen 3 7 9 3 7 9 1 3 7 9 2 Results Only Filters that are useful for Results only They were created for data mode of Results and have filtering criteria in the Parameter column or in the Case column Data Results Filters that are potentially useful for both Data and Results They do not have filtering criteria in the Parameter column or in the Scenario Case column When the user is browsing editing Data and brings up the TS and TID Filter form the Name combobox is populated with all TS and TID Filters that are in the Data Only and Data Results categories Likewise when the user is browsing Results the Name combobox is populated with all TS and TID Filters that are in the Results Only and Data Results categories This applies regardless of which Component tab the user is on So if the user is say browsing Results the combobox will contain the same list of Filters regardless of whe
202. To delete an existing TimeSlice s make the BASE Scenario the editable Scenario move to the TimeSlice tab and multi select the TimeSlice s to be deleted and then click on the Delete button in the Item Management frame For an ANSWER TIMES database that has the Same TimeSlices in every Region a message similar to that below will appear asking the user to confirm the delete This message emphasizes that any TimeSlice that has been selected will be deleted IN ALL REGIONS Confirm Deletion of selected TimeSlices IN ALL REGIONS You have selected the Following distinct Timeslice Mames For deletion fexcluding Global Region TimeSlices 1 Seasonal TimeSlicets 1 Day Night TimeSlicets IF you proceed with deletion these Seasonal Weekly Day Might TimeSlice s and all associated Data and Results For the TimeSlicet s will also be deleted IN ALL REGIONS WARNING Deletion of Seasonal eekly Timeslices will leave their Child TimeSlices without a Parent 4re you sure that you wish to delete the selected TimeSlicets IN ALL REGIONS You will not be able to undo this deletion Click on the OK button to confirm the delete So to delete say WIN NITE from every region for a database that has been designated as having the Same TimeSlices in every Region all that is needed is to select WIN NITE in any region and then click on the Delete button Since every Region must contain the ANNUAL TimeSlice ANSWER TIMES disallows the deletion of
203. Tools Options menu bar facility allows the user to control Spread Sheet Colors the colors used in the TS and TID spreads on the Data Results screen Spread Text Tips whether or not Spread Text Tips are displayed and if so the delay before they are displayed Maximum Items to Select without Prompt the maximum number of Items that the user can select either via Select All Items via multi select without being prompted to specify a Filter for the Items listview to multi select a smaller number of Items Maximum Rows to Display without Prompt the maximum number of TS and TID rows to display without prompting the user to apply a Filter when the user chooses Select All Items This maximum is also used when multi select of Items is in place and the user chooses Remove Filter Repair and Compact Current Database whether or not the Repair and Compact Database facility is invoked automatically and if so the Database Size at which this facility is invoked for the currently open database Run Model Timing Log whether or not timing information for the Run Model cycle is written to a log file in the Answer Work folder for each model run Currently disabled To invoke the Tools Options menu bar facility 1 Click on Tools in the menu bar and choose Options in the drop menu 2 An Options dialogue box shown below will appear Spread Sheet Colors Background Color Browse Modify Color
204. View Insert Format Help Oise SR al leo Si Check Each TimeSlice Name occurs at the Same Level In Every Region in which that Name occurs PASSED CHECK Check Every Region Contains Every Annual TimeSlice for no TimeSlices at this Level PASSED CHECK A11 Annual TimeSlices are present in every Region ttt Check that every non ANNUAL Region TimeSlice has an associated TS _PARENT instance FAILED CHECK The following TimeSlices do not have an associated TS PARENT instance In region AUS TimeSlice SUM NITE Check that TS_PARENT for every Region TimeSlice is at the appropriate TimeSlice Level for the Region FAILED CHECE In region WEU TimeSlice SUM NITE has Parent ANNUAL that is not at Seasonal Level For Help press F1 Mh indicating that in region AUS TimeSlice SUM NITE does not have an associated TS_ PARENT instance perhaps it was inadvertently deleted and that in region WEU the TimeSlice SUM NITE does have an associated TS_PARENT instance but with the Parent not being at the appropriate Seasonal Level 14 8 2 File Generate Global Region TimeSlices from Region TimeSlices This menu function ensures that the TimeSlices in the GLOBAL region are in sync with the region TimeSlices This process actually involves two steps e Generating any GLOBAL region TimeSlices and their associated TS_ORD_XXX parameter instances that should be in the database given the region TimeSlices that the database contains e De
205. Visual Basic Microsoft Access Microsoft Excel and requiring the GAMS mathematical modelling language software It is mouse driven visual intuitive and interactive It provides the energy analyst with the following facilities data entry edit browse model run and results handling 1 2 2 Why was ANSWER TIMES developed ANSWER TIMES was developed to provide a modern Windows based interface for TIMES modellers The ANSWER TIMES software uses a similar paradigm to the ANSWER MARKAL software that was the first Windows based interface for working with the ETSAP group s MARKAL energy system model and has similar goals namely to enable the TIMES model to become more readily accessible to and usable by the energy policy and systems analyst ANSWER TIMES will continue to be enhanced to enable it to address extended versions of TIMES and to increase its usability 1 2 3 Major enhancements in version 6 of ANSWER TIMES Version 6 of ANSWER TIMES contains major enhancements as compared with the previous prototype version of ANSWER TIMES version 4 x x These enhancements include e All standard TIMES Sets and Parameters in the v2 9 0 TIMES GAMS code are recognized e All types of TIMES User Constraints are handled e Support for Data year Model year independence Data Time Periods and Results Time Periods can differ e Support for the advanced TIMES Interpolate Extrapolate options Noble Soft Systems Pty Ltd 2004 09 secti
206. WER TIMES ensures that 1 If a TIMES data parameter that does not have a region index is selected on the Parameter tab then GLOBAL will be the only available choice in the AddRow Region combobox 2 If a TIMES data parameter that does have a region index is selected on the Parameter tab then all regions except GLOBAL will be available choices in the AddRow Region combobox How to specify a Cross Region User Defined Constraint In section 11 1 above we noted that there are three instances of TIMES data parameters used to specify the RHS for User Constraints that involve the Sum over Regions and consequently that do not have a region index namely UC_RHS UC_RHST and UC_RHSTS A User Defined Constraint that involves any of these three TIMES data parameters as its RHS is known as a Cross Region User Defined Constraint since it involves summing across regions Since it may not be evident how to specify a Cross Region User Defined Constraint in ANSWER TIMES a specific example is presented below of specifying a Cross Region Constraint that is By Period Summing over Regions TimeSlices and hence has TIMES data parameter UC_RHST as its RHS Similar considerations apply to specifying Cross Region Constraints that have either UC_RHS or UC_RHSTS as their RHS s To specify a cross region User Defined Constraint named say XREG USRCONSTR that is By Period Summing over Regions TimeSlices 1 On the Constraint tab for each region that is
207. WER uses the Money Macro Money unit that you specify is to display the units associated with data or results parameters that involve the Money Macro Money unit For example the data parameter NCAP_COST cost of investment in new capacity has units that are Money unit Process Capacity unit To display the units associated with NCAP_COST ANSWER uses a table lookup to determine the Money unit e g 2000 US M and the Process Capacity unit for the selected process e g GW and hence determines the NCAP_COST unit as 2000 US M GW If an ANSWER database contains more than a single Money Macro Money unit the Money Macro Money unit determined by the table lookup will be ambiguous 4 2 5 1 Where an ANSWER database contains a single Money Unit and a single Macro Money Unit 1 The indicator associated with the Eate S Eine E a il button will be a v 2 If you click on the Check Money and Macro Money Units button you will get the following message Single Money unit and single Macro Money unit Ld i This database contains just a single Money unit and a single Macro Money unit as it should 3 To maintain the existence of just a single Money Macro Money unit ANSWER will only allow you to Edit the existing Money Macro Money unit See section 4 2 4 Editing an allowable unit above 4 If you attempt to add a New Money Macro Money unit you will get the following message An ANSWER database should contain
208. a Export from Scenario Start Year for Export of TS Data 1990 Final ear for Export of TS Data 2m0 Export as chanewertimesvb ans_ wrk ti base imp BASE base inp baseiltr imp BASE MATISSE IMP bdmingas imp matisse imp multi imp hambase imp trdd l imp Change Scenario to be exported Regions Chanqe name given to text file uccarelc imp ai Export Format f Mew Format C Old Format Export Close To vary the Scenario to be exported choose a different Scenario from the Export from Scenario combobox The name given to the Export Scenario text file defaults to the Scenario name with a file type of imp To vary the name given to the text file either change the name in the Export as C AnswerTIMESv6 Ans_WrkTl lt name gt imp textbox or choose an existing name from the display Noble Soft Systems Pty Ltd 2004 09 section two 29 Starting ANSWER and the ANSWER Home Screen 5 By default the data for all Regions that comprise the scenario will be exported to the imp file To export data for a subset of Regions click on the Regions button This brings up the Export Scenario Select Regions to Export dialogue box Select the subset of Regions whose data you wish to export and click on the OK button This returns you to the Export Scenario dialogue box E Export Scenario OF x Select Regions To Export F GLOBAL FG HFEF
209. a Click on Tools in the menu bar and click on Reset Column Widths in the drop menu or 1b Right click over either data spread and click on Reset Column Widths in the pop up menu 2 A dialogue box shown below will appear Answer oP Reset the column widths by clicking on 7 Yes to give standard ANSWER settings Ho to restore settings in place when you opened ANSWER 3 Select Yes to reset to standard ANSWER settings or No to reset to settings which were in effect when ANSWER was opened 3 6 4 2 Sort spread by Column Header When the spread first appears the Parameters are ordered alphabetically in descending order by Parameter then by Region then by Process then by Commodity CommGroup and Scenario or Case When viewing the Parameters it is often useful to sort by a name other than the Parameter name such as the Scenario or Process name To sort the Parameters by something other than the Parameter name 1 Click on the required column header shown below Sort spread by column header 2 The Parameters will then be ordered alphabetically in descending order for that header For example clicking on the Process header will cause the Parameters to be ordered alphabetically by Process then by Parameter Region Commodity CommGroup and Scenario or Case 3 To return to the original Parameter order simply click on the Parameter column header Noble Soft Systems Pty Ltd 2004 09 sect
210. a field in the series 2 Click on the left mouse key and highlight the required consecutive data fields including the first and last data fields Noble Soft Systems Pty Ltd 2004 09 section five 29 Data entry and editing Scenario Parameter _ Region Com Com Time Bou iE 1990 2000 2010 BASE COM_PROW a uTOPiA RH p 0 3 Press the F3 key or click on Functions in the menu bar and choose Linear Interpolate in the drop menu 4 The calculated data is displayed in the Parameter spread and immediately saved to the Database Bam Ee E A A A E E E A a E A BASE COM_PROJ UTOPIA RH f 0 25 0000 3 Mode 2 The linear interpolate function works somewhat differently in Mode 2 from the other functions For the interpolate functions assume that the currently active field is numbered N this field is not necessarily at the end of the time horizon Also assume that the first non null field preceding the currently active field is numbered 1 Then linear interpolate is carried out according to the formula above To invoke the Linear Interpolate function 1 Enter the data in this example 25 0000 into the first data field in the series tab over intervening null fields and enter data in this example 40 0000 into the last data field Do not press the Tab or Enter key after entering data into the last data field Scenario Parameter Fiegion_ Com Com Time Bou Jie 1990 2000 2010 2o20
211. a for the Items that have been selected It also provides a number of data management facilities The Parameters region has four main features 1 The Subset Parameters combobox 2 The TS TID Time Series and Time Independent Data combobox 3 The Data Results Parameter query button 4 The Parameters spreads i e the Time Series and Time Independent Parameters spreads When in Browse Data screen mode shown below and in Results screen mode the Parameters region provides the facilities for viewing the Time Series TS and Time Independent TID Parameters and data results of the selected Item s subset Parameters Process Specific hal rs TID data Scenario Parameter Region Process Commodit Comm iroup Comm Gr TimeSice_ Bound_ 1E 1980 2000 amo f Base fact cost cjotora EM Time Series TS Time 3000 osoo BASE FLOLFUNC UTOPIA em CEL Independent Data 1 ID Raia BASE FLO SUM UTOPIA EO hco HCO combobox 89 0000 BASE NCAP AFA Time Series Parameters spread eS aaa p UIP 0 0 80000 0 8000 base wcap cost L ENT Bots suts Param J BASE NCAPFOM 7 UTOPIA Jea o ooo do d d d o abat Acris Scenario Parameter Region Process Commodit CommGroup_ Year Value _ BASE NCAP_TLIFEp UTOPIA Jen o e a BASE PRC ACTUNT UTOPIA jen ELE eo S BASE PRC_CaPacT_ uToPIa Jem ooo eo as C ee gg a a ee ee BASE TOPOUT cfuroria jem ELC d d Initially both the Time
212. a single Money unit so you can t add a new Money unit IF you want a different Money unit to be displayed inside ANSWER edit the current Money unit Mote that unit conversion is your responsibility Noble Soft Systems Pty Ltd 2004 09 section four 6 Setting up Units in ANSWER 5 If you attempt to Delete the single existing Money Macro Money unit you will get the following message A An ANSWER database should contain a single Money unit so you can t delete this Money unit IF you want a different Money unit to be displayed inside ANSWER edit the current Money unit Mote that unit conversion is your responsibility 4 2 5 2 Where an ANSWER database contains multiple Money Units and or multiple Macro Money Units 1 The indicator associated with the pae Ua ine A a LTS button will be a x 2 If you click on the Check Money and Macro Money Units button you will get a message similar to the following Not single Money unit single Macro Money unit This ANSWER database contains 5 Money units and 4 Macro Money units You can use the Edit Units menu Facility to delete all but a single Money unit delete all but a single Macro Money unit i An ANSWER database should contain a single Money unit and a single Macro Money unit 3a If the Money Macro Money unit that is appropriate for your database is one of the Money Macro Money units that is displayed on the Units dialogue box under the
213. able Noble Soft Systems Pty Ltd 2004 09 9 contents 10 Section Eleven The special GLOBAL region and Cross Region User Defined Constraints in ANSWER TIMES 11 1 The special GLOBAL region in ANSWER TIMES 11 2 How to specify a Cross Region User Defined Constraint 11 2 1 How do I change a User Defined Constraint from regional By Region to cross region Sum over Regions and what happens when do 11 2 2 How do I change a User Defined Constraint from cross region Sum over Regions to regional By Region and what happens when do 11 3 Run Model considerations for the GLOBAL region 11 4 File Import Model Data from Excel considerations for the GLOBAL region Section Twelve Process Items Filters in ANSWER TIMES 12 1 Process Items Filters 12 2 Process Items Filters Form 12 3 Guidelines for specifying Process Items Filters 12 4 Exporting and Importing a Database s Process Items Filters 12 4 1 Exporting a Database s Process Items Filters 12 4 2 Importing Process Items Filters into a Database Section Thirteen Defining a Rule based Constraint in ANSWER TIMES 13 1 An example A Rule based Constraint renewable electricity production 13 2 Process Items Filters to Select Renewable All Electric Processes 13 3 Using the Constraint tab to define a Rule based User Constraint 13 4 Change of Set Memberships on the Constraint tab 13 5 Displaying how a Rule based Constraint will be resolved at Run Model time
214. ad Sheet Colors The TS and TID spreads on the Data Results screen employ a variety of colors to indicate whether cells are editable or browsable whether or not a Filter is currently applied whether comoboxes in the Add Row offer exactly one choice several choices or are empty See below where the combobox in the Spread Sheet Colors frame is dropped down to indicate the variety of color indicators that is available Options Spread Sheet Colors Background Color Browse Backqround Color Browse Background Color E dit Background Color Add Aow Spread Background Color Add Row Single Item go Background Color Add Row Empty List Background Color Filter Active Text Tig Grid Color Grid Color Filter Active Maximum Items to Select without Prompt Prompt user on Select All Mult Select if number of ltems selected in kemsa listview 500 exceeds Maximum Rows to Display without Prompt Prompt user on Select All Mult Select 7 Remove Filter it number of TS amp TID rows i O00 exceeds Repair and Compact Current Database M Invoke Automatically If Database Size in MB exceeds Run Model Timing Log Create Run Medel Timing Log in Answer vviork folder OF Cancel Background Color Browse default is light grey The color given to all cells when browsing Data Results The color given to cells that are not in the editable scenario when editing Data This
215. additional rules must be observed to allow the SET ALL_TS that specifies the global ordering of all of the TimeSlice Names used in the model to be properly constructed 1 A given TimeSlice Name must be used in the model at only one TimeSlice Level That is if a TimeSlice Name is used in one region at a certain TimeSlice Level then it is not allowable to use that Name at a different TimeSlice Level in any other region So for example if AUT is used as a TimeSlice Name in a region at the Seasonal TimeSlice Level then it is allowable for AUT to be used as a TimeSlice Name in other regions provided that in these other regions AUT is at the Seasonal TimeSlice Level but it is not allowable for AUT to be used as a TimeSlice Name in other regions at say the Weekly or Day Night TimeSlice Level 2 The relative ordering of the TimeSlice Names used in each different region must be consistent with the global ordering of all of the TimeSlice Names used in the model as specified in SET ALL_TS That is the relative ordering of any TimeSlices that have the same Names in different regions cannot be different in those regions 14 9 1 Special Case Editing a TimeSlice where Different Regions have Different TimeSlices but where TimeSlice being Editing occurs in Other Regions When editing a TimeSlice in a database where Different Regions have Different TimeSlices the special situation may arise where the TimeSlice being edited occurs in other regions So for exa
216. ae BASE FLOLFUNC 2 REGS OILREFIN OIL OILREFIN G ANNUAL 0 9900 0 9900 0 9900 0 9900 O ese _1F10_ SHAR _TRBREGS_ OLREDN GSL __ GI AEFING _JANNIUAL UP 0 3000 0 3000 0 30001 0 3000 Base NCAP_COST REGS OILREFIN a fe o i E e a C C S B es Scenario Parameter Region Process Commodity Item3__ Item6__ Year_ Value BASE _ _ PRC_ACTUNT 2 REG5 OILREFIN OILREFIN G po fJ 1 BASE __ PRC_CAPACT 2 REG5 OILREFIN p o p p 1000 ease TOPIN 2JREGS OILREFIN ot hooo ooo e ooo C pease toP ouT 2 REGS OILREFIN Dst pooo o ooo eo ooo Base TOP OUT 2 REGS OILREFIN Gsl bho o bo do 1 Ada BASE wt Database C AnswerT MES v6 Answer_Databases StanfordD emoNov2007 m Edit Scenario BASE j Then click on the Edit button in the Item Management frame to bring up the ANSWER TIMES Edit Process form Edit Process OILREFIN in Region REGS in scenario BASE SSS Edi Name Description for Process OILREFIN in Region REGS Or change Set Memberships or Units Or change 1 0 Commodities or PCG if necessary Or edit Comment Scenario BASE Stanford demo Name Desc OILREFIN REGS joi refinery Set Memberships Units 1 0 Commodities Set Memberships Process PRC EE Combined Heat amp Power CHP Annual Time Slice Level Demand Device DMD Seasonal Time Slice Level Electric Generation ELE C Weekly Time Slice Level Energy PRE Day Night Time Slice Level
217. agement Caseg P BASEUTOP Base scenario for h BASE 2008 12 25 09 59 Remen OF LUMPYINY BASE Lumpyin BASE LUM 2008 12 25 10 07 Remem fat MULTI BASE MULTI BASE MULT 2008 12 25 11 12 Remer Each Case now has an mi icon associated with it serving as a visual indicator that just the Case definition has been reMembered This is reinforced by the Status column displaying Remembered Case Defn Editing a Case This facility allows the viewing of details associated with a Case and the editing of a Case s Name and or Description and any associated Comment A BASE Case s Name and or Description can be changed using this facility 1 2 In the Cases listview select the Case that is to be edited Click on the Edit button below the Cases display or choose Edit in the menu bar and choose Edit Case in the drop menu An Edit Case dialogue box will appear Noble Soft Systems Pty Ltd 2004 09 section two 22 Starting ANSWER and the ANSWER Home Screen W Edit Case fel ES Edit name description or comment tor case LUMP YIN BASE Lumpy Investment Hame Description LUMPY INM BASE Lumpy Investment Comment Speciy Lumpy Investment parameters PRC_OSCNOAP NCAFP_DISC Model varant Standard TIMES Specii Model wariant Endog Techn Learning ETL M Lumpy Investment Browse Milestone Years Scenario comprising this case Modified Ea BASE Base scenario for Utopia model 2008 1
218. ained on line and so the Scenarios that comprise the Case and other details of the Case will be remembered but the TS and TID results for the Case will be deleted After the delete a special ral icon in the Cases listview will serve as a visual indicator to the user that just the Case definition has been remembered and that this Case no longer has actual results online 5 When the Confirm Deletion of Case dialogue box is displayed the Remember Case Definition s checkbox will be checked provided that the Case does not have a ra associated with it and will be unchecked when the ral icon is associated with the Case In the latter situation it is assumed that the user wishes to completely delete the Case from the database 6 When the Confirm Deletion of Case dialogue box is displayed the Automatically Repair and Compact Database after Delete Case s checkbox will always be unchecked If checked by the user Repair and Compact Database will be carried out after the Case is deleted This is recommended at intervals to reclaim unused space in the database 7 Click on the OK button and the Case will be deleted icon 2 7 5 1 The Edit Delete All Cases facility The Edit Delete All Cases facility provides a very efficient way of deleting all on line Cases from an ANSWER database To delete all on line Cases 1 Click on Edit in the menu bar and choose Delete All Cases in the drop menu 2 A Confirm De
219. aj easE Pe 8 Repeat steps 5 6 7 to specify additional UCRULE_ rows as necessary to complete the Constraint To complete this example we again select parameter UCRULE_ACT at step 5 but at step 6 select Process Filter ALL ELE and at step 7 specify 0 05 in each time period and then click on the key to add the row into the TS spread as follows Subset Parameters Jec User Defined Constraint Ts TID Scenario Parameter Region Constraint BASE UC__RHSRT DEMO RENEWELC a 2 DEM 1550 0 000 Wo jo 0 o 0 0500 o EE 0 i ENEWELC LHS ALLELE p ANNUAL fp 0 o ANNUAL e C a 1 0000 BASE CRULE ACT ENEWELC LHS RENEW ELE eC te S U BASE UCRULE_ACT U The UCRULE_ACT row involving ALL ELE appears above the row involving RENEW ELE even though added after it because ANSWER sorts by Parameter then Region then Side then Proc Filter Noble Soft Systems Pty Ltd 2004 09 section thirteen 7 Defining a Rule based Constraint in ANSWER TIMES 13 4 Change of Set Memberships on the Constraint tab 1 The user may change the Set Memberships of a Constraint from standard to rule based or Edit vice versa by clicking on the Edit button in the Item Management frame to bring up the Edit User Defined Constraint form and then by checking unchecking the C Rule based checkbox to change from standard to rule based or vice versa respectively 2 If the user changes the Set
220. all electric processes Comment Processes to be Included Name Desmipion Set Memberships Input Commodity Output Commodity Look for Like E Processes to be Excluded lokt Clear Included Clear Excluded OF Cancel When it is invoked the ALL ELE filter will select Processes whose Names are Like E that is Processes whose Names begin with E Given the naming conventions assumed this filter selects all electric processes Note that other filters could be constructed such as all members of set ELE with ELC as an Output Commodity To define the RENEW ELE filter invoke the Process Items Filter form and enter both the Name criteria Like E and the Description criteria Like renew in the top row of the Processes to be Included spread and specify the Name and Description of the filter itself as follows Noble Soft Systems Pty Ltd 2004 09 section thirteen 3 Defining a Rule based Constraint in ANSWER TIMES YT New Process Items Filter I0 Ed Enter Name Description Comment and Specify Filter for New Fracess tems Filter Name Description JRENEW E LE Name and description based filter defining all renewable electric processes Comment Processes to be Included SS Set 2 o Input Commodity Output Commodity Like E Like renew Processes to be Excluded E e Set Memberships Input Commodity Output Commodity Clear Included Clear Excluded
221. allow the size of the database to grow beyond say 800MB Since an ANSWER database is a Microsoft Access database and there is an absolute limit of 2048MB to the size of a Microsoft Access database it is strongly recommended that you do not use a number larger than 1024 Noble Soft Systems Pty Ltd 2004 09 section four 1 Setting up Units in ANSWER Section Four Setting up Units in ANSWER This Section shows the user how to set up units in ANSWER A distinction is made between 1 Allowable units for the Database 2 Default units for each Component 3 Units for individual Items which are generally the default units of the relevant Component Before entering data into the Database the user must ensure that the units that will be allowed in the Database have been correctly entered The user must also ensure that the default units for each Component in the Database have been correctly entered ANSWER is distributed with a common set of default units Each Component will have a general set of default units Where the units for individual Items in the Database vary from the default Component units they can be specified at the data entry and editing stage This is detailed in Section 5 Data Entry and Editing Multi region Units and Default Units in the multi region case are region independent That is the same Units and Default Units apply in every region 4 1 What allowable Units should we use In TIMES it is at the discretion
222. ame row are ANDed to form a composite row criterion and then these composite row criteria are ORed The nature of the filtering criteria that may be entered in individual cells of the spreads varies according to whether the cell is in the Name or Description or Set Memberships or Input Commodity or Output Commodity column For a cell in the Name column the filtering options provided are displayed in the following pop up menu 00m ut Copy Paste E01 Between EO1 And E70 In EO1 E21 E31 Like P D G lt gt EOL Mot Between E01 And E70 Mot In E01 E21 E31 Mot Like PPP D G gt EOL gt E01 EOL lt E01 Note that it is not necessary to use the pop up menu to specify Name filtering criteria these criteria may simply be typed into the cell Also some short cuts are available For example if you type E01 into the cell on leaving the cell ANSWER will automatically convert to E01 And if you type say E0 into the cell on leaving the cell ANSWER will automatically convert to Like E0 For a cell in the Description column only two of the above filtering options are provided Like and Not Like So to specify that the Description contains say renewable the user would specify the Description filtering criteria as Like renewable Noble Soft Systems Pty Ltd 2004 09 section twelve 6 Process Items Filters in ANSWER TIMES 00m
223. ample is fleshed out in the next section Noble Soft Systems Pty Ltd 2004 09 section thirteen 2 Defining a Rule based Constraint in ANSWER TIMES 13 2 Process Items Filters to Select Renewable All Electric Processes For details regarding ANSWER s Process Items Filters and how to invoke the Process Items Filter form see section 12 Process Items Filters in ANSWER TIMES In section 13 3 below Using the Constraint tab to define a Rule based User Constraint it is assumed that the Process Items Filter that selects renewable electric processes is named RENEW ELE and that the Process Items Filter that selects all electric processes is named ALL ELE We now indicate how the user might define these two Process Items Filters We assume that user imposed naming conventions mean that the Names of all processes that produce electricity begin with E and that no other process Names begin with E We also assume that all renewable processes and only renewable processes have renew somewhere within their Descriptions Then to define the ALL ELE filter invoke the Process Items Filter form specify the Name and Description of the filter and then enter the Name criteria Like E in the Processes to be Included spread as follows YT New Process Items Filter 0 Ed Enter Name Description Comment and Specify Filter for New Fracess tems Filter Hame Description ALLE LE Name based filter defining
224. anagement region shows the Scenarios that the user has selected for browsing editing The Selected Scenarios display always contains the BASE scenario Often it will also contain a number of non BASE scenarios as shown below where it also contains non BASE scenario LUMPYINV The Browse Data and Edit Data buttons below the Selected Scenarios display allow the user to move off the Home Screen to the Data Results Screen to browse or edit data respectively These facilities are detailed below in sections 2 6 7 and 2 6 8 The Run Model button allows the user to bring up a dialogue box to initiate a model run and the Batch Run button allows the user to bring up a dialogue box to batch up a succession of model runs to be carried out one after the other These facilities are briefly described in section 2 6 9 and explained in detail in section 6 Running the Model Data Management Scenarios Selected Scenarios gt Name Description Modified DELETED items deleted from Data th 2008711712 17 13 2008 11712 17 13 55 BASE Base scenario tor Utopia mo 2008 12 20 13 48 2 BASE Base scenario for Utopia 2008 11712 17 13 2008 12 20 13 48 LUMPYINY Specify Lumpy Investment p 2008 12725 10 11 LUMPYINY Specify Lumpy Investment 2008 11714 12407 2008 12 25 10 1 z MULTI Specify MULTI HCAP A 2008 11 12 17 17 2006 12 25 09 57 z Selected Scenarios display Scenarios display Mew Eopy Delete Edit
225. ange fom wg E Period Sum over Regions Time Slices UCT wg Be Region Period Sum over Time Slices UCAT to by clicking on the wE By Region Period Sum over Time Slices UCAT laarinodeorihe Gal Memberships tree and then clicking on OK When ANSWER asks you to confirm change of Set Memberships click on OK 3 Note that after step 2 the parameters associated with the Constraint will change ANSWER automatically creates an instance of the UC__RHSRT parameter with placeholder none in the Bounds cell because this parameter is needed for a regional Constraint with Set Memberships as at step 2 Other parameters associated with the User Defined Constraint such as UC_ACT UC_ CAP etc are not affected 4 Steps 1 3 above change a Constraint in a single region from cross region to regional t is necessary to make the same step 2 Set Memberships changes to all Constraints with the same Name in other regions or else to delete Constraints with this Name in other regions and as well to delete the cross region Constraint with this Name in the GLOBAL region Noble Soft Systems Pty Ltd 2004 09 section eleven 5 The special GLOBAL region and Cross Region Constraints in ANSWER TIMES 11 3 Run Model considerations for the GLOBAL region You need to be aware of the following considerations regarding _GLOBAL region data parameters when invoking the Run Model facility see also Section Six 1 When y
226. arbon eu ee i E a ee a hreck a billion passenger kilometres annun billion tonne kilometres annumn ae mecscscscemeccscssssmecsscscscmesscscscsmencscsssemscsscsescmecscscsssmescssssssmscsscscssmacsesssssmescsssscsmescscscsemessssssssmesssssses meses decree eerereereneerereeerssrerereesssesesresenessessreenesereeeerenenensll e g 2000 USm PJ en bn pass km a section four Setting up Units in ANSWER 4 2 Specifying allowable Units for the Database Before entering or editing data in the ANSWER Database the user must ensure that the allowable units have been specified in the Database ANSWER divides units into six groups namely Commodity units i e for energy carriers demands and emissions Money units Money Macro units Process activity units i e the operation of the process Process capacity units i e the installed capacity of the process User Defined Constraint units o om Ses Some special considerations apply to Money units and Macro Money units For details see section 4 2 5 Money Units and Macro Money Units 4 2 1 Viewing allowable Units Virtually all necessary units are pre set in ANSWER To view allowable units that have been entered into the Database either pre set or entered later 1 Ensure that you are editing the BASE scenario You may be on the Home Screen or the Data Results Screen 2 Click on Edit in the menu bar and click on Units in the drop menu 3 T
227. art see Section 8 3 The Chart with Excel facility In ANSWER s Chart facility the chart is not dynamically linked to the original ANSWER data results Consequently a change in the ANSWER data results will not result in a commensurate change to the chart To create a chart using the Chart facility 1 Select the rows of data results in the Parameters spread to be exported by either i swiping the left hand column of the required data results rows shown below to select all periods for the selected rows or Cass Parameter Region Process 1990 2000 2mo BASEUTOFP COST_INY UTOPIA EDI 0 00 452 0 00 BASEUTOP COS TINY TVUTORIA E31 ae 5 76 5 76 ASEUTOFP COST_IN 7 UTOFIA EO ffd q1 24 40 10 iL swiping the required periods they must be adjacent of the required data results rows to select a subset of the periods for the selected rows In the example below the periods 1990 and 2000 will be charted Cae Parameter _ Region Process 1990 2000 2mo BE E F9 91 24 2 Click on the Chart icon aj or click on Tools in the menu bar and click on Chart in the drop menu 3 A Chart Options dialogue box shown below will appear Chart Options x Chart Title Case Region UTOPIA BASEUTOF Annual Investment Costs aggregated over vintages Sub title Style 3D Column Chart Aes Labet Years Y Label 2000 US milion dollars 4 Fill in and or edit the Chart spec
228. ased Constraint RENEWELC taken from scenario BASE TABLE AUC_RHSRT 1990 EPS 2000 DEMO RENEWVELC EPS TABLE AUC AcT DEMO DEMO DEMO DEMO DEMO DEMO DEMO RENEWELC RENEWELC RENEWELC RENEWELC RENEWELC RENEWELC RENEWELC TS Data follows for Rule based Constraint RENEWELC2 TABLE AUC_RHSRT taken from scenario BASE 1990 EPS 2000 DEMO RENEWELC2 EPS TABLE AUC_ACT DEMO DEMO DEMO For Help press F1 RENEWELC2 RENEWELC2 RENEWELC2 Noble Soft Systems Pty Ltd 2004 09 section fourteen 1 Handling of TimeSlices in ANSWER TIMES Section Fourteen Handling of TimeSlices in ANSWER TIMES 14 1 Overview ANSWER TIMES allows the user to construct a multi region TIMES model in which e The same TimeSlices occur in every region or e Different regions may have different TimeSlices When the user creates a new ANSWER TIMES database the setting specified by the user for the M Same TimeSlices in Ever Region checkbox at the bottom of the New Database form determines whether the new ANSWER TIMES database that is created will be one in which e The same TimeSlices occur in every region corresponding to this checkbox being checked the default setting or e Different regions may have different TimeSlices corresponding to this checkbox being unchecked Which of these two categories an ANSWER TIMES database falls into may be easily dete
229. ases Noble Soft Systems Pty Ltd 2004 09 8 contents Section Seven ANSWER TIMES Results 7 1 ANSWER TIMES Results Parameters 7 2 Viewing a Case s results 7 2 1 Browsing a Case s results on line Section Eight Charting and analysing ANSWER TIMES Results 8 1 Requirements for exporting data results to charting analysis 8 2 The Chart facility 8 3 The Chart with Excel facility 8 4 The Analyse with Excel facility Section Nine Reference Energy System Graphics 9 1 Starting closing the Reference Energy System RES graphic 9 1 1 Starting the RES graphic 9 1 2 Closing the RES graphic 9 2 Features of the Reference Energy System RES graphics 9 2 1 The Process RES structure 9 2 2 The Commodity RES structure 9 2 3 Cascading through the RES 9 2 4 Overflow indicators 9 2 5 Page Resizing and Scroll bars 9 2 5 1 Scroll LHS RHS Together 9 2 6 Refresh 9 2 6 1 Editing changes that affect the RES 9 2 7 Synchronize 9 2 8 Switch Background to White Black 9 2 9 Increase Color Contrast 9 2 10 Emissions On Commodity RES 9 2 11 Print Section Ten Library Database facility Library Region implementation The development of a special version of ANSWER TIMES that incorporates a Library Database facility to meet the needs of the International Energy Agency for their Energy Technology Perspectives model IEA ETP model is currently under consideration Comprehensive documentation of the Library Database facility is not currently avail
230. at are in the GLOBAL region 5 When you carry out a run involving a single internal region from a database that contains multiple internal regions each cross region User Defined Constraints that is specified for this single internal region in any of the scenarios that you select is generated but with a LHS involving only this single internal region and with RHS as specified by the corresponding _GLOBAL region UC__RHS UC_RHST UC__RHSTS parameter 11 4 File Import Model Data from Excel considerations for GLOBAL region The following considerations apply to the File Import Model Data from Excel facility see also section 2 10 to accommodate the existence of GLOBAL region User Defined Constraints and _GLOBAL region data parameters iP ITEMS sheet s may be specified with GLOBAL as the region in cell B1 Only User Defined Constraint Items and TimeSlice Items will be accepted Items for other Components will be rejected 2 TS DATA sheet s may be specified with GLOBAL as the region in cell B1 Only TS _GLOBAL region data parameters will be accepted other parameters will be rejected 3 TID DATA sheet s may be specified with GLOBAL as the region in cell B1 Only TID _GLOBAL region data parameters will be accepted other parameters will be rejected 4 TS DATA sheet s for which the region in cell B1 is not GLOBAL may only contain TS parameters that have a region index are not GLOBAL region other parameters will be rejected 5
231. at are involved in the Rule based Constraints 6 1 4 6 Run Model Create Results for Import into ANSWER checkbox option WM Create Results For Import into ANSWER If you run with the Create Results for Import into ANSWER checkbox checked then the GAMS run will generate results in an ANT file this is a results file in a format that ANSWER has the ability to process and import into an ANSWER TIMES database So if you want to import into ANSWER TIMES the results of a model run then you should run with this checkbox checked In particular if you want to import results automatically into ANSWER at the end of a model run it is essential that you run with this checkbox checked since if you uncheck it the Import Results Automatically checkbox becomes unchecked and disabled as shown below IY Suppress Pure Zero Time Series Results Import Results Automatically Noble Soft Systems Pty Ltd 2004 09 section six 13 Running the Model If you are using VEDA BE for your results processing and do not wish to generate results in an ANT file for import into ANSWER TIMES run with the Create Results for Import into ANSWER checkbox unchecked The GAMS run will now no longer generate results in an ANT file Even if most of the time you prefer to use VEDA BE for your results processing you may still wish to generate results in an ANT file that can be imported into ANSWER TIMES Running with the Create Results for Impo
232. at each of the Items specified in the Item1 Item6 positions columns D l is an Item that already exists in the ANSWER database or is specified in the ITEMS worksheet s of the Excel file having regard to whether the associated Region for Item1 6 is the Region specified in column B or the Region specified in column C ANSWER also checks that each of the Items specified in the Item1 ltem6 positions is of the correct Component type for the TS or TID Trade Data Parameter instance being specified Example of Possible Error Message from Checking for Valid Item1 ltem6 Values Suppose that the user mis spells HCO as BCO when specifying a FLO_FUNC Parameter instance where BCO is not in the ANSWER database and is not specified in the ITEMS worksheet s of the Excel file The following error message is produced Record 35 has error BCO is not a valid Item Name for Region UTOPIA FLO_FUNC E01 BCO ELC ANNUAL O 0 32 0 32 0 32 Noble Soft Systems Pty Ltd 2004 09 section two 52 Starting ANSWER and the ANSWER Home Screen 2 11 Importing a TIMES GAMS Data Dictionary The File Import TIMES GAMS DD facility allows the user to import into an ANSWER TIMES database the data contained in a TIMES GAMS Data Dictionary GAMS DD file This includes but is not limited to TIMES GAMS DD files generated by VEDA Thus this facility provides a very useful means of loading data contained in a TIMES GAMS DD file s into an ANSWER TIMES database Th
233. at has different Names in different regions E same Commodity Name in All Regions specifying the Names of this Commodity in each of the regions between which it is traded and specifying its single Trade Matrix are both carried out on the Trade Matrix tab as described below e This specification is carried out in an essentially identical fashion for both a Bilateral Trade Process and a Market Trade Process It is just the allowable checkboxes in the EXPort lMPort spread that differ according to whether the Process involves Bilateral Trade or Market Trade e f you click on the Traded Commodities tab for such a Trade Process you will see that a message is displayed indicating that you need to use the Trade Matrix tab and the Traded Commodities spread will not be displayed Noble Soft Systems Pty Ltd 2004 09 section sixteen 8 Handling of Trade Processes in ANSWER TIMES Where the Commodity being traded has Different Names in Different Regions the Traded Commodities are specified on the Trade Matrix tab To specify the Names of the Traded Commodity and the Trade Matrix e Ensure that the settings for Commodity Type are correct e Click on the Trade Matrix tab The comboboxes in the Comm column allow the specification of the Name of the Commodity for each Export Region and the comboboxes in the Comm row allow the specification of the Name of the Commodity for each Import Region Use Commodity comboboxes in the Trade Ma
234. ate delete edit Batches of Runs in the on line Database the Batch Management facility view the current on line Scenarios including their date created and date last modified create copy delete edit a Scenario access on line editing browsing of Scenario data run the model either a single run Run Model or a batch of runs Batch Run view the current on line Cases including their date created manually import a Case if automatic import of Cases is de activated view the List LST file of a Case view the quality assurance log for the most recent run View QC delete edit a Case access on line viewing of the Case results 2 3 1 Features of the Home Screen Menu Bar Tool Bar showing all icons disabled apart from Open Database Note also the Region Management Batch Management buttons Utopia _Lumpy Investment ANSWER TIMES Energy Modelling File Edit wiew un Tools Functions Help F JEJEA ml ikd Region Management Batch Management Data Hanagement cenarios Selected Scenarios gt DELETED Items deleted from Dat 2008 11 12 17 13 20081112 1913 7 Cay BASE Base scenara tor Utopia 2008 12 20 13 48 Data 2 BAS Base scenanoforUtop 2008111277135 2008 12 20 13 48 Management DSC Scenario specityinglu 2008 1114 1 07 20087 12719 21 22 j diti MULTI Scenario specifying M 2008 11 12 17 17 200811421717 a New Eopp Delete Edit Browse Data Edit Data Run Model
235. ating a New ANSWER Database To create a New ANSWER Database 1 Click on File in the menu bar and choose New Database in the drop menu or use the keyboard shortcut Ctrl N 2 The New TIMES Database form will appear with the default settings shown below on the first occasion that you invoke the File New Database facility New TIMES Database Template Yersion version TIRE Svh Max Item Length 16 TIMES v6 Max Item Length 24 Other Base Scenario Details Descriptors Data Time Pernod Results Time Periods f Unequal spacing Equal spacing f Unegual spacing Equal spacing Periods in Database Periods in Database Add Selected Add Selected Periods to Results Periods to Data J Create Initial Region I Same TimeSlices in Every Region and then on subsequent occasions with the settings taken from the previous use of the File New Database facility 3 Choose Template Version TIMESv6 Max Item Length 16 to create anew ANSWER database in which the maximum Item Name length is 16 characters or choose Template Version TIMESv6 Max Item Length 24 to create a new ANSWER database in which the maximum Item Name length is 24 characters 4 Fill in the Description The Description will be used as the Description for the BASE scenario and also as the default filename for the ANSWER database that is created See further discussion at step 11 below 5 Specify the Data Time
236. atus field in the spread So for example to multi select contiguous rows from FLO FUNC to NCAP_COST as above first select the FLO_FUNC row by clicking in its status field Then holding down the Shift key click in the status field for the NCAP_COST row Or alternatively simply hold down the Shift key and with the mouse swipe the status fields of the rows from FLO_FUNC to NCAP_COST The rows that are selected do not have to be contiguous Additional rows may be added to the selection by holding down the Ctrl key and clicking or mouse swiping their status fields There is one restriction it is not possible to de select an already selected row by holding down the Ctrl key and clicking in that row 2 Confirm the deletion of the Data Parameter s 3 The deletion is immediately applied to the Database and the Parameter spread is re displayed minus the Data Parameter s that have just been deleted 4 Repeat the operation as required 5 4 2 4 Associating a User Comment with a Data Parameter Noble Soft Systems Pty Ltd 2004 09 section five 24 Data entry and editing ANSWER allows the user to associate a Comment with each instance of a Data Parameter in the currently editable Scenario To associate a User Comment with a Data Parameter in the currently editable Scenario 1 Click on the 2 button next to the Parameter in the TS TID data spread 2 The Parameter Details dialogue box will appear Attibutes SCENARIO BASE Bas
237. aximum Rows to Display without Prompt value is 1000 so the prompt is displayed If the Maximum Rows to Display without Prompt value had been gt 1315 then the prompt would not have been displayed and the Select All Items operation would have proceeded with no Filter applied When the above prompt appears 1 To apply a TS and TID Filter click on the Yes button This will bring up the TS and TID Filter Form facility For details see section 3 7 2 To carry out Select All Items with no TS and TID Filter applied click on the No button In the above example the TS and TID spreads will contain 915 and 400 rows respectively 3 To cancel the Select All Items operation click on the Cancel button Maximum Rows to Display without Prompt for Remove TS and TID Filter When multiple Items are selected in the Items display and where Remove Filter that is Remove TS and TID Filter would produce a large number of rows in the TS and TID spreads the user is prompted to consider reducing the number of selected Items before removing the TS and TID Filter Max Rows to Display without Prompt Exceeded Ea y You are about to display 915 Time Series Rows and 400 Time Independent Rows we This total exceeds the Maximurn Rows to Display without Prompt value of 1000 rows To alter this value invoke Tools Options From the menu bar Before removing the current TS and TID Filter vou may wish to firs
238. ay all Items of a Component you will be prompted with the option of also viewing printing not just all Items but also printing Items by their subset groups as an addition to the report Noble Soft Systems Pty Ltd 2004 09 Data entry and editing section five 42 Do you also wish bo print ALL subsets for component Process 5b i If you choose No the following WordPad report will appear for viewing printing ItemSubsets prt WordPad File Edit wiew Insert Format Help lel E neal eale al lel amp ANSWER Item Subset Printout for Process Component Date 2009 02 24 00 09 Database Ci AnswerTIMESv6 Answer Databases Utopia Demo mdb Selected Scenarios RASE ttt Jtem Subset s SCenarioc Members IMPDSL1 IMPGasl IMPGSL1 IMPHOOL IMPOIL1 IMPURE 1 RHE RAG RHO ELi SRE TAD THE TEG For Help press F1 Noble Soft Systems Pty Ltd 2004 09 UTOPIA UTOPIA UTOPIA UTOPIA UTOPIA UTOPIA UTOPIA UTOPIA UTOPIA UTOPIA UTOPIA UTOPIA UTOPIA UTOPIA UTOPIA UTOPIA UTOPIA UTOPIA UTOPIA UTOPIA HX1l 1 Processes FRC Descriptions Coal Steam Electric LUR Nuclear Plant Hydro electric Plant Natural gas combined cycle plant Pumped Storage Power Plant Dil Plant Import of Diesel Import of Uranium Import of Gasoline Import of Hard Coal Import of Crude Import of Uranium Electric Boiler Gas oil Boiler Diesel Boiler standard Incandescent Lighting Dil Refinery Di
239. b 4 SameTimeslicesInEveryRegion mdb 4 DifferentTimeSlicesInDifferentRegions mdb al New TIMES Database mdb 41 22222 0ndb section two 7 o E ll TwoLevelTS mdb lal Example4multi mdb 2b VEDAWEU 1 mdb la EDFAv6 3 mdb lal example4 again mdb 2b Example4v6 2 mdb 4 LiveStanfordDema mdb lal Example4v6 mdb 2b Example4v6 3 mdb lal restNewDBS mdb lah testNewDB4 mdb lah estNewDB2 mdb BE 4 testNewParams mdb E testNewDB3 mdb hi pot ae 4 restResulks mdb lal testDBZ mdb AY Compute 3 ii 2 testTS mdb lal bestOB mdb N My Network File name Demon ew TIMESD atabase Places save ag type Access Database mdb Cancel 11 By default the File name field is set to the Description entered at step 4 above Either proceed using this filename or change it to whatever filename you wish 12 The Save as type field must remain as Access Database mdb 13 Click on Save This will both save the Database and create an empty BASE Scenario within it 14 The settings for the Data Time Periods e g Unequal spacing and the Periods in the Periods in Database listbox and for the Results Time Periods and the settings for the Create Initial Region and Same TimeSlices in Every Region checkboxes are saved to the registry and will be used as the default settings the next time that the File New Database facility is invoked 2 4 2 Opening an existing Database To open an existing Databas
240. be seen by switching to the CommGroup tab and selecting the newly created OILREFIN G in region REGS Global TimeSlice Commodity CommGroup Process TradeProcess Constraint Parameter Items Filter G Sets f Named an Commodity Groups COM GRP Sets Fi Name Region Description Staus a p tem Man OILREFIN G REG PCG for OILREFIN Oil refinery sane OILREFIN G FREG2 PCG for OILREFIN Oil refinery OILREFIN G REGS PCG for QILREFIM Oil refinery New OILREFIN G FREG4 PCG for OILREFIN Oil refinery E OILREFIN G REGS PCG for OILREFIN Oil Refinery eae subset Parameters o Commodity Group ee Ladd ease fat __ Scenario Parameter _ Region Commodity CommGroup TimeSlice Value _ BASE COM_GMAP REGS DSL OILREFING 1 BASE COM GMAP 7 REG5S GSL OILREFING a eee eee e The fact that ANSWER TIMES auto generates the above Process parameter instances along with the associated true Commodity Group and COM_GMAFP instances obviously significantly reduces the burden on the user of specifying a Process Where the PCG for a Process comprises just a single Commodity Where the PCG for a Process comprises just a single Commodity the PRC_ACTUNT instance auto generated by ANSWER TIMES will have this Commodity in the Item3 column a true Commodity Group and associated COM_GMAP instances are not required and will not be auto generated Noble Soft Systems Pty Ltd 2004 09
241. be remain unchanged in the existing Scenario On completion of the Import Scenario process a message box will be displayed to advise that the records in the imp file were successfully imported Cai i 1 All 64 scenario records were successfully imported 9b If the Name specified in the Import into Scenario combobox is an existing Scenario in the target Database but the Description for this Scenario differs from the Description in the imp file a message box is displayed asking the user whether the Description in the imp file should replace the current Scenario Description Current description For scenario LUMPY INY Sr Specify Lumpy Investment parameters PRE_DSCNCAF MCAP_DISC differs From description in the import File Specify MULTI MCAP_AFM NCOP POMM parameters Replace current description by new description If you click on the Yes button then the Scenario Description will be changed to match that in the imp file and if you click on the No button the Scenario Description will be left unchanged In either case Yes or No the Import Scenario process will proceed and data in the imp file will be merged with the already existing data for that Scenario as detailed in step 9a above Note that this message box also allows you the option of Canceling the Import Scenario process if you realize that you are attempting to import into the wrong Scenario e The message box displayed above indicates that the
242. below the Selected Scenarios display or click on Run in the menu bar and choose Batch Run in the drop menu 3 A Batch Run dialogue box shown below will appear initially empty with an Add button that is used to add new runs to the batch Alternatively if there are online stored Batches of Cases see section 6 4 Batch Management facility the Load Batch button may be used to add new runs to the batch See section 6 3 2 below for details regarding the Load Batch and Save Batch buttons Batch Run Ioj x Cases Comprising Batch Run Description Scenarios A Remove Remove All dd Up On Load Batch Save Batch Progress W Create Results For Import into ANSWER Import Results Automatically W Automatically Repair and Compact Database After Import e Noble Soft Systems Pty Ltd 2004 09 section six 30 Running the Model 4 Click on the Add button The Batch Run Case Selection form appears containing a list of all of the Cases that exist within the database See below The caption of this form provides a reminder that multi select of Cases is allowed Note also that this form is user resizable and that ANSWER remembers the last size and position of this form E Batch Run Case Selection multi select allowed MSEBOTH Base scenario for Utopia Demo model 2009 024705 22 59 BASEUTOP Base scenario for Utopia model 20087 12730 16 58 LIMA E N E Renewable Limit Aur 2009 02 05 22 25 M
243. ble Soft Systems Pty Ltd 2004 09 sectiontwo 47 Starting ANSWER and the ANSWER Home Screen Column A For now the cell in column A of the TS Data Parameter row must be empty Parameter Column B The cell in column B of the TS Data Parameter row must contain the Parameter name ltem1 through Item6 Columns C through H The cells in columns C through H of the TS Data Parameter row must contain Item1 through Item6 specifying the arguments of the TS Data Parameter with each argument in the exact Item position that ANSWER expects In the above example for the CAP_BND parameter ANSWER expects a Process Item in the Item1 position and a Bound Item in the Item6 position and expects minus as a placeholder in the remaining Item positions Item2 ltem3 Item4 Item5 For most ANSWER TIMES TS Data Parameters the Item positions are as follows ltem1 Process Item2 Commodity ltem3 Commodity Group ltem4 Commodity Group Item5 TimeSlice Item6 Bound but with the caveat that Trade IRE and User Constraint UC TS Data Parameters are excluded Interpolate Extrapolate Option Code Column The cell in column of the TS Data Parameter row must contain the Interpolate Extrapolate I E Option Code that is applicable for the Parameter instance e For details about I E Opt Codes see section 5 4 5 I E Option Code for Handling of TIMES Interpolate Extrapolate Options TS Data Numeric Values Columns J K The cells in columns J K
244. bove the Row Comparison Filter combobox has two alternate settings Show All Rows the default and Hide Identical Rows Whichever setting is selected applies to both the Time Series and Time Independent spreads 2 With the Show All Rows setting what is displayed in the Time Series and Time Independent spreads is determined solely by the Time Series and Time Independent Filters respectively 3 The Hide Identical Rows setting can only be used when browsing Results If a Filter with the Hide Identical Rows setting is applied when browsing editing Data ANSWER displays a message indicating that the Hide Identical Rows option is not available for Data and the spreads will be displayed as though Show All Rows had been selected 4 With the Hide Identical Rows setting what is displayed in the Time Series and Time Independent spreads is what would be displayed with the Show All Rows setting but with the additional filtering out of rows that are the same in all respects except for Case for each Case For example suppose that the selected Cases are AAA BBB and CCC Further suppose that any other filtering criteria that may be in place permit Results Parameter VAR_ACT L for Process E01 to appear in the Time Series spread If the time series of VAR_ACT L values for Process E01 is the same for each of the selected Cases AAA BBB and CCC then these three rows are deemed to be identical and would be hidden w
245. button to select and highlight all Items in the Items display see Section 3 5 2 3 Select All Items Alternatively click on Edit in the menu bar and choose Select All Items in the drop menu RES button to display the Reference Energy System diagram for the selected Item see Section 9 Reference Energy System Graphics Alternatively click on View in the menu bar and choose RES Graphics in the drop menu Click on Sets button to display the Set Memberships information for the selected Item New button to create a new Item including defining its Set Memberships and establishing its Units Alternatively click on Edit in the menu bar and choose New Item in the drop menu Copy button to copy an existing Item with its specifications Parameters and data Alternatively click on Edit in the menu bar and choose Copy Item in the drop menu Delete button to delete an existing Item Alternatively click on Edit in the menu bar and choose Delete Item in the drop menu Edit button to edit an existing Item including its Set Memberships and Units Alternatively click on Edit in the menu bar and choose Edit Item in the drop menu This button will appear as Browse if the selected Item is not in the editable scenario Select All Items button to select and highlight all Items in the Items display see Section 3 5 2 3 Select All Items Move button to move an existing Item with its spe
246. by Constant F Divide by Constant F9 4dd Constant Two different modes of operation are available to the user for invoking a mathematical function Mode 1 The user enters the necessary data highlights the adjacent data fields in a row or rows of the Time Series data spread and then invokes the desired mathematical function These fields may be anywhere within the time horizon Mode 2 The user enters the necessary data and then immediately invokes the desired mathematical function There is no need to highlight the data fields that are going to be affected In this mode only the active row is affected and the general rule is that all data fields from the currently active field to the end of the time horizon will be affected In general the second mode of operation is more efficient fewer keystrokes for data entry in a single row e g the Add row than the first mode For the purpose of describing how the mathematical functions work we will assume that we are dealing with just a single Data Parameter row Mode 1 Assume that the highlighted fields are numbered 1 2 N Mode 2 The general rule is that the currently active field is numbered 1 and that the last field in the time horizon is numbered N although there are some exceptions which will be dealt with as we consider each function in turn Assume that the values in these fields before the mathematical function is applied are a 1 a 2 a N Let anew
247. c z Ts TID data _ Scenario Parameter Region Process IE 1990 2000 2010 BASE NCAP_COST UTOPIA O 1 400 0000 1 300 0000 1 200 0000 BASE NCAP_COST UTOPIA 0 5 000 0000 5 000 0000 5 000 0000 BASE NCAP_COST UTOPIA E31 3 000 0000 3 000 0000 3 BASE _ NCAP_COST UTOPIA EM 690 0000 690 0000 BASE NCAP_COST UTOPIA E51 300 0000 900 0000 zi gt E E E31 EH E4 E41 FH LC BASE BASE BASE Ipacr E O es es E Edit Scenario BASE A Database C 4nswerTIMESv6 Answer_Databases Utopia_Lumpylnvestment mdb 9 When the Filter is applied the Apply Remove Filter icon Jv in the tool bar is backlit and recessed as shown The backgrounds of the TS and TID spreads are coloured yellow and in Browse Data and Results mode the TS and TID data rows are coloured dark yellow shown above 10 The TS and TID Filter facility also allows temporary Filters to be used Using such Filters reduces the keystrokes needed when experimenting with Filters For example when the Save amp Apply Filter form is displayed at step 6 instead of carrying out steps 7 and 8 an alternative course of action is simply to click on the Apply As Temp button When this is done a special pre defined Name is assigned to the temporary Filter and the Filter is applied A temporary Filter applied to Data on the Process tab is always assigned the special Name lt Temp_ Proces
248. case with standard user defined Constraints the only Rule based Constraints that will be activated in a model run are those that are defined in one of the scenarios that comprise the model run e When deciding in which scenario a particular Rule based Constraint is to be defined the user needs to bear in mind that a Rule based Constraint that is defined in the BASE scenario will be activated in every model run 2 The scope of a Rule based Constraint is the set of processes in either the BASE scenario or in any of the non BASE scenarios that comprise the model run So for example if one of the rules for a Rule based Constraint is to select renewable electric processes then the set of distinct renewable electric processes in the BASE scenario and in non BASE scenarios that comprise the model run will be selected 3 At Run Model time for the Run Case named lt Run gt all Rule based Constraints for each region lt Region gt that comprises the model run are resolved and written to a specially named DDS file lt Run gt _RULES lt region gt DDS That is for say a run involving 9 internal regions 9 such special DDS files will be created e The Template GEN file ensure that the special RULES DDS files are INCLUDEd after the BASE DD and other non BASE DDS files for the model run to ensure that all processes involved in the constraints are previously defined e Where region lt Region gt does not contain any Rule based Constraints the sp
249. ce Level Weekly Time Slice Level C Day Night Time Slice Level Commodity Units Change Units Noble Soft Systems Pty Ltd 2004 09 section five 5 Data entry and editing Fill in the Name select the appropriate Region from the combobox and fill in the Description of the new Commodity Specify the Set Memberships of the new Item by clicking on the appropriate leaf node leaf nodes have icon By in the tree view and clicking on the appropriate radio button and or in the appropriate checkbox s under Additional Characterization as required Above the Fossil leaf node has been selected along with the Annual Time Slice level radio button When the Name Description and Set Memberships have been fully specified the OK button will be enabled If the default units require changing click on the Change Units button Change Units to enable the Units combobox es Then select the appropriate allowable unit from the relevant combobox If the appropriate unit is not listed cancel out of the New Item facility and specify the allowable unit see Section 4 2 2 Specifying a new allowable Unit Optionally click on the Comment tab and enter a Comment for the Item Click on the OK button and the Item will be created in the Scenario and will become the current Item in the Items display The ltem s associated compulsory Parameters will also be displayed in the Parameters spread for data entry editing
250. ce of diesel in the model namely refinery production and the use to which it is put namely fuel tech diesel to final energy 4 Reference Energy System REGION region based on Data for Scenarios associated with Selected Cases Commodity SUPPLY DIESEL Diesel oILCRO T FINDSL iAsS 0IL The Commodity RES also shows the other Commodity input s and output s to from the supplying and consuming Processes For example the RES above for DIESEL Diesel indicates that supply Process SREFOOO Upstream refinery has OILCRD as an input and CO2 and GASOIL as outputs in addition to DIESEL The below GASOIL indicates that SREFOOO has additional outputs that are not displayed on the RES see section 9 2 4 Overflow indicators Noble Soft Systems Pty Ltd 2004 09 Reference Energy System Graphics 9 2 3 Cascading through the RES ANSWER s RES graphics facility allows the user to cascade through the RES by simply clicking on any Process or Commodity Item in the current RES graphic to initiate a new RES graphic that will be centred on the selected Item The user can continue in this manner to cascade through the RES without having to close it For example when viewing the Process SREFOOO Upstream refinery RES graphic shown below the user may wish to see the RES graphic for the output Commodity DIESEL Simply clicking on DIESEL will initiate a new RES graphic Reference Energy System REGIO
251. cenario to another This facility is available on the Commodity CommGroup Process and Constraint tabs The mechanics of the facility are explained assuming that the user wishes to bulk copy Process Items across Scenarios and are identical when bulk copying Items on other tabs To bulk copy a number of Items in the Items listview and their associated parameters from one Scenario to another Click on the required Component tab In the following example the Process tab has been 1 2 selected Multi select the Item s in the Items listview that are to be copied right mouse click and select Copy Item s across Scenarios from the popup menu Items Filter f Sets C Named Jtall Processes PRC Marne Region Description HE0 DEMO Coal Steam Electric UTOPIA Coal Steam Electric E2 DEMO LWA Nuclear Plant ET UTOPIA LWA Nuclear Plant E Toggle Size Fai DFI Select All Subset Parameters Process Copy Item s across Scenarios Scenario Parameter BASE F Copy Itemis from Region to Region s _ BASE Refresh blam TIIT Move Itemisi across Scenarios This brings up the Copy Item s across Scenarios form with the Origin Scenario initially set to BASE and the Destination Scenario initially set to be the currently editable scenario in this example TEST Noble Soft Systems Pty Ltd 2004 09 section five 13 Data entry and editing Copy Item s across Scenario
252. ces UCT leaf node of the Sat Memberships tree and then clicking on OK When ANSWER asks you to confirm change of Set Memberships click on OK 3 Note that after step 2 the parameters associated with the Constraint will change ANSWER automatically deletes the UC__RHSRT parameter because it is no longer appropriate for a Sum over Regions Constraint Other parameters associated with the Constraint such as UC_ACT UC_CAP etc are not affected 4 Steps 1 3 above change a Constraint in a single region from regional to cross region To complete the definition of a cross region Constraint it is necessary to make the same step 2 Set Memberships changes to all Constraints with the same Name in other regions and as well to create a new Constraint in the _GLOBAL region with this Name and with the same Set Memberships as at step 2 along with appropriately specified UC__RHST row lf the change of Set Memberships is as at step 2 above then UC__RHST is the appropriate RHS data parameter 11 2 2 How do I change a User Defined Constraint from cross region Sum over Regions to regional By Region and what happens when I do 1 On the Constraint tab select the desired Sum over Regions User Defined Constraint for a region other than the _GLOBAL region and click on the Edit button in the Item Management frame This brings up the Edit User Defined Constraint form 2 Change the Set Memberships of the Constraint e g ch
253. cesses ANSWER TIMES allows the Commodity that is traded to have the Same Name in All Regions or to have different Names in different regions An ANSWER TIMES database may have a mix of Trade Processes where for some Trade Processes the Commodity that is traded has the Same Name in All Regions and for others the Commodity that is traded has Different Names in Different Regions When the Commodity that is traded has the Same Name in All Regions it is easier to specify the Trade Matrix than when the Commodity that is traded has different Names in different regions Multiple Commodities may be traded by either a Bilateral or a Market Trade Process provided that each of these Commodities has the Same Name in All Regions and is of the same Commodity Type The ANSWER TIMES Master Trade Matrix facility simplifies the specification of the Trade Matrix where all most of these Commodities have the same Trade Matrix 16 2 Creating a New Trade Process To create a new Trade Process make the Scenario in which you wish to create the Trade Process the editable Scenario move to the TradeProcess tab and click on the New button in the Item Management frame to bring up the ANSWER TIMES New Trade Process form E New Trade Process in scenario TSTTRADE fel x Enter Name and Description for the new Trade Process Specify Type of Trade and Commodity Type and Naming Specify Set Memberships and change Units if necessary Use Traded Commodities and o
254. cesses 2009 01 28 15 50 Name and Set based filter defining all residential end use demand processes 20097 01728 15 51 Mem Copy Delete Edit Close amp Apply Close Noble Soft Systems Pty Ltd 2004 09 section twelve 3 Process Items Filters in ANSWER TIMES 9 The above form is for a database where as well as the pre defined Process Filter _ALLPROC two other Process Filters have been defined by the user This form operates in a similar manner to the Region Management and Batch Management forms in that it allows new Filters to be created via New or Copy and allows existing Filters to be deleted or edited via Delete or Edit The Delete and Edit buttons are disabled when the pre defined Filter ALLPROC is selected since deletion and editing of this filter are not allowed 10 In addition clicking on the Close amp Apply button closes this form and results in the selected Process Filter becoming the currently selected Named Filter in the Subset Items combobox which in turn causes the Process Items listview to be repopulated with the Processes that qualify according to the Filter specification 11 Clicking on any of the New or Copy or Edit buttons on the Process Items Filter Management form brings up the Process Items Filter form We now focus on presenting the main details of how the Process Items Filter form operates Noble Soft Systems Pty Ltd 20
255. cessible to unauthorised access loss or corruption by other routes such as MS Explorer Noble Soft Systems Pty Ltd 2004 09 section two 6 7 Starting ANSWER and the ANSWER Home Screen It remains the responsibility of the user to determine the level of risk of loss or corruption of their ANSWER TIMES software and database s and to institute appropriate precautions 2 15 2 1 Applying the BASE Scenario Edit password protection To apply password protection to editing of a BASE Scenario 1 Open the Database 2 Click on Tools in the menu bar and choose Change Base Model Edit Password in the drop menu 3 A Change Password dialogue box shown below will appear Change Base Model Edit Password 3 Enter your old Base Model Edit password then enter your new password in both the New Password and Very fields Old Password FO New Password DF Verity SSS 7 Cancel 4 Leave the Old Password field blank but enter the password in both the New Password and Verify fields The password facility is case sensitive and must have a minimum of four alpha numeric characters The OK button will then become enabled 5 Click on OK and an ANSWER dialogue box shown below will confirm that the BASE Scenario has a new edit password G Editing Base Model now has a new password 2 15 2 2 Using the BASE Scenario Edit password protection To edit a BASE Scenario that has password protection 1 Double click on the BA
256. ch as MS Explorer It remains the responsibility of the user to determine the level of risk of loss or corruption of their ANSWER TIMES software and database s and to institute appropriate precautions 2 15 1 1 Applying the Database Logon password protection To apply Database Logon password protection to a Database 1 Open the Database 2 Click on Tools in the menu bar and choose Change Logon Password in the drop menu s2 A Change Logon Password dialogue box shown below will appear Change Logon Password 9 Enter your old Logon password then enter your oe pew password in both the Nem Password and Werty fields Old Fassword Doo OE New Password E CY Verky A iO Cancel 4 Leave the Old Password field blank but enter the password in both the New Password and Verify fields The password facility is case sensitive and must have a minimum of four alpha numeric characters The OK button will then become enabled 5 Click on OK and an ANSWER dialogue box shown below will confirm that the Database has a new logon password G Thit ANSWER database now has a new logon password 2 15 1 2 Using the Database Logon password protection To open a Database that has password protection 1 Initiate the Open Database procedure Noble Soft Systems Pty Ltd 2004 09 section two 66 Starting ANSWER and the ANSWER Home Screen 2 4 A Logon Password dialogue box shown below will appear Logon Pa
257. changes over time 13 1 An example A Rule based Constraint renewable electricity production For ease of explanation we demonstrate what you would need to do to create a Rule based Constraint requiring renewable electricity production to be at least 5 of total electricity production That is 1 0 renewable electricity production 0 05 total electricity production gt 0 Previously when specifying this constraint in ANSWER as a user defined constraint the coefficients had to be normalized since the renewable electricity producers are included in the overall set of producers and the equation written in the form 0 95 renewable electricity production 0 05 non renewable electricity production gt 0 For Rule based Constraints ANSWER will handle this for the user and just the first more natural form of the equation needs to be provided by the user This also makes it much easier to adjust this constraint if subsequently the value of 0 05 needs to be replaced by some other value such as 0 15 The overview of what you need to do to create such a constraint using the new rule based facility is A Create a named Process Items Filter rule that selects renewable electric processes B Create a named Process Items Filter rule that selects all electric processes C Use the Constraint tab to define a Rule based Constraint that relies on the Process Filters that you have created at steps A and B This ex
258. choose to change them at a later stage To edit the properties of a Data Parameter 1 Ensure the screen is in Edit Data mode If the user wishes to edit the number of decimal places only the screen can be in Browse Data mode 2 Click on the Parameter tab 3 In the Items display click on the Data Parameter to be edited 4 Click on the Edit button in the Item Management sub region and the Edit Parameter Properties dialogue box shown below will appear with the current properties for that Data Parameter displayed Edit Parameter Properties Parameter Hame Description JACT_BN E Bound on activity of a process Properties a a eee Cancel Decimal Places ja Default Value Compulsory Parameter D 5 Edit the necessary fields 6 Click on OK and the new properties for the Data Parameter will be saved to the Database and displayed Note that if the status of a Data Parameter is changed to compulsory the user is responsible for adding the Parameter where relevant to an existing Item For a Results Parameter only the Description and Decimal Places can be changed The operation is the same as for Data Parameters except that the screen must be in Results mode 3 6 4 The Parameters spread The Parameters spread displays the Time Series data spread and the Time Independent data spread corresponding to the currently selected Item s the settings of the Subset Parameters combobox and the settings of
259. cifications Parameters and data Alternatively click on Edit in the menu bar and choose Move Item in the drop menu RES button to display the Reference Energy System diagram for the selected Item see Section 9 Reference Energy System Graphics As shown below the status of an Item is displayed as blank M or SM 1 A blank status indicates that the Item is to be found only in the Base Scenario 2 An M indicates that the Item is a Base Scenario Item which has had at least one of its Data Parameters modified in one of the selected non Base Scenario s 3 An SM indicates that the Item is fully defined i e its Name Description Set Memberships and Units are specified in one of the selected non Base Scenarios Noble Soft Systems Pty Ltd 2004 09 section three 18 ANSWER s Data Results Screen Items Filter E Sets C Named fran Processes PRC Mame Regon S Description O o o o ooo St fA ydro electic Flant E31 UTOPIA Hydro electric Pl alural gas combined cycle plant E41 UTOPIA N bined le pl umped Storage Power Flank E5 UTOPIA Pumped 5 Power Pl UTOPIA Oil Plant ES UTOPIA High efficiency Wind Farm SM Noble Soft Systems Pty Ltd 2004 09 section three 19 ANSWER s Data Results Screen 3 6 Subset Parameters combobox Parameters spreads Add row dd The Parameters region The Parameters region provides a Spread display of the Data Results Parameters and their dat
260. column headers for the export and import regions are Region and Region 2 respectively So for example on the Parameter tab the TOP_IRE parameter is displayed as follows Scenario Parameter _ Region Region2 Process Commodity Commodity Value _ BASE TOPIRE 2 IMPEXP UTOPIA IMPDSLT DSL DSL 1 BASE TOPIRE 2 IMPEXP UTOPIA IMPGAST GAS GaS 1 BASE TOPIRE F IMPEXP UTOPIA IMPGSLI GSL GSL 1 BASE TOPIRE JIMPEXP UTOPIA IMPHCO1 Heo heo 1 BASE TOPIRE IMPEXP UTOPIA IMPOILI OIL OIL BASE TOPIRE JIMPEXP UTOPIA IMPURNT URN URN a p Alo o i i The process of using the Add Row to add a Trade Data Parameter is very similar to that for adding a non Trade Data Parameter as described in section 5 4 2 1 above There are just a few respects in which Trade Data Parameters are given special Add Row treatment 1 Once the user selects the desired Trade Data Parameter e g IRE_FLO the Region combobox is populated in the standard fashion For example on the Parameter tab this means populated with all regions unless the Regions Filter button has been used to restrict the regions of interest 2 Once the user makes a selection in the Region combobox the Region2 combobox is populated with all regions except the region that has just been selected in the Region combobox again unless the Regions Filter button has been used to restrict the regions of interest 3 Once the user make
261. containing none A row of all null values for a Time Series Data Parameter or a null value for a Time Independent Data Parameter nearly always means that the user has failed to specify data where data is required And a row containing the none placeholder means usually that the user after creating a new Constraint has failed to specify whether the Bound argument associated with the UC__ RHS Parameter should be LO FX UP As a visual indicator to the user that a Data Parameter row has all null values or that the row contains the none placeholder ANSWER inserts a indicator in the first column of the data spread in each such row Note the indicator in the first column of the data spread below for the ACT BND Parameter Row that has all null values Scenario Parameter Region Process Commodity CommGroup Commr Items Item6 VE 1990 2000 2m0 a ease act enn efutora em ooo o ooo o deoo annuae fo ease act cost aurora m booo bho o ooo o oboo o boo o b Jo osoo osooo 0 3000 ease FLo Func aurora feo CELE ANNUAL o oseoo 03200 0 3200 And note the indicator in the first column of the data spread below for the UC__RHSRT Parameter Row that contains the none placeholder Parameter i Constraint Commodi TimeSlic ltem 17E BASE UC AHSAI F IMPEXP_ ELEMAX e none 0000 ooooo 0 0000 Add ease sia 3 6 4 6 Data Results Parameter Details query button To assist the user in
262. create a Scenario containing various sorts of Processes that you wish to specify in the worksheet carry out File Export Scenario Data to Excel and then look at column F in the rows for these Processes in the ITEMS section of the Excel file created by Export Scenario Data to Excel Item Comment Column G The cell in column G of the Item row may contain a Comment for the Item Specification of a Comment is optional and the cell in column G may be left empty 2 10 4 3 Time Series Data Format TS DATA A worksheet that contains TS DATA in cell A1 is assumed to contain Time Series data there may be several such worksheets in the Excel file Cell B1 of each TS DATA worksheet must contain a single Region name For each instance of a Time Series Data Parameter being specified there must be a single row in the following format specifying Parameter ltem1 Item2 Item3 Item4 Item5 Item6 Interpolate Extrapolate Option Code in columns B to respectively followed by the time series values in columns J K and optionally with a Comment in the column after the last numeric value column CAP BMD Est UP O 0 13 O17 0 21 optional comment This format is very similar to the old TS DATA format Differences are that the cell in column A must be empty the cell in column contains the Interpolate Extrapolate Option Code and the cell in the column after the last numeric value column may contain a Comment No
263. ctions in the menu bar and choose Geometric Extrapolate in the drop menu 4 The calculated data is displayed in the Parameter spread and immediately saved to the Database Noble Soft Systems Pty Ltd 2004 09 section five 32 Data entry and editing Scenario Parameter Region Com Com Time Bou iE 1990 2000 2010 2020 BASE COM_PROJ uTOPIA RH J j 0 Mode 2 The geometric extrapolate function assumes that the currently active field is numbered 2 with the immediately preceding field numbered 1 Then geometric extrapolate is carried out according to the formula above To invoke the Geometric Extrapolate function 1 Enter the data in this example 25 0000 into the first data field in the series and then enter data in this example 30 0000 into the second data field Do not press the Tab or Enter key after entering data into the second data field Scenario Parameter Region Com Com Time Bou e 1990 2000 2010 2020 BASE COM_PROJ UTOPIA RH j O 26 0000 30 0000 2 Press the F6 key 3 The calculated data is displayed in the Parameter spread and immediately saved to the Database Scenario Parameter Region Com Com Time Bou iE 1990 2000 2010 2020 BASE COM_PROJ UTOPIA RH p f 0 25 0000 43 2000 5 4 4 6 Geometric Extrapolate with user supplied annual percentage increase F7 In this variant of geometric extrapolation the
264. d Scenarios All enas Non bBESE BASE display Base Scenario and Base Case Parameters cenarios All Non BASE display non Base Scenario s and non Base Case s Parameters All display both BASE and non Base Scenarios and Cases Parameters 3 3 2 4 Regions Filter button to select subset of Regions for Data Results display By default the Data Results Screen displays data results for every Region The Regions Filter button in the Tool Bar allows the user to select a subset of Regions for which Data or Results is displayed 1 Click on the Regions Filter button 2 The Select Regions whose data will be displayed dialogue box will appear see below Noble Soft Systems Pty Ltd 2004 09 section three 7 ANSWER s Data Results Screen MS Regions Filter Op Select Regions whose data will be displayed F GLOBAL MJG IMPEXP HG MINA ES UTOPIA Select ll Deselect All 3 Use the checkboxes to specify the desired subset of Regions and click on OK 4 The Items region display and the Parameters region display will be refreshed to display only those Items for which the Region is in the subset specified at step 3 5 Where the Region subset specified at step 3 is a strict subset of the set of all Regions the Items display background color is set to yellow rather than the normal white as a visual cue to the user that a subset of Regions is being displayed That is as a visual cue t
265. d Items are able to be deleted 5 Click on Yes and the Item s and any associated data will be deleted from the Items display and the specified Scenario Note that an Item cannot be deleted from the BASE Scenario if that Item is referenced in a non BASE Scenario s This will occur when one or more Data Parameters for the Item have been added into a non BASE Scenario s Consequently to delete the Item from the BASE Scenario the Data Parameter s for that Item first have to be deleted from the non BASE Scenario s Deleting of Items on tabs other than the Process tab is carried out in exactly the same fashion as above But see also section 5 2 4 1 below Deleting a TimeSlice Item or a Process Item or a Trade Process Item Some special considerations apply when deleting TimeSlice Items or Process Items or Trade Process Items e See section 14 4 Deleting a TimeSlice e See section 15 3 Deleting a Process e See section 16 4 Deleting a Trade Process Editing an Item This facility allows the user to change an Item s Name Description Set Memberships any Comment and its Units Note that changing an ltem s Set Memberships may mean that the user will need to change some of the Data Parameters ascribed to the Item If radical changes to an Item s Set Memberships are required consider deleting the Item and creating a new Item with the required Set Memberships Noble Soft Systems Pty Ltd 2004 09 secti
266. d then use checkboxes to TM Same as Master Clear TM specify the Trade Matrix et Commodity pst Diesel I Al Links BiDirectional Check TM Integrity Once the OK button is clicked ANSWER TIMES auto generates the Trade Processes in the Regions that are trading along with a number of other TS and TID data parameters thereby significantly reducing the burden on the user of correctly specifying a Trade Process For details see section 16 Handling of Trade Processes in ANSWER TIMES A2 2 7 TIMES Interpolate Extrapolate Options To provide support for the advanced TIMES Interpolate Extrapolate options when editing or browsing Time Series Data as compared with Results the Time Series spread displays a new I E column immediately before the first Data Year Scenario Parameter Region Process Commodity CommGroup CommGr item Bouna iE 2005 2010 2m5 2020 a fees ee NA POT O A E E E A T Jo os us ast as BASE NCAP_COST REGI ECCGT e booo o booo aoooo 400 00 400 00 400 00 BASE NCAP_TLIFE REG1 ECCGT e o o booo o eo booo o do O aooo 3o00 30 00 30 00 Pads jBease hy e The I E column contains an Option Code for the control of data interpolation e The I E Option Code value in an existing TS Data Parameter instance may be changed by the user left clicking on the I E cell to invoke ANSWER s DirectCell Edit facility wnereby Noble Soft Systems Pty Ltd 2004 09 appendix two 6 Main
267. d your Owner Details 5 Once Noble Soft has received payment we will email back to you a fully registered license file answerTIMESv6 lic that is specific to your Product ID and that allows you to run in production mode indefinitely on your PC You should put this file in your ANSWER TIMES home folder default is C AnswerTIMESv6 over writing the previous answerTIMESv6 lic Installation of GAMS Before a complete test of the ANSWER installation can be undertaken GAMS and a GAMS compatible optimiser e g CPLEX or MINOS must be installed If you do not already have GAMS installed follow the GAMS software installation instructions Note that ANSWER runs GAMS from an MS DOS Window It is essential when you open an MS DOS Window and type PATH that you find that the PATH includes the GAMS installation directory If the PATH does not include the GAMS installation directory On a PC running Windows Vista choose Start Control Panel If necessary switch Control Panel to Classic View and then choose System At the left of the System screen there is a list of options Click on the Advanced system settings option This will bring up the System dialogue box with the Advanced tab selected Click on the Environment Variables button at the lower right Scroll down in the System variables list until you find Path select Path and then click on the Edit button to bring up the Edit System Variable form If you find that the Edit button is d
268. data field Scenario Parameter _ Region Com Com Time Bou iE 1990 2000 2010 2020 BASE COM_PROJ UTOPIA RH p p 0 250000 SO 2 Press the F5 key 3 The calculated data is displayed in the Parameter spread and immediately saved to the Database Scenario Parameter _ Region Com Com Time Bou iE 1990 2000 2010 2020 BASE COM_PROJ UTOPIA RH p 0 25 0000 31 4980 39 6650 5 4 4 5 Geometric Extrapolate F6 Geometric extrapolation is carried out from the value a 1 in field 1 and the value a 2 in field 2 overwriting any values that may already be present in fields 3 N Geometric extrapolation means the determination of values anew 3 anew N such that the numbers a 1 a 2 anew 3 anew N form a geometric progression assuming equally spaced Data Time Periods Thus the common ratio R between values in adjacent fields is given by R a 2 a 1 and we have anew 1 a 1 anew 2 a 2 anew n a 1 R for n 3 N Mode 1 To invoke the Geometric Extrapolate function 1 Enter the data into the first and second data fields in the series 2 Click on the left mouse key and highlight the required consecutive data fields including the first and second data fields Scenario Parameter Region Com Com Time Bou iE 1990 2000 2mo 2020 BASE COM_PROJ UTOPIA RH f 0 25 0000 3 Press the F6 key or click on Fun
269. db lal Base ITRI from MARK lal Example4 latest mdb lal Copy 2 of Stanford lal Example4 latest2 mdb lal Tiny model 2 mdb lal Example4 latest Times lal Storage mdb lal Storage mdb Cancel A 5 Click on the Database to be repaired and compacted and click Open to initiate the operation 6 When the operation has completed an information box will appear shown below l The database has been Repaired and Compacted 7 Click on the OK button The repaired and compacted Database can subsequently be operated in the usual manner Noble Soft Systems Pty Ltd 2004 09 section two 62 Starting ANSWER and the ANSWER Home Screen 2 14 Tools Default File Locations and Tools File Locations In ANSWER TIMES the default folder names for the GAMS Source GAMS Work ANSWER Work and ANSWER Databases folders are Gams_SrcTl Gams_WrkTI Ans_WrkTI and Answer_Databases respectively These default folder names are perfectly adequate for most users but some users may wish to have greater flexibility The Tools Default File Locations menu bar facility allows the user to display the folder names that will be associated with any ANSWER database that is created by use of the File New Database facility and to change these folder names as desired In other words the current folder names as displayed by this facility will be associated with each ANSWER database that is created by future use of the File New Database
270. de Process It is just the allowable checkboxes in the EXPort IMPort spread that differ according to whether the Process involves Bilateral Trade or Market Trade To specify the Trade Matrixes for each of the Commodities DSL and NGAS that can be traded by the Bilateral Trade Process BITRDPRC e Click on the Trade Matrix tab where the initial setting for the Commodity combobox will be DSL Set Memberships Units Traded Commodities Use Commodity combobox to specify the Name of the Traded Commodity and then use checkboxes to TM Same as Master Clear TM specify the Trade Matrix Restore TM Commodity per Diesel All Links Bi Directional Check TM Integrity eee en e e ea e Comm REGI e Click on checkboxes in the EXPort IMPort spread to specify the regions between which DSL is traded For example below region REG1 exports DSL to region REG2 and vice versa and region REG3 exports DSL to region REG4 and vice versa EXPAIMP ewe __ REGI REGZ REG3 REG4 REGS e Use the Commodity comboxbox to select NGAS then click on the checkboxes in the EXPort IMPort spread to specify the regions between which NGAS is traded Noble Soft Systems Pty Ltd 2004 09 section sixteen 5 Handling of Trade Processes in ANSWER TIMES Commodi igas Natural gas I Al Links Bi Direc EXP IMP Bwl REGI REG REGS REG4 REGS NGAS NGAS NGAS NGAS E Since the Trade Matrixes for both DSL and NGAS have been spec
271. decimal places The number of decimal places displayed for an individual parameter is easily changed by the user see Section 3 6 3 2 Changing the Status and Properties of a Data Parameter and a Results Parameter There is currently no mechanism in ANSWER by which the user can multi select a number of parameters and change the number of decimal places displayed to a common value in a single operation Noble Soft Systems Pty Ltd 2004 09 Data entry and editing 5 2 5 2 1 5 2 2 section five 4 Data entry and editing for Items An Item must be created and specified before its data can be entered Naming conventions should be applied when creating an Item see Section 5 3 Item Naming Conventions The Item Management sub region In Edit Data mode the Item Management sub region of the Items region has a number of editing buttons shown below If the Items display is empty only the New button will be enabled ltem Management Current Process 5 EDI sets New Copy Delete Edit Select All ltems ove FES Creating a New Item For editing purposes click on New button to create a new Item including specifying its Set Memberships and its Units Copy button to copy an existing Item including its specifications and Data Parameters Delete button to delete an existing Item Edit button to edit an existing Item and its specifications This button wi
272. desired numeric values in 1990 2000 2010 are 10 12 15 respectively change the placeholder none to UP and overwrite the default zeroes with these numeric values so that the TS spread appears as follows Scenario Parameter Region Constraint Bound 1E 1990 2000 2070 PMOIXREG UC UC_RHST 3 GLOBAL XREG USRCONSTR UP _ fO 10 0000 12 0000 15 0000 el eal z io 0 0000 ooooo 0 0000 4 To comprehend the cross region Constraint in its entirety it can be useful to multi select all instances of the Constraint in regions where it occurs including the GLOBAL region For the above example this might yield the following Global TimeSlice Commodity CommGroup Process TradeProcess Constraint Parameter Items Filter G Sets Named oer Constraints by Period Sum over Regions Time lic Sets Filter Named Filter Sh ltem Management All 3 tems selected Cats Mew Eopy Delete Enee Select All bene Hove RES Scenario Parameter Region Constraint Side Process Commodity TimeSlic Item6 IE 1990 2000 2010 PM XREG UC UC_RHST 7 GLOBAL xREG USRCONSTR uP jo 10 0000 12 0000 15 0000 PM XREG UC UCACT DEMO XREG USACONSTA LHS EOI f ANNUAL O 1 0000 1 0000 1 0000 M OISREG UC UC ACT 2 UTOPIA XREG USACONSTA LHS EOI ANNUAL 1 0000 1 0000 1 0000 as ee ee eee eee eee a a Fe AEG USACONSTR _ GLOBAL Cross A egion User Cons
273. diting Traded Commodities where Same Commodity Name in All Regions Editing of the Commodities that are traded by the Trade Process where each of these Commodities has the Same Name in All Regions iv Same Commodity Name in All Regions is carried out via the Traded Commodities tab as described below e Editing of the Traded Commodities is carried out in an identical fashion for both a Bilateral Trade Process and a Market Trade Process To edit the Traded Commodities for the Trade Process where Same Commodity Name in All Regions e Click on the Traded Commodities tab to bring up the Traded Commodities spread e Tospecify additional Traded Commodities use the Add Comm button to multi select the additional Commodities to be added to the Traded Commodities spread Then move to the Trade Matrix tab to specify the Trade Matrix for each additional Commodity e Toremove Traded Commodities use the Remove Comm button to remove rows for Commodities that are no longer to be traded To do this multi select entire rows in the Traded Commodities spread by clicking in column 0 of each row while holding down the Ctrl key and then click on the Remove Comm button Of course removal of a Traded Commodity removes the Trade Matrix that was specified for that Commodity 16 5 6 Editing Trade Matrixes where Same Commodity Name in All Regions Editing of the existing Trade Matrixes for any of the Commodities associated with the Trade Process where
274. e 1 Click on File in the menu bar and then choose 1 or 2 or 3 or 4 near the bottom of the drop down menu to open the most recently opened second most recently opened etc ANSWER Database Go to step 3 Alternatively click on the Open Database icon gf or click on File in the menu bar and then choose Open Database in the drop menu Go to step 2 2 The Open Database form shown below will appear Noble Soft Systems Pty Ltd 2004 09 Starting ANSWER and the ANSWER Home Screen Open Database Look in Answer_Databases de jt My Recent Documents Deskto m My Documents Fr My Computer t My Network Places 41 DemolewTIMESDatabase mdb 2 Example4 latest mdb 2 testDE mdb 2h newllCs mdb al copy4 of Import wEUOct2008 mdb 4 restNewDB mdb I Tiny model 1 mdb 2 TestImportExport3 mdb 2l StanfordDemoMov2007 mdb 2 SameTimesSlicesInEveryRegion mdb aj DifferentTimeSlicesInDifferentRegions mdb 2b Mew TIMES Database mdb A zzzzz mdb 2b testNewParams mdb b testResults mdb 4 File name Files of type section two 8 o E 2h testTS mdb lal TwolLevelTS mdb E Example4multi mdb EH VEDAWEU 1 mdb BH EDFAv 3 mdb lal example4 again mdb lal Example4v6 2 mdb 2h LiveStanforddemo mdb lal Exampledv6 mdb lal Example4v6 3 mdb 2 testNewDBS mdb i testNewDB4 mdb 2 testNewDB2 mdb lal bestNewDB3 mdb 2h testOB2 mdb Double click on the required Database file name
275. e File Import TIMES GAMS DD facility has been made available to ANSWER TIMES users after testing it against a variety of TIMES GAMS DDs However this is a complex facility that most likely still has some imperfections If your testing of this facility using your TIMES GAMS DD appears to have uncovered some imperfections please contact Ken Noble of Noble Soft Systems noblesoft netspeed com au But also if Import TIMES GAMS DD appears to work just fine for your TIMES GAMS DD please contact Ken Noble to let him know Before using the File Import TIMES GAMS DD facility the user is encouraged to read section 2 11 2 of this document Data and Results Time Periods Considerations when Importing a TIMES GAMS DD into ANSWER Acknowledgement Noble Soft Systems would like to acknowledge the invaluable assistance provided by Antti Lehtila of VTT Finland in the development of the File Import TIMES GAMS DD facility and also to thank assorted TIMES users who made their TIMES GAMS DDs available to be used for testing 2 11 1 The File Import TIMES GAMS DD facility Before invoking the Import TIMES GAMS DD facility place the TIMES GAMS DD file to be imported along with the associated RUN file in the ANSWER Work folder default C AnswerTIMESv6 Ans_WrkTI or in some other suitable folder e The main TIMES GAMS DD file that is being imported may reference other TIMES GAMS DD files by use of the BATINCLUDE co
276. e It also discusses the user s PC hardware software requirements and how to install ANSWER TIMES 1 1 TIMES 1 1 1 What is TIMES The TIMES model generator was developed in the late 1990 s by the International Energy Agency s IEA Energy Technology Systems Analysis Programme ETSAP To quote directly from chapter 1 of Documentation for the TIMES Model Part I authors Loulou Remme Kanudia Lehtila Goldstein that can be downloaded as TIMESDoc Intro pdf from the ETSAP website www etsap orgq TIMES an acronym for The Integrated MARKAL EFOM System is an economic model generator for local national or multi regional energy systems which provides a technology rich basis for estimating energy dynamics over a long term multi period time horizon It is usually applied to the analysis of the entire energy sector but may also applied to study in detail single sectors e g the electricity and district heat sector Reference case estimates of end use energy service demands e g car road travel residential lighting steam heat requirements in the paper industry etc are provided by the user for each region In addition the user provides estimates of the existing stock of energy related equipment in all sectors and the characteristics of available future technologies as well as present and future sources of primary energy supply and their potentials Using these as inputs the TIMES model aims to supply energy services at m
277. e either compulsory or optional to providing a sensible TIMES specification In the situation of an Item in a non Base Scenario that has been modified from the Base Scenario the Data Parameters listing for this Item will display the status of both the Data Parameters in the non Base Scenario and any residual Data Parameters of the Base Scenario To display the Data Parameters listing Click on the required Item in the Items display f 2 Click on the Data Results Parameter query button l or click on Tools in the menu bar and choose Parameter Information in the drop menu A Data Parameter Information display will appear if you are viewing data shown below A Results Parameter Information display will appear if you are viewing results 1 Data Parameter Information for 01 for region UTOPIA and scenarios BASE Legend data parameter exists C compulsory O optional illegal missing compulsory Time Series Parameters ooo x a a a a 4 ACT BHD ACT COST AT ERE CAP BHD FLO_BHD FLO COST FLO DELIV FLO EMIS FLO_FR FLO_FUHC FLO FUHCH FLO MARE FLO HEECOH FLO HEEFED FLO PECOT FLO SHAR FLO SUE FLO SUM FLO TAX HAF _ AF HAF AFA HlAP_ AFC HAF AFH Bound on activity of a process Variable costs associated with activity of 4 process Activity efficiency for 4 process Bound on total installed capacity in a period Bound on flow variable for 4 process Added variable O amp M of using
278. e Current Database If you encounter this situation proceed as follows 1 Scan the error log file to determine the Units that are not known to the Current Database lt is not necessary to be comprehensive about this it may be quicker to expect to iterate through these steps a few times 2 Do not proceed with the Import at step 14 b above Instead exit the Import TIMES GAMS DD facility make the BASE scenario editable invoke Edit Units from the menu bar and specify the Units that are not known to the Current Database 3 Close the error log file ImportScenario log 4 Invoke File Import Scenario from the menu bar and again attempt import of the IMP file VEDAWEU2 IMP that was created by the Import TIMES GAMS DD facility at step 13 above Following the specification at step 2 immediately above of Units that were not known to the Current Database many more records in the IMP file should be able to be imported 5 If after step 4 above a fairly large number of records in the IMP file still cannot be imported again examine the new error log file ImportScenario log perhaps to discover that there are still some Units that are not known to the Current Database In which case exit the Import Scenario facility and repeat steps 1 to 4 above 2 11 2 Data and Results Time Periods Considerations when Importing a TIMES GAMS DD into ANSWER TIMES Note that the ANSWER TIMES database will contain the same Time Seri
279. e Data Parameters exist C All compulsory Data Parameters exist O All the relevant Data Parameters are optional One or more illegal Data Parameters exist X Missing one or more compulsory Data Parameters For example in the Subset Parameters combobox shown above C indicates that all the compulsory Data Parameters have been created although their data may yet to be entered An X in place of a C would indicate that one or more compulsory Parameters have not been entered In the case of Results parameters indicates that results data exists 3 6 2 The Time Series Data TS Time Independent Data TID combobox TS data A z Data Parameters are either Time Series TS or Time TERE Independent TID To display either or both in the spread click on the TS TID Data combobox and select TS TID data either TS data TID data or TS TID data 3 6 3 The Data Results Parameter query button Noble Soft Systems Pty Ltd 2004 09 ANSWER s Data Results Screen section three 21 When the user clicks on the Parameter query button ANSWER will display a complete listing of the Data Results Parameters which are relevant for the selected Item This listing is determined by ANSWER based on the Item s Set Memberships as specified by the user This display will also indicate the compulsory optional illegal status of each Data Parameter and whether the Parameter currently exists for the specified Item Each of the Data Parameters may b
280. e Process Component For either of the above reasons where the units for the individual Items vary from the default Component units they will have to be edited at the individual Items level This will be discussed in detail under Section 5 Data Entry and Editing Noble Soft Systems Pty Ltd 2004 09 section five 1 Data entry and editing Section Five Data entry and editing This Section takes the user through the data entry and editing process for a TIMES Scenario As mentioned in the Introduction users of this manual are expected to be familiar with TIMES particularly its Set Memberships and Data Parameters In the text that follows Item means the combination of the Name and Region that uniquely defines an entity in the database For example a Process Item might be E01 in region DEMO The same database might also contain another Process Item also with Name E01 but in a different region say in region UTOPIA 5 1 Starting your data entry To enter or edit data for a particular Scenario enter the Data Results Screen from the Home Screen in Edit Data mode after double clicking on the required Scenario The user should note that ANSWER s data entry and editing process operates in a consistent manner 1 for both new and existing Scenarios 2 for each Component apart from the Global and Parameter Components and with some special enhancements for the TimeSlice Process and TradeProcess Components 3 for each I
281. e Selected Scenarios with the Selected Cases If the user clicks on this button the Scenarios in the Selected Scenarios are changed to comprise all and only the Scenarios involved in any of the Cases in the Selected Cases listview and the following message box appears Scenarios Synchronised Ea P T l l Selected Scenarios are synchronised with Selected Cases Suppose for example that the Selected Cases are LUMPYINV involving the BASE and LUMPYINV Scenarios and MULTI involving the BASE and MULTI Scenarios Then after clicking on the Sync Scen button the Selected Scenarios listview will contain the BASE LUMPYINV and MULTI Scenarios Synchronizing the Selected Scenarios with the Selected Cases is useful if while browsing Results the user wants to switch to view the Data that gave rise to those Results Noble Soft Systems Pty Ltd 2004 09 sectiontwo 24 Starting ANSWER and the ANSWER Home Screen 2 8 2 8 1 Exporting and Importing a Database s Units Settings ANSWER incorporates two facilities which together enable copying of a Database s Units Settings from one Database to another The origin Database and the target Database may or may not be on the same computer Units Settings comprises information about Units and Units Defaults in the Database but not information about the Units associated with individual Items To copy a Database s Units Settings from one Database to another requires two stages I Exp
282. e Series data within a single region TS DATA Time Independent data within a single region TID DATA Time Series Trade data between regions TS TRADE Time Independent Trade data between regions TID TRADE For each of the first 3 types of sheets cell B1 of the worksheet must contain a single Region name indicating the Region for which data on the sheet is being specified For the last 2 types of sheets cell B1 of the worksheet must contain a comma delimited list of Region names indicating the Regions for which Trade data between regions is being specified on the sheet Each line after line 1 on the ITEMS worksheet specifies Item information Component Name Description Units Set Memberships optional Comment for a single Item with just a single line for each Item being specified Noble Soft Systems Pty Ltd 2004 09 sectiontwo 35 Starting ANSWER and the ANSWER Home Screen 2 10 2 Likewise each line after line 1 on the TS DATA TID DATA worksheet specifies a single instance of a Time Series Time Independent data parameter for a single region And each line after line 1 on the TS TRADE TID TRADE worksheet specifies a single instance of a Time Series Time Independent data parameter involving Trade between regions More detailed information is provided in section 2 10 4 Operation of the Import Model Data from Excel facility Once you have prepared one or more Excel files containing Model Data in the required ANSWER TIMES
283. e any Scenario in e the Scenarios display e the Selected Scenarios display e the Scenarios comprising this run frame on the Run Model form e the Scenario Selection form that appears after clicking the Add button on the Run Model form e the Scenarios comprising this case frame on the Edit Case form To bring up the Edit Case form select a Case in the Cases display and click on the Edit button To invoke the Regions with data in this scenario facility 1 Select the Scenario to which this facility is to be applied by clicking on its icon 2 Right mouse click to bring up the pop up menu item Regions with data in this scenario as indicated below Noble Soft Systems Pty Ltd 2004 09 sectiontwo 17 Starting ANSWER and the ANSWER Home Screen Data Management Scenarios Created Modified DELETED Items deleted from Data th 2008 11 12 17 13 2008 11 12 177 GJ BASE Base scenario for Utopia 2008 11 12 17 13 2008 12720 13 EEBLUMPYINY Specify Lumpy Inve SE es MULTI Specify MULTI NG 3 Select this menu item by highlighting it and left clicking the mouse The following form displays information about the Regions that have data in the selected Scenario 1 Scenario LUMIPYINY contains Data For regionis UTOPIA DETAILS Them data For regionis nonet TS data For regionis UTOPIA TID data For regionis UTOPIA 4 In the above example Scenario LUMPYINV contains data for the U
284. e below of WARNINGS and possibly of FATAL ERRORS Some FATAL ERRORS are rated more seriously than others and cause the GAMS run to abort where the error level is gt 10 whereas in other cases the GAMS run is allowed to continue KAARE QUALITY ASSURANCE LOG Commodity Group error FATAL ERROR Commodity in CG pik NOG topology R DEMO P IRE_DXO C F_ELC CG CG_ELC FATAL ERROR COmmodact ain CG Duk Ow TOPOLOGY R DEMO P IRE_DXO C F_ELC CG F_ELC Demand DEM commodity with missing COM_PROJ Projection WARNING R DEMO C ID The QA_CHECK LOG clearly attributes the error or inconsistency to an Item or its data parameter s which can then be followed up by the user The QA_CHECK LOG file is written to the GAMS Work folder C AnswerTIMESv6 Gams_WrkT and is readily accessed by clicking on the View QC button below the Cases listview to bring this file up in Wordpad As already mentioned the QA_CHECK LOG file is for the most recent model run Case not for the currently selected Case in the Cases listview GAMS compilation errors For the ANSWER aware TIMES GAMS code version 2 9 0 it is extremely unlikely that a TIMES GAMS model run that ANSWER TIMES initiates will results in a GAMS compilation error The text below is retained from the ANSWER MARKAL User Manual for ease of subsequent modification in case subsequent versions of the ANSWER aware TIMES GAMS code have changes introduced such that GAMS compilation errors bec
285. e editable Scenario move to the TimeSlice tab and click on the New button in the Item Management frame to bring up the ANSWER TIMES TimeSlice form Initially the Name and Description textboxes will be empty the Region combobox may not be set to AUS the TimeSlice Level will not be specified and the Parent TimeSlice combobox and the Global TimeSlice Order listview will be empty Now proceed as follows 1 Enter the TimeSlice Name select the Region from the Region combobox and enter the Description For a database that has the Same TimeSlices in Every Region any setting for the Region combobox is fine 2 Specify the TimeSlice Level by clicking on the appropriate leaf node of the TimeSlice Level tree In this example the Day Night TimeSlice Level is specified Once the Day Night leaf node is clicked two things happen on the form the Global TimeSlice Order listview to the right of the TimeSlice Level tree is populated with Day Night TimeSlices and the combobox in the Parent TimeSlice frame is populated while the message above it is updated The form now appears as follows W New TimeSlice in scenario BASE x T Create Mew Timestlice Enter Hame Region and Description for the new TimeSlice Specity TimeSlice Level change Global TimeSlice Order if necessary and specify Parent TimeSlice Optionally enter Comment After clicking OF specity GY ARFR data value s NOTE Database has the Same TimeSlices in Ever Region so TimeS
286. e imported in which case a message box similar to that below will be displayed indicating the number of records that can and cannot be imported 2 32345 scenario records can be imported but 66 records cannot be imported Do vou wish bo see the error log before deciding whether or not to proceed with the import Click on the Yes button and after examining the error log file ImportScenario log you can decide whether or not to proceed with the Import After you have examined the error log file the following message box will appear inviting you to proceed with import of the IMP file Answer ie 2 Proceed with Import Scenario Click on the Yes button to proceed with the Import 15 Click on the Close button to exit the Import TIMES GAMS DD facility Noble Soft Systems Pty Ltd 2004 09 section two 56 Starting ANSWER and the ANSWER Home Screen 2 11 1 1 Where Units in the TIMES GAMS DD file are not known to the Current Database At step 14 above it may happen that a very large number of records in the IMP file cannot be imported simply because the TIMES GAMS DD file from which the IMP file has been derived contains a small number of Units that are not known to the Current Database This situation is indicated by the error log file ImportScenario log containing lines such as Record 361 has illegal UnitID NU dees TACT MWh The above lines indicates that the Process Activity Unit MWh is not known to th
287. e provided later in this manual TIMES model variants supported by ANSWER TIMES As of March 2009 ANSWER TIMES provides support for standard TIMES Explicit support is also provided for the following TIMES model variants e Endogenous Technology Learning ETL e Lumpy Investment Also as of March 2009 ANSWER TIMES recognizes all of the TIMES Sets and Parameters that are needed for the following TIMES model variants e Elastic Demand e TIMES Damage Functions and so model runs involving these model variants are possible but ANSWER TIMES does not yet provide explicit support for these model variants If you want to use one of the above model variants you will need to make a simple one line intervention in the GEN file that controls the model run contact Dr Ken Noble noblesoft netspeed com au for details Finally as of March 2009 ANSWER TIMES does not recognize the TIMES Sets and Parameters that are needed for the following TIMES model variants e TIMES Climate Module e TIMES MACRO e Stochastic Programming and Tradeoff Analysis in TIMES and hence model runs involving these model variants are not possible As previously noted ANSWER TIMES will continue to be enhanced to enable it to address extended versions of TIMES and to increase its usability e Any ANSWER TIMES user who is interested in using an extended version of TIMES that is not currently supported by ANSWER TIMES is encouraged to contact Noble Soft
288. e scenario for Utopia model PARAMETER COM_PROJ Demand baseline projection DOMAIN OF DEFINITION DEM Demands for Energy Services REGION UTOPIA Utopia region COMMODITY RAH Residential Space Heating UNITS PJ petajoules Comment 3 Enter the User Comment in the Comment field The OK button will become enabled 4 Click on the OK button The Comment will be stored in the Database and the El button will change to cl Scenario Parameter Region Com Com Time Boura 1E 1990 2000 2010 2020 UTOPIA RH fo O 25 0000 30 4749 37 1487 45 2840 The enables the user to tell at a glance that this Parameter now has a Comment associated with it To edit an existing User Comment associated with a Data Parameter repeat the procedure in steps 1 4 above and edit the text in the Comment field of the Parameter Details dialogue box Note that if the existing Comment is deleted entirely then after clicking on the OK button the button will change from back to 2 that is the button will revert to what it was before the User Comment was associated with this Parameter Noble Soft Systems Pty Ltd 2004 09 Data entry and editing 5 4 3 5 4 3 1 5 4 3 2 section five 25 Entry of Data Parameters which are Bounds In TIMES there are a number of Data Parameters available to the user for imposing lower fixed upper Bounds on model variables such as those representing the capacity or activi
289. e the currently Specified Filter for the current Component tab and current data mode 3 7 5 To Create a New Filter by Copying an Existing Filter 1 Bring up the TS and TID Filter form as per step 1 in section 3 7 1 above 2 When the TS and TID Filter form appears drop down the Name combobox and select the existing Filter that you wish to copy 3 Modify any all of Row Comparison Filter setting Time Series and Time Independent Filter criteria 4 Click on the Save button This brings up a Save Filter form initially with the Name and Description fields set to match those of the Filter chosen at step 2 above Enter a new Name for the Filter and optionally enter a new Description 5 Click on the Save button This saves the Filter to the database and redisplays the TS and TID Filter form 3 7 6 To Delete an Existing Filter 1 Bring up the TS and TID Filter form as per step 1 in section 3 7 1 above 2 When the TS and TID Filter form appears drop down the Name combobox and select the Filter that you wish to delete 3 Click on the Delete button to the right of the Name combobox A Delete Filter message box shown below will appear Delete Filter a 7 Confirm deletion of Filter Importing Technologies Cancel 4 Click on the OK button to confirm the deletion of the Filter 3 7 7 To Edit the Name of an Existing Filter It is not currently possible to simply edit the Name of an existing Filter
290. e the indicator will be displayed or that it contains x indicator will 6a Where the v indicator is displayed the target Database contains a single Money unit and a single Macro Money unit as it should Click on the Import button If the Units Setting file that is being imported also contains a single Money unit and a single Macro Money unit and if either of these units differs from the respective unit in the target Database the following message box will appear asking you whether you wish the Money and Macro Money units in the Units Setting file to become the new Money and Macro Money units in the target Database New Money and Macro Money Units taken from UMT file Ea The Money and Macro Money Units in the UNT File are 20044U5 M and 200465 B respectively Do you wish these to become the new Money and Macro Money Units in the target database Note that the above message box always appears if it is possible for Money and Macro Money units in the unt file to become the new Money and Macro Money units in the target Database If it does not appear this is an indication that the Import Units Settings process has not altered the Money and Macro Money units in the target Database either because the Units Setting file that is being imported contains multiple Money Macro Money units or because it contains the same Money and Macro Money units as those in the target Database After you click on either Yes or No the following mes
291. e user s attention as a likely error Two alternate possibilities come to mind for the process that is specified for the UC_ACT instance namely a The explicitly provided UC_ACT row would be used and the UCRULE_ACT row ignored so far as this process is concerned or b The explicitly provided UC_ACT row and the UCRULE_ACT row would both be used with the numeric coefficients obtained by adding the numeric coefficients for the UC_ACT and UCRULE_ ACT instances together The current ANSWER code resolves such a Constraint in the manner described at b above that is the explicitly provided UC_ACT row and the UCRULE_ACT row are both used 2 What happens at Run Model time if a particular Rule based Constraint has Time Series rows associated with it in more than one of the scenarios that comprise the model run For manageability only the Time Series rows associated with this Constraint for the scenario that is lowest down in the Run Model order are used and Time Series rows associated with this Constraint for scenarios that are higher up in the Run Model order are skipped over ignored e NOTE Itis only in respect of Rule based Constraints that data rows for scenarios that are higher up in the Run Model order are skipped over The user is reminded that the general rule in ANSWER is that data rows for each Run Model scenario are written to that scenario s lt ScenarioName gt lt Region gt DDS file and so the effect at Run Model time is
292. each of these Commodities has the Same Name in All Regions iv Same Commodity Name in All Regions is carried out via the Trade Matrix tab as described below e Editing of the existing Trade Matrixes is carried out in an essentially identical fashion for both a Bilateral Trade Process and a Market Trade Process To edit an existing Trade Matrix for any of the Commodities associated with the Trade Process e Click on the Trade Matrix tab Noble Soft Systems Pty Ltd 2004 09 section sixteen 12 Handling of Trade Processes in ANSWER TIMES 16 5 7 16 5 8 e Use the Commodity combobox to dial up the Commodity whose existing Trade Matrix is to be edited The existing Trade Matrix for this Commodity will be displayed in the EXPort IMPort spread e Edit the Trade Matrix for this Commodity by changing the checkboxes that are checked in the EXPort IMPort spread e Repeat the above two steps as necessary to edit the existing Trade Matrixes for other Commodities associated with the Trade Process When the Edited Trade Process is saved to the Database Once all desired editing changes have been made click on the OK button at the bottom of the Edit Trade Process form to save the editing changes for the Trade Process to the ANSWER TIMES database ANSWER TIMES ensures that e Editing changes such as changes to Name and or Description and or Set Memberships and or Units are carried out for each of the regions that Trade Process occurs
293. ecially named DDS file lt Run gt _RULES lt region gt DDS is still created but simply contains a line as follows BASEBOTH_RULES UTOPIA DDS WordPad File Edit View Insert Format Help tlela S a e I There are no Rule hased constraints for region UTOPIA For Help press Fil 2 Noble Soft Systems Pty Ltd 2004 09 section thirteen 12 Defining a Rule based Constraint in ANSWER TIMES 13 7 Run Model Considerations for Rule based Constraints Fine Points 1 The user who specifies say both UC_ACT and UCRULE_ACT parameter instances for a Rule based Constraint needs to understand how the UC_ACT and UCRULE_ACT instances will be cumulated when the Constraint is resolved at Run Model time e Where the process that is specified for the UC_ACT instance is not among the processes selected by the rule associated with the UCRULE_ACT instance the individual UC_ACT rows generated when the Constraint is resolved will simply comprise the UC_ACT row for this process together with the UC_ACT rows generated for each process that satisfies the rule associated with the UCRULE_ACT instance e Where the process that is specified for the UC_ACT instance is one of the processes selected by the rule associated with the UCRULE_ACT instance it is less clear what the individual UC_ACT rows that are generated when the Constraint is resolved should comprise or indeed whether this situation should be brought to th
294. ecified there must be a single row in the following format specifying Region1 Region2 Parameter Item1 Item2 Item3 Item4 Item5 Item6 in columns A to respectively followed by the TID value in column J and optionally with a Comment in column K IMPEXP REG TOP_IRE IMPDSLI DSL OSL 1 optional comment Note that fora TID Trade Data Parameter the cells in columns A and B must contain the two Regions between which Trade occurs and the cell in column C must contain the Parameter name This should be compared with the old TID TRADE format where the cell in column A contains the Parameter name and the cells in columns B and C contain the two Regions between which Trade occurs Otherwise similar considerations apply to those already discussed in section 2 10 4 4 Time Independent Data Format TID DATA Checking of Data in the Excel Import File and Log File Errors The Import Model Data from Excel facility carries out checking of the ANSWER TIMES load templates as follows i Checking of each Item s Component Name Description Units and Set Memberships information li Checking of each TS and TID Data Parameter to ensure that valid values are specified for the Parameter and each of its arguments and iii Checking of each TS and TID Trade Data Parameter to ensure that valid values are specified for the Parameter and each of its arguments As noted above if errors are detected then explanatory messages are
295. ecome enabled once files have been selected in both the TIMES GAMS Data Dictionary and the RUN File textboxes T Before clicking on the Import Step 1 button check that the option button settings in the Import Step 1 frame are appropriate e fatstep 1 you opened an arbitrary ANSWER TIMES database then ensure that the option button Create New Database from DD into is selected Alternatively if at step 1 you opened an existing ANSWER TIMES database into which you wish to import the TIMES GAMS DD then ensure that the option button in et ee Soi is selected Noble Soft Systems Pty Ltd 2004 09 section two 54 Starting ANSWER and the ANSWER Home Screen e f you want Time Series data to be imported sparsely corresponding to the way that it is specified in the DD file then ensure that the option button f Sparse Import of TS Data is selected Or if you want Time Series data to be imported densely then ensure that the option button a j selected Click on the Import Step 1 button ANSWER processes the DD file and the RUN file to extract SET DATAYEAR SET ALL_TS and SET MILESTONYR information and then initiates a preliminary GAMS run in a Command prompt window whose primary purpose is to determine the longest item name used in the DD file Where you specified the option Create New Database fram DD info there is a special step in which ANSWER uses the above information to bring up the New
296. ection six 32 batch of runs the user may have selected different internal regions to appear in the GAMS DD DDS files for different runs If this is the case then for example the BASE TRADE DD file will need to differ for different runs This is handled by ANSWER generating for run k in the batch files named BASE TRADEK DD and lt non BASE scenario gt TRADEK DDS When run k in the batch occurs files BASE TRADEK DD and lt non BASE scenario gt TRADEK DDS are copied to BASE TRADE DD and lt non BASE scenario gt TRADE DDS respectively In addition the Cases display in the Results Management region of the Home Screen is updated to show each Case s name and description with a Status of GAMS running After the generation of the DD and DDS files the Batch Run form remains open and a Command Prompt window opens and the GAMS runs for each Case occur one after the other under the control of a file called MASTER CMD Do not close the Command Prompt Window until all the GAMS runs are completed unless you want to prematurely terminate the GAMS runs Until such time as all the GAMS runs are completed and the results have been imported if the Import Results Automatically checkbox is checked the Run Batch button is disabled and the caption on the Close button changes to Stop Run Do not click on the Stop Run button or the X in the top RH corner of the Batch Run form until all the GAMS runs are completed
297. ed DLLs and OCXs The initial ANSWER installation files and subsequent ANSWER software update files are downloaded from the web The following minimum hardware and software requirements apply 3 GHz Pentium processor or equivalent for large multi region models preferably a Core 2 Duo processor At least 1GB RAM for large multi region models preferably at least 2 GB RAM double this if using Windows Vista 200 MB free HDD space for large multi region models at least 2 GB free HDD space SVGA monitor set at 1024 x 768 or higher Microsoft Windows 2000 or higher preferably Microsoft Windows XP or Windows Vista Microsoft Excel 2000 or higher preferably Excel 2003 or higher A recent version of PC GAMS There is one particular point that should be noted and this is that it is strongly preferable when working with ANSWER to have a monitor whose resolution is 1024 x 768 or higher Noble Soft Systems Pty Ltd 2004 09 sectionone 5 What is ANSWER TIMES an Overview 1 4 Installing and testing ANSWER TIMES 1 4 1 Installing ANSWER TIMES on your PC To carry out a new ANSWER installation first download from the web the files that are needed by following the instructions in the Word document AnswerTIMESv6 Download doc that will be emailed to you by Noble Soft Included amongst the files that you will download is the Word doc AnswerTIMESv6 New Installation doc Read this doc to get an overview of the installation proc
298. ed before worksheets containing Time Series or Time Independent data 2 10 4 2 Item Data Format ITEMS A worksheet that contains ITEMS in cell A1 is assumed to contain Item data there may be several such worksheets in the Excel file Cell B1 of each ITEMS worksheet must contain a single Region name For each Item being specified there must be a single row in the following format specifying Component Name Description Units Set Memberships and optional Comment for this Item in columns B through G respectively 27 T E01 Coal Steam Electric PJLGW PRO ELE DAYNITE optional comment Column A For now the cell in column A of the Item row must be empty Component Column B The cell in column B of the Item row must contain a single character indicating the Component e g T for a Process E fora Commodity The following table shows the character codes for the ANSWER TIMES Components that the user is allowed to specify on an ITEMS worksheet Process Commodity True Commodity Group TimeSlice O SOMH User Defined Constraint Item Name Column C The cell in column C of the Item row must contain the Item s Name The Name can comprise up to 16 24 characters for an ANSWER TIMES database created with Max Item Length 16 24 being comprised of A Z 0 9 hyphen _ underscore amp ampersand period ANSWER automatically converts lower case alphabetic characters entered by the user to upper case
299. ed from the Subset Items combobox Following such a deletion the Set Memberships Items Filter form is re set to correspond to All Items Of course the user has the option of specifying an alternative Set Memberships setting prior to clicking on the OK button Pre defined filters cannot be deleted the Delete button is disabled when a pre defined filter is selected When ANSWER generates the Description of the user defined Set Membership filter it uses the short names of the sets selected by the user for example DMD In general these short names are very familiar to TIMES users and so the filter Description displayed in the Subset Items combobox should clearly convey the meaning of the filter However there are two subset used in ANSWER TIMES on the Constraint tab that are not standard TIMES subsets These are UCMARKET the subset of Commodity Market Share Constraints and UCRULE the subset of Rule based Constraints Users will need to learn that these non standard subsets may occur in Set Membership filters that they create It is only possible to construct user defined filters to display those Items that are members of each of several subsets e g to display Processes that are members of DMD and DAYNITE and NST Neither Oring nor negations are possible Previous users of ANSWER MARKAL may be wondering why the Include Parent in Filter checkbox no longer appears on the Set Memberships Items Filter form The reason is that
300. ed in blue font 1 1 G_DRATE R V CUR will take the value zero if G DRATE 0 and is the cause of the divide by zero error T Return to ANSWER and on the Parameter tab visually scan G_DRATE Data Parameter instances for explicit zero entries and correct them 6 2 5 Errors at the model optimization report writing and results importing stages During the model run s linear program optimization stage a number of detectable error conditions can occur namely infeasible solutions unbounded solutions and processing errors Also during the subsequent results import stage when the model results are imported back into ANSWER a detectable import error can occur These error conditions are represented below Noble Soft Systems Pty Ltd 2004 09 section six 25 Running the Model Stage in Model run Model operation LP Optimization solves the Linear Program Linear Program Optimization Error 4 4 4 4 find b ded iteration limit finds feasible then optimal solution finds infeasibility CS UNPOUNPE 450 0007 or time lution Ae SOUMO limit exceeded 4 4 lt i GAMS Report writing able to write report unable to write report written to GAMS Work folder aborts lt e ANSWER Results import able to import results unable to import results aborts H imports to ANSWER lt e review data Results analysis solution looks solution looks plausible implausible 4 it accept data
301. een constrained and the unit cost of the exported carrier exceeding that of the unit cost of importing or producing that energy carrier In this situation TIMES will attempt to minimise system costs by perpetually exporting all of the energy carrier 2 A negative sign on some costs which because TIMES is a cost minimizing model acts to minimize the solution This is uncommon To determine the cause of an unbounded solution and rectify the problem 1 Search the lt Casename gt lst file for occurrences of UNBND using the Find facility In the following example resource technology EXPHCOA export of hard coal HCO was unconstrained with a unit COST exceeding that of its import COST and also the resource technology for the import of hard coal was unconstrained This led to an unbounded solution as shown below GAMS is indicating that there are feasible solutions in which we can make the level of resource technology EXPHCOA as large as we wish and that when we do so we can make the objective function as small as we wish VAR TSEP LOWER LEVEL UPPER MARGINAL 1990 EXP HCO A INF 27 479 UNBND 2000 EXP HCO A INF 1 60706 70 2010 EXP HCOLA INF 10 3206 2 Return to ANSWER and impose an appropriate constraint on resource technology EXPHCOA and also consider imposing an appropriate constraint on the resource technology for the import of hard coal 6 2 5 2 GAMS Report Writing Errors An exec
302. el E Time Slice ALL_TS EB Annual ANNUAL Seasonal SEASON a E Weekly WEERLY ow EL Daylight DAYNITE EES Spring Might Parent TimeSlice Since the database has no Weekly TimeSlices this Day Night TimeSlice should have a Seasonal TimeSlice as Parent TimeSlice WIN Winter DE Cancel Since the screen snapshot indicates that this is a database that has the Same TimeSlices in Every Region any editing changes made will apply to TimeSlice WIN NITE in every region In contrast to New Copy TimeSlice the TimeSlice being edited is marked with the special icon E at the position in which it occurs in the Global TimeSlice Order listview rather than being added at the bottom Changes may be made to any or all of the following attributes of the TimeSlice being edited e Name Description e TimeSlice Level Right now in ANSWER TIMES a change in TimeSlice Level is not permitted e Parent TimeSlice e Global TimeSlice Order e Comment When any change is made the OK button becomes enabled Suppose for example that the user simply changes the Name of this TimeSlice from WIN NITE to WIN NIGHT Then the form will appear as follows Noble Soft Systems Pty Ltd 2004 09 section fourteen 10 Handling of TimeSlices in ANSWER TIMES E Edit TimeSlice WIN NITE in Region AUS in scenario BASE Edit Time slice WIN NITE in Region AUS with Description Winter Night Edit Name andor Description for the TimeSl
303. elay ms value will be 250 as indicated below Spread Text Tips W Show Spread Text Tips Text Tip Delay msl 250 2 To turn Spread Text Tips off simply uncheck the Show Spread Text Tips checkbox and then click on the OK button To subsequently turn Spread Text Tips on bring up the Options dialogue box and check the Show Spread Text Tips checkbox 3 To change the Text Tip Delay simply alter the value for Text Tip Delay msy and then click on the OK button With a value for Text Tip Delay of say 1000 ms the Text Tip will only be displayed when the mouse is held stationary over the Name for one second The user may wish to experiment with different values for Text Tip Delay to see which he she finds most suitable Maximum Items to Select without Prompt The Maximum Items to Select without Prompt value default 500 comes into play in two contexts Select All Items where this would multi select a large number of Items hence in turn requiring the display of a large number of rows in the TS and TID spreads and most likely leading to a long response time and the display of far more data than the user is really interested in The user is prompted to specify a Filter for the Items listview Noble Soft Systems Pty Ltd 2004 09 section three 42 ANSWER s Data Results Screen Multi select of Items by the user other than by use of Select All Items where this would result in a large number
304. eline projection is specific to the Commodity Component and consequently browsing editing of the COM PROJ Parameter can only be done on the Commodity tab or on the Parameter tab A Parameter that is related to two or more Components will generally be a Process Parameter It will appear under both the Process Component and its second Component For example FLO_FR Load curve of availability of commodity to a process is a Process Data Parameter and appears under the Process Component and through its relationship with Commodity will also appear under the Commodity Component To display in the Parameters spread those Parameters that are specific to a Component or those that are related to a Component 1 Click anywhere in the Subset Parameters combobox and choose the required selection shown below or click on View in the menu bar click on Subset Parameters in the drop menu and choose the selection 0 Commodity Related Processes tE Commodity Specific 0 Commodity Specific IRE Parameters 0 Commodity Related Processes 0 Commodity Related Processes IRE Parameters 3 6 1 1 Compulsory versus Optional Data Parameters Data Parameters are either compulsory or optional depending on the Set Memberships of an Item and beside each selection option in the Subset Parameters combobox are a series of indicators showing the overall status of the data for the selected Item The indicators are as follows One or mor
305. elow e GIGS REG Dil refinery 2 Eee ee EE subset Parameters c Process Specific T3 TID data Scenario Parameter Region Process Commodity CommGroup_ CommGroup item5 Bound iE 2005 2 BASE FLO_FUNC OIL DILREFIN G ANNUAL 0 0s BASE FLO_SHAR GSL 2 NCAP_COST es as rs a E Scenario Parameter Region TOP IN Lee as e Note that Process OILREFIN2 has corresponding TS and TID parameter instances to the Process OILREFIN with OILREFIN2 replacing OILREFIN in these parameter instances and in addition with true Commodity Group OILREFIN2 G replacing OILREFIN G in the FLO FUNC FLO SHAR and PRC_ACTUNT parameter instances e In addition to auto generating the true Commodity Group OILREFIN2 G associated with the new Process ANSWER TIMES also auto generates the associated COM_GMAP instances as can be seen by switching to the CommGroup tab and selecting the newly created OILREFIN2 G in region REG4 Global TimeSlice Commodity CommGroup Process TradeProcess Constraint Parameter Items Filter l G Sets Named fran Commodity Groups COM GRE sets Filter Mamed Filter Name Region Description _ Staus p ltem Management OL REG2 Dil e ISE Sets OIL REGS Dil Aei e OIL FEG4 Oil New Copy Delete Edit OIL REGS pil e DILREFIN2 G PCG for DILREFIN2 Dil refinery 2 Sa ei PALA Subset Parameters o Commodity G
306. emberships Additional Characterization 2 seen B Combined Heat amp Power CHF O Annual Time Slice Level 2 B Demand Device DMD O Seasonal Time Slice Level Electric Generation ELE Weekly Time Slice Level E Energy PRE Dap Might Time Slice Level oo F Heat Generation HPL EL Material by weight PR W ie B Material by volume PRY E Miscellaneous MISC T Distribution System DISTA T Extraction TRACT T Import Export IRE Night Storage NST T Refinery REF Renewable RENEW I Stockpiling STK Storage not NST of STK STGTS5 Description All Processes PRC Delete 2 Click on the DMD node in the treeview then click on the Day Night Time Slice Level radio button and ensure that none of the checkboxes in the Additional Characterization listview is checked The Description field will be automatically updated to contain DMD DAYNITE Processes user defined Noble Soft Systems Pty Ltd 2004 09 section three 11 ANSWER s Data Results Screen E Set Memberships Items Filter Processes select a parentleaf node from the Set Memberships tree Then select deselect sets inthe 2 Additional Characterization list Set Memberships J Process PRC va B Combined Heat amp Power CHF O Annual Time Slice Level Demand Device DMO O Seasonal Time Slice Level EY Electric Generation ELE Weekly Time Slice Level E Energy PRE a Cay Night Time
307. en 2 10 Importing Model Data from Excel in ANSWER TIMES ANSWER TIMES s Import Model Data from Excel facility allows the user to import Item information Name Description Units Set Memberships and Time Series and Time Independent data contained in worksheets of an Excel file into a Scenario of an ANSWER TIMES database The Import Model Data from Excel facility provides a very useful means of bulk loading Model Data into an ANSWER database ANSWER TIMES version 6 5 4 and higher supports a new load template format that is far simpler in respect of the specification of Item information than previous versions of ANSWER TIMES whose load template format we will refer to as old format e ANSWER TIMES new format is similar to the original ANSWER TIMES old format in that there are 5 types of Excel worksheets with one type of worksheet used to specify Item information 2 types of worksheets used to specify Time Series and Time Independent data respectively within a single region and the other 2 types of worksheets used to specify Time Series and Time Independent data respectively for trade between regions For the convenience of users who have existing ANSWER TIMES load templates specified in the old format ANSWER TIMES version 6 5 4 and higher also allows users to import old format load templates Such users are strongly encouraged to specify any new ANSWER TIMES load templates that they may create in new
308. en choose Process Items Filters in the drop menu 3 An Export Process Items Filters dialogue box shown below will appear Export Process Items Filters Export as ccManswertimesvb ans wrk tubopia lunnpyinvestment fil Utopia Change name given to exported Utopia_Lumpylnvestmnent Process Items Filters file stanford demo with interpolate extrapolate fil stantorddemonow 007 fil Filelist display of text files from previous Export Process Items Filters operations Export Close 4 The name given to the Process Items Filters file defaults to the Database name and always has a file type of fil To vary the name given to the Process Items Filters file either change the name in the Export as c answertimesv6 ans_wrkti lt name gt fil textbox or choose an existing name from the file list display 5 Click on the Export button and a message box will appear to advise that the Process Items Filters information for the origin Database has been exported to C AnswerTIMESve6 Ans_WrkTI as text file lt name gt fil Answer Ll 1 Process Items Filters exported to disk as text File clanswertimesy ans wrktijutopia lumpyinvestment Fil 12 4 2 Importing Process Items Filters into a Database If the Process Items Filters information in text file lt name gt fil is to be copied to a Database on a separate computer the user will need to copy move the file to the C AnswerTIMESv6 Ans_WrkTI fo
309. enario from the Export from Scenario combobox and again clicking the Export button 10 Click on the Close button to close the Export Scenario dialogue box Noble Soft Systems Pty Ltd 2004 09 sectiontwo 30 Starting ANSWER and the ANSWER Home Screen 2 9 2 Importing Scenario data contained in an imp file If the Scenario information in text file lt name gt imp is to be imported into a Database on a separate computer the user will need to copy move the imp file via USB stick or network to the C AnswerTIMESv6 Ans_WrkTI folder in the target computer To import Scenario data contained in an imp file l 2 3 Open the target Database Click on File in the menu bar and choose Import then choose Scenario in the drop menu An Import Scenario dialogue box will appear in which all the Scenario text files imp produced by previous Export Scenario operations and held in the C AnswerTIMESv6 Ans_WrkTI folder will be displayed Import Scenario x a a Import Scenario allows scenario information existing as a text file on disk to h be imported into an existing ANSWER database Import from c answertinesvo ange wirkt BASEPLAT TSOOS IMP bdmingas imp LUM imp matisse imp multi imp tiambaze imp trddel imp trddel imp trdrigas imp Use IMP Filename as Scenario Name Import into Scenario mE Change name of target BASE Tetons Scenario for the import If Strong Checking of ltems a
310. enario s to be browsed 2 Click on the Browse Data button below the Selected Scenarios display or click on View in the menu bar and choose Browse data in the drop menu Noble Soft Systems Pty Ltd 2004 09 sectiontwo 15 Starting ANSWER and the ANSWER Home Screen 3 The Data Results Screen will appear with the data displayed for all selected Scenarios 2 6 7 1 Browsing the DELETED Scenario To see which Items are in the DELETED Scenario use the Browse Data facility with the _DELETED Scenario as the only Selected Scenario apart from the BASE Scenario as follows 1 On the Home Screen move the DELETED scenario to the Selected Scenarios listview The BASE scenario should be the only other scenario in the Selected Scenarios listview 2 Click on the Browse Data button to move to the Data Screen and move to the component tab e g Process that is of interest 3 Change the setting of the Items All combobox in the toolbar row next to the Regions button to ltems Modified 4 Items that occur in the Items listview with Status of SM or S are Items that are in the _DELETED scenario 2 6 8 Editing a Scenario s data This facility takes the user into the Data Results Screen to allow editing of the data associated with the editable Scenario Edit Scenario The editable Scenario is one of the Selected Scenarios that has been specially designated as editable see step 2 below To designate a Scenario as the ed
311. ence Energy System REGION region based on Data for Scenarios associated with Selected Cases Multi region The RES graphic is for a particular region and does not display bi lateral trade between regions The region for which the RES graphic applies is determined by the Region associated with the Item that is selected when the user invokes the RES facility and is displayed in the caption bar as follows Reference Energy System REGION region Noble Soft Systems Pty Ltd 2004 09 section nine 2 Reference Energy System Graphics 9 1 Starting closing the Reference Energy System RES graphic 9 1 1 Starting the RES graphic To start the RES graphic 1a If wanting to invoke RES graphics for Data ensure that the Selected Scenarios display top RHS of Home screen contains the appropriate Scenarios of interest Then move to the Data screen by clicking on the Browse Data or Edit Data button 1b If wanting to invoke RES graphics for Results ensure that the Selected Cases display bottom RHS of Home screen contains the appropriate Cases of interest Then move to the Results screen by clicking on the Results tab button Note If while examining Results you sometimes like to move back and forth between Results and Data by use of the combobox to the left of the Regions button in the Toolbar row Regione logy Const then before clicking on the Results tab button me a you should click on t
312. eo fo otaoof o13o0f 0 1300 BASE CAaP_BND JUTOPIA E3 ooo P1800 o1zoo 0 2100 BASE FLO FUNC JUTOPIA EM p Heco JELC ANNUAL O 03200 0 3200 0 3200 BASE FLO FUNC JUTOPIA E21 p URAN JELC ANNUAL O 0 4000 0 4000 0 4000 BASE FLOLFUNC MjuTOPA E3 HYD ELC ANNUAL O 0 3200 0 3200 0 3200 BASE FLO_SUM JUTOPIA Em hco Heo C2 ANNUAL O 83 0000 83 0000 89 0000 BASE NCAPLAF qUTOPIA ER booo ANNUAL UIP fo ogoogo 0 80000 0 80000 NCAPAF UTOPIA E P oaoa oaooooj 0 40000 BASE NCAPAF quTOPIA E3 RP 0000 OOOO 0 7oood BASE NCAPLAF aquTOPIA E3 SUP 40000 o 40000 0 40000 BASE NCAPLAF qUTOPIA EN P 70000 OOOO oO 70000 Rica Ard scape droo o o S S S S d da a Database C 4answerlIMESvbVAanswer Databases Utopia_Lumpylnvestment mdb Edit Scenario BASE at 3 5 2 3 2 Select All Items To select all Items in the Items display click on the Select All Items button in the Item Management sub region or right mouse click on the Items display and choose Select All Where selecting all Items would result in a large number of Items being selected the following prompt will appear inviting the user to specify a filter for the Items display to reduce the number of Items that will be selected Maximum Items to Select without Prompt Yalue Exceeded Ea P Select All For the Theme listview will result in 647 Items being selected se This exceeds the Maximum I
313. er kilometres Apples To This unit will apply to the group of units called Commodity Also apply to the group of units called i Conmmeadity Process Activity 6 Edit the Unit Abbreviation maximum of 15 characters and or Unit Description maximum of 50 characters T Click on the OK button and the revised abbreviation and or description will appear in the Units tree view 8 If the unit is both a Commodity unit and a Process Activity unit it will be revised in both locations Noble Soft Systems Pty Ltd 2004 09 4 section four 5 Setting up Units in ANSWER 4 2 5 Money Units and Macro Money Units Some special considerations apply to Money units and Macro Money units In an ANSWER TIMES model there needs to be a single consistent Money unit and a single Macro Money unit and so in a properly setup ANSWER TIMES database there should be a single Money unit and a single Macro Money unit In ANSWER TIMES the Units dialogue box incorporates a _bheck Money and Macro Money Units V x button at the bottom LHS along with a or indicator to the left of this button as a visual cue that either the current database does contain a single Money unit and a single Macro Money unit in which case the v indicator will be displayed or that it contains multiple Money units and or x multiple Macro Money units in which case the indicator will be displayed You should understand that the only way in which ANS
314. eria 5 A filter that involves just Input Commodity criteria or just Output Commodity criteria will execute more efficiently than a filter that involves both Input Commodity criteria and Output Commodity criteria 6 If possible try to avoid use of the Not In construct particularly if there are more than a few Processes Input Output Commodities specified in the list inside the parentheses The Microsoft Access query language does not handle the Not In construct anywhere near as efficiently as constructs such as Not Like Noble Soft Systems Pty Ltd 2004 09 section twelve 11 Process Items Filters in ANSWER TIMES 12 4 Exporting and Importing a Database s Process Items Filters ANSWER incorporates two facilities which together enable copying of a Database s Process Items Filters from one Database to another The origin Database and the target Database may or may not be on the same computer To copy the Process Items Filters from one Database to another requires two stages L Exporting the Process Items Filters from the origin Database into the Answer Work folder default C AnswerTIMESv6 Ans_WrkT1 as a text file and iL Importing the Process Items Filters from the text file in the Answer Work folder into the target Database 12 4 1 Exporting a Database s Process Items Filters To export a Database s Process Items Filters 1 Open the origin Database Z Click on File in the menu bar and choose Export th
315. es listview of the Batch Management form MS Batch Management Og x Stored Batches of Cases Modified CE BUSINES S 45 USUAL Business as Usual cases 2009 02 05 23 47 2009 0205 23 47 Ea CROSS REGION Cross region cases 4009 02 05 23 46 2009 02 05 23 46 EE RENEWABLE Renewable cases 4009 0205 23 46 2009 02 05 23 46 Ei UTOPIA DEMO CASES All Utopia Dernio cases 4009 0205 23 53 2009 02 05 23 53 E Copy Delete Edit Copying a Batch of Cases Copying an existing Batch of Cases allows the user to create a new Batch of Cases that is similar to the Batch being copied To copy a Batch of Cases 1 Invoke the Batch Management facility to bring up the Batch Management form 2 In the Stored Batches of Cases listview highlight the Batch of Cases that is to be copied Noble Soft Systems Pty Ltd 2004 09 Running the Model section six 43 Click on the Copy button A Copy Batch form similar to the New Batch form above will appear Enter a new Name and new Description for the new Batch of Cases The OK button will then be enabled Optionally provide a Comment and use the Add or Remove or Remove All buttons to change the Cases comprising the new Batch of Cases Use the Up and Dn buttons to alter the order in which the Cases occur within the Batch Click on OK and the newly created Batch of Cases will be saved to the Database It will also be displayed in the Stored Batches of Cases listview of
316. es data information as in the DD file if and only if the Data Time Periods in the database contain at least every member of SET DATAYEAR in the DD file being imported e The user is then free to specify whatever Results Time Periods they wish in this ANSWER TIMES database and to choose whatever subset of these periods they wish to form SET MILESTONYR for a model run out of ANSWER e Since this ANSWER TIMES database contains the same information as in the DD file a model run out of ANSWER should produce identical LP matrix and optimal value to that obtained by running the DD file in a Command Prompt window of course assuming the same MILESTONYR B and E for both runs Where some members of SET DATAYEAR do not occur among the Data Time Periods in the ANSWER TIMES database information for some of the Time Series parameters in the DD file will in general be lost but importing Time Series data densely retains more of the information than importing sparsely e Inthe special case where the Results Time Periods in the ANSWER TIMES database match SET MILESTONYR in the RUN file and where the set of Data Time Periods contains at least every member of SET MILESTONYR then importing Time Series data densely retains all of the information needed so that a model run out of ANSWER should produce identical LP matrix and optimal value to that obtained by running the DD file in a Command Prompt window using the same SET MILESTONYR B and E Noble
317. es that are used as Input files for the TIMES GAMS run Input files to TIMES GAMS run File Naming Convention CMD file that initiates GAMS run ANSRUN CMD Master GAMS control file lt casename gt GEN File defining SET ALL_TS lt casename gt _TS DDS BASE scenario Data Dictionary file BASE lt region gt DD BASE scenario Trade Data file BASE TRADE DD Non BASE scenario Data Dictionary file lt scenarioname gt lt region gt DDS Non BASE scenario Trade Data file lt scenarioname gt TRADE DDS File defining Rule based Constraints lt casename gt _RULES lt region gt DDS where lt region gt is Internal Region Name lt scenarioname gt is Scenario Name lt casename gt is the Run Case Name Note that the generation by ANSWER TIMES of separate BASE lt region gt DD files for each internal region and of a separate BASE TRADE DD and likewise of separate lt scenarioname gt lt region gt DDS files for each internal region and of a separate lt scenarioname gt TRADE DDS file is simply the way that ANSWER TIMES Run Model facility currently does the DD and DDS file generation It would be possible to recode the Run Model facility so that a single BASE DD file was put out that contained BASE scenario model data for each internal region and for trade between regions and likewise so that for each non BASE scenario a single non BASE DDS file was put out that contained that non BASE scenario s model data for each internal region and for t
318. esel Car Electric Car Gasoline Car Data entry and editing section five 43 5b ii If you choose Yes the following information message will be displayed Answer First the set of all items For component Process will be printed Followed by the remaining subsets in alphabetical order by subset name File Edit wiew Insert Format Help nisle siel al slale al ANSWER Item Subset Printout for Process Component Date 2009 02 24 00 11 Bie Es Database C dnswerTIMESvo6 answer Databases Utopia Demo mdb Selected Scenarios RASE ttt Item Subsets SCenaria Members R11 Processes FEC Taw Region Descriptions BASE EO1 UTOPIA Coal Steam Electric BASE E21 UTOFIA LWR Nuclear Plant BASE E31 UTOPIA Hydro electric Plant BASE E41 UTOPIA Natural gas combined cycle plant BASE E51 UTOPIA Pumped Storage Power Plant BASE ETO UTOFIA Oil Plant BASE IMPDSL1I UTOPTA Import of Diesel BASE IMPGASL UTOPIA Import of Uranium BASE IMPGSL1 UTOPIA Import of Gasoline BASE IMPHCOL UTOPT s Import of Hard Coal BASE IMPOIL1 UTOPT s Import of Crude BASE IMPURN 1 UTOPIA Import of Uranium BASE RHE UTOPT s Electric Boiler BASE RAG UTOPT A Gas oil Boiler BASE RHO UTOPT A Diesel Boiler BASE EL1 UTOPIA standard Incandescent Lighting BASE SRE UTOPT s Oil Refinery BASE TED UTOFIA Diesel Car BASE TSE UTOPT A Electric Car BASE TEG UTOPIA Gasoline Car Item Subsets SCenariaq Members ANNUAL Processes Annual Time Slice L
319. ess and then carry out the installation Be sure that you carry out step 9 of the installation instructions namely that you place the licence file answerTIMESv6 lic that Noble Soft sends to you by separate email into folder C AnswerTIMESv6 Note that if the answerTIMESv6 lic file is missing ANSWER will only function in demonstration mode it will not allow you to carry out model runs or import results At this stage the initial ANSWER installation is complete You will be able to run ANSWER in full production mode for the next 60 days But see section 1 4 2 Answer TIMES License File System for details of what you need to do to fully register your ANSWER system The installation process will have added AnswerTIMESv6 and its associated icon to the Programs menu and assuming that you have used C AnswerTIMESv6 as your ANSWER home directory it will have added the following directories to your machine as indicated below C AnswerTIMESv6 The home directory for ANSWER TIMES containing AnswerTIMESv6 exe the latest AnswerTIMESv6 exe Template TIMESMultiV6 mdb UpdateAnsTIMESSysTablesV6 5 5 xls or a similarly named xls file and SPR32X30 0cx along with the following 7 subdirectories C AnswerTIMESv6 Ans_WrkTI This subdirectory is used to contain ANSWER generated work files Initially it contains a number of demonstration ANSWER TIMES load templates These are Excel workbooks containing TIMES model data in a format s
320. estone Years option button will be selected e The First B will be calculated to be the same distance to the left of the First Milestone Year as the First E is to the right and the Last E will be calculated to be the same distance to the right of the Last Milestone Year as the Last B is to the left The operation of this form is identical to what has already been described in section 6 1 2 Specifying Milestone Years B and E above except that on the form above neither of the two buttons below Load Default Milestone Save Os Default Milestone fears B and E Years B and E Noble Soft Systems Pty Ltd 2004 09 section six 17 Running the Model 6 1 5 3 that occur at the bottom left of the form displayed in section 6 1 2 appears Run Default Model Variant facility Default Model Variant In version 6 of ANSWER TIMES the Run Default Model Variant menu bar option that allows the user to specify the TIMES model variant that is to be used as the Default Model Variant for any new model run is not operational See also section 6 1 1 Model Variant Specification above File Naming Conventions for ANSWER TIMES Model Runs This subsection details the file naming conventions that have been adopted in ANSWER TIMES for files in the Gams Work folder that are related to the TIMES GAMS run and to a possible subsequent VEDA BE results handling run The ANSWER TIMES Run Model facility creates the following fil
321. esults Parameters While the general operation of ANSWER facilities on the TradeProcess tab is the same as on other tabs there are a few areas of difference These are detailed below 3 8 1 The Items Region of the TradeProcess Tab The Items region display on the TradeProcess tab differs from that on all other tabs except the Global and Parameter tabs in that just the Name and Description of the Trade Process are displayed and there is no Region column for example terns Filter G Sets Nore tll Trade Frocesses Y EF IMPDSL1 Import of Diesel IMPGAS Import of Uranium IMPGSL1 Import of Gasoline IMPHCO1 Import of Hard Coal IMPOILT Import of Crude IMPUAM T Import of Uranium This approach is taken to simplify the handling of Trade Processes in ANSWER since a Trade Process with a given Name always occurs in at least two regions and may occur in many regions 3 8 2 The Parameters Region of the TradeProcess Tab As is the case for other tabs the Data Results Parameters that are displayed on the TradeProcess tab are determined by the Trade Process es that is are selected in the Items region So if IMPDSL1 is selected in the Items region then the Data Parameters that are displayed might appear as follows ters Filter ie Sets efan Trade Processes Sets Filter Named Filter Mame OOOO Description I Staus al ltem Management Curent Trade Process 4 IMPDSL1 said ES IMPDSLA Import of Diesel IMFGAS Import
322. etails The spread displays how the TS part of the Aule based Constraint will be resolved at Aun Model time for Case The TID part of the Aule based Constraint will match what i displayed in the TID spread Scenario Parameter Region Constraint Side Technology Commodity TimeSlice Bound 1990 2000 200 O 3 To resolve the Constraint against an online Case click on the Select Case button to bring up a Case Selection form that displays all online Cases involving the region for which the Rule based Constraint is specified in this case DEMO This display will include Cases for which the results have been removed with just the Case definition remaining and as can be seen also includes the temporary Case SELSCEN Noble Soft Systems Pty Ltd 2004 09 section thirteen 9 Defining a Rule based Constraint in ANSWER TIMES W Case Selection cases involving region DEMO _SELSCEN Temporary Case comprising selected scenarios used for Resoly 2009 01 26 21 05 ee BASEBOTH Base scenario for UtopiatDemo model 2009 01 19 21 48 Lross Region User Defined Constraint 2009701719 21 29 Scenario Details Select the Case of interest above case BASEBOTH has been selected and click on the OK button If necessary the user can create a Case of interest by exiting this form and the Resolve Rule based Constraint form moving to the Home screen bringing up the Run Model form and specifying the ordered scenario
323. ets Named fan Processes PRC Sets Filter Hamed Filter e a E ltem Management Current Process 5 ED Sels UTOPIA Coal Steam Electric uclear Plarit OL B E71 UTOPIA LWA Nuclear Pl yoro electric Fant opy elete I E31 UTOPIA Hydro electric Pl E Del Edi E41 UTOPIA Natural gas combined cycle plant ery hi BES B ESI UTOFIA Pumped Storage Power Plait sue mn Eee Subset Parameters C Process Specific ts data 2 jise Peron Rei ocr ammeciy Cormve omte er nens ea a D ease acTicost ejuroria jem 0 osoo 0 3000 0 3000 O O S S S T T T fo nga 0 aE DSM ATERA eee ANAL o Saeoeo Saa ga 0ong BASE NCAP_AFA JUTOPIA Em hooo o oo 08000 8000 8000 ASE Nean DRT TS A 130D 1 200DAN ASE NCAP FOM autora em ooo 80 0000 70 0000 100 0000 ASE NGAP TUFE e e a ect oa Add BASE __ _ Database CM4nswer IMESve ansiwer Databases Ubopia_Lumpylinvestroent mdb Edit Scenario BASE at 3 1 3 Exiting the Data Results Screen to the Home Screen To close the Data Results Screen and return to the Home Screen 1 Click on the Home Screen icon F in the tool bar or click on View in the menu bar and click on Home in the drop menu Noble Soft Systems Pty Ltd 2004 09 Menu bar section three 3 ANSWER s Data Results Screen 3 2 3 2 1 Utopia_LumpyInvestment ANSWER TIMES Energy Modelling File Ed The ANSWER Data Results Screen The Data Resu
324. evel Region Descriptions BASE IMPDSL1I UTOPT A Import of Diesel BASE IMFGAS1 UTOPIA Import of Uranium BASE IMPGSL1 4 For Help press F1 UTOPIA Import of Gasoline a This can be a lengthy report since it lists the Items in every Process subset of which ANNUAL Processes Annual Time Slice Level is just the first Noble Soft Systems Pty Ltd 2004 09 section five 44 Data entry and editing 5 5 2 Print Item s Data In ANSWER MARKAL the Print Item s Data facility produces a WordPad report listing the Scenario Name Region Description Set Memberships Time Series Data Time Independent Data Units and Comment if any for every selected Item that appears in the Items listview for the current Component tab Since this facility would appear to be little used in ANSWER MARKAL its implementation in ANSWER TIMES is considered to be low priority If you invoke the Print Item s Data facility in ANSWER TIMES the following message box appears P y 1 Right now the File Prink Iben s Data Facility doesn t work in QNSWER TIMES Noble Soft Systems Pty Ltd 2004 09 section six 1 Running the Model Section Six Running the Model This Section discusses various aspects of running the model including The Run Model facility for initiating a single model run The detection and correction of inconsistencies and errors that may arise during a model run including using the QA_CH
325. even 3 The special GLOBAL region and Cross Region Constraints in ANSWER TIMES Global Time Slice Commodity CommGroup Process TradeProcess Constraint Parameter Items Filter i e Sets f Named frau User Defined Constraints UC_N Sets Filter i Mame Region Description Status p ltem Management AA AREG USACONSTA GLOBAL Cross Region User Constraint Current User Defined SAEG USARCONSTR DEMO Cross Region User Constraint SM SAEG USRCONSTR UTOPIA Cross Region User Constraint SM Mew Copy Dh Select All items hat Constraint subset Parameters ec User Defined Constraint 3 TID da Scenario Parameter Region Constrain Bound e 1990 2000 2010 PMe XREG UC UC AHST 3 GLOBAL XREG USRCONSTR none O 0 0000 0 0000 0 0000 BA F z rjo ooo o oo0o 0 0000 Scenario Parameter Region value Ladd c J TST 3 Note that an instance of the UC__RHST parameter is automatically created with GLOBAL in the Region column but with the value in the Bound cell set to the placeholder none and with all numeric values defaulting to zero Use direct cell edit of the Bound cell to change the placeholder none to whichever of FX or LO or UP is appropriate according to the sense of the User Defined Constraint FX or LO or UP for or gt or lt respectively and replace the zero numeric values by appropriate numeric values So for example if the Constraint is lt and if the
326. ference Energy System Graphics 9 2 5 Page resizing and Scroll bars Expanding the RES graphics screen to full page size using the Page Maximise button jm enables nine Process Items to be displayed at 800x600 resolution shown below or 13 Process Items at 1024x768 resolution F Reference Energy System WEU region based on Data for Selected Scenarios Commodity OILLPG LPG OILCRD SUPPLY IMPNRAGZ Dummy Import of NAG SSCDARFLAOO Flexible Refinery BIOFUE COAHAR OILDST OILGSL COAHAR CDAHAR ELC CDAHAR ELC ix BIOFUE COAHAR rf BIOFUE COAHAR USE CARELCOOO ELC Car dual mode with LPG heater CARELCO4 ELC Car dual mode with LPG heater NEW HPLTCOAQO0 HPLT COA District Heating E sisting INDTECOO IND Other Industry 00 FCATECOO ACA Other Sectors 00 CAR_LD CAR_SO CAR_LD CAR_SO CO N ELCCO2N Cozy ELCCOeN n c zH ELCCO 2M i CO zH ELCCO 2M T CO N ELCCOeW CUAHAR TRATECOO TAA Other CO2N ELC Transport 00 ELCCO H Where there are more Supply or Use Processes to display than will fit in the vertical space available the vertical scroll bars enable the user to scroll through all Items on the RES graphic By default the user can scroll both the left hand side Supply Processes and the right hand side Use Processes simultaneously by using either the left hand scroll bar or the right hand sc
327. format you need to carry out the following steps to import the data in these Excel files into an ANSWER TIMES Database 1 2 Open the target Database Invoke the Import Model Data from Excel facility by clicking on File in the menu bar and choosing Import then Model Data from Excel in the drop menu or alternatively by using the keyboard shortcut Ctrl l An Import Model Data from Excel dialogue box will appear E Import Model Data from Excel OP x Import Model Data from Excel allows Item TS and TID data in one or more Microsoft Excel Files to be imported into an existing ANSWER database Excel Files to be Imported 5 Remove RemoveAll e Er Jw Excel Files contain Interpolate E strapolate Option Codes Column Regions Target Scenario BASE Before Import Delete Online Results involving Target Scenario Options ff Strong Checking of TS and TID Data Parameters Details Mernge Overnsnte information in the Target Scenaro with that on Sheets being Imported Details Before Import Delete Parameter tntormation iin the Target Scenario for items on Data Sheets Detaile Before Import Delete All Information in the Target Scenario for Region s being Imported Details Prompt user to decide whether to Import for each Excel File that has errors Import only from Excel Files that are error free without prompting Import error free records from all Excel Files without prompti
328. g to each database It also allows very advanced users to have different Gams Source folders so that they can experiment with different versions of the TIMES GAMS code Note that while the user has control of the folder names the folders still have to be subdirectories of the ANSWER home directory default C AnswerTIMESv6 User Choice of Text Editor ANSWER s default is to use WordPad Wordpad exe as its default text editor To switch from Wordpad exe to your favourite text editor 1 Click on Tools in the menu bar and choose either Default File Locations or File Locations from the drop menu Then click on the Text Editor item to highlight it Note that the form that appears below was brought up by choosing Tools File Locations since the caption is File Locations for current database Utopia_Lumpylnvestment mdb In the current context of changing to your favourite text editor this caption is a little misleading Any change that you make in respect of the Text Editor will apply globally to any currently open ANSWER database File Locations for current database Utopia_LumpyInvyestment mdb ltem Location GAMS Source CAnewerllMESve4 Games_ Sretl GAMS Work CanswerlIMESve Qams_ wrk T Bose Answer Work CMansiwernliMeESvb 4ans wrk TI Answer Databases CMAnswerlMESvb ansiwer Databases Text Editor C Program Files Windows NT Wccessones wordpad exe 2 Click on the Modify button This brin
329. g ANSWER 2 2 The ANSWER Help menu 2 2 1 Help ANSWERv6 TIMES User Manual 2 2 2 Help About ANSWER 2 2 3 Help Status of Current Database 2 3 The ANSWER Home Screen 2 3 1 Features of the Home Screen 2 3 2 The Menu bar 2 3 3 The Tool Bar including the Region Management and Batch Management buttons 2 3 4 The Data Management region and the Results Management region Noble Soft Systems Pty Ltd 2004 09 contents 1 contents 2 2 3 5 Home Screen terminology what is a Database a Scenario and a Case 2 3 6 An example TIMES Database 2 4 Creating Opening and Closing a Database in ANSWER 2 4 1 Creating a New ANSWER Database 2 4 2 Opening an existing Database 2 4 3 Closing a Database 2 5 Region Management 2 5 1 Invoking the Region Management facility and viewing existing Regions 2 5 2 Creating a new Region 2 5 3 Deleting a Region 2 5 4 Editing a Region 2 6 The Data Management region 2 6 1 Features of the Data Management region of the Home Screen 2 6 2 Creating a new non Base Scenario 2 6 3 Copying a Scenario 2 6 4 Deleting a Scenario and the role of the DELETED Scenario 2 6 5 Editing a Scenario 2 6 6 Moving a Scenario s between the Scenarios display and the Selected Scenarios display 2 6 7 Browsing a Scenario s data 2 6 7 1 Browsing the DELETED Scenario 2 6 8 Editing a Scenario s data 2 6 8 1 Editing the DELETED Scenario 2 6 9 Carrying out a TIMES Model Run or a Batch of Model Runs 2 6 10 The Regions wi
330. ger exists Perhaps you deleted renamed it since drawing the RES Suggest you Refresh the RES If however the editing change that could affect an open RES graphic is the addition of a new Commodity Process Item s ANSWER is not able to detect such an editing change and cannot warn the user Consequently the user needs to remember after making editing changes to refresh the RES graphic Synchronize Where the user initiates each successive RES graphic by cascading through the RES see Section 9 2 3 Cascading through the RES the current Component Item and Parameters data on the Data Results Screen remain synchronized with the current RES graphic Item However the RES graphic screen can be left open while the user moves to the Data Results Screen and selects a new Item within the current Component or within a new Component involving a change of Component tab This will result in the current RES graphic Item shown on the RES graphic screen no longer being synchronized with the currently selected Item on the Data Results Screen The Synchronize feature synchronizes the RES graphic with the currently selected Item on the Data Results Screen To synchronize the RES graphic with the currently selected Item on the Data Results Screen 1 Click anywhere within the RES graphic using the right hand mouse button and a pop up menu will appear shown below Print Switch Background to white Increase Color Contrast Refresh
331. ging the Type of Trade from Bilateral Trade to Market Trade or from Market Trade to Bilateral Trade or e Fora Market Trade Process changing the Market Region have the effect of destroying the existing Trade Matrix es So in most cases it would seem simpler to Delete the Trade Process and create a New Trade Process with the desired Type of Trade changes rather than achieve these changes by Edit of an existing Trade Process Noble Soft Systems Pty Ltd 2004 09 section sixteen 11 Handling of Trade Processes in ANSWER TIMES 16 5 3 Commodity Type and Naming Likewise although changes to Commodity Type and Naming are not disallowed when Editing a Trade Process be aware that either e Changing the Commodity Type e g from NRG to MAT or e Changing the Commodity Naming from Same Name in All Regions to different Names in different regions or vice versa have the effect of destroying the existing Traded Commodities and the existing Trade Matrix es So in most cases it would seem simpler to Delete the Trade Process and create a New Trade Process with the desired Commodity Type and Namimg changes rather than achieve these changes by Edit of an existing Trade Process 16 5 4 Set Memberships Units Editing of the Set Memberships and or Units and PRC_CAPACT Value for a Trade Process is carried out via the Set Memberships Units tab in a similar fashion to editing the same information for a Trade Process on the Process tab 16 5 5 E
332. gion1 Region2 Parameter Item1 Item2 Item3 Item4 Item5 Item6 Interpolate Extrapolate Option Code in columns A to J respectively followed by the Noble Soft Systems Pty Ltd 2004 09 section two 49 Starting ANSWER and the ANSWER Home Screen time series values in columns K L and optionally with a Comment in the column after the last numeric value column A 5 D JE F HII kK h REG IMPESP IRE_PRICE IMPOSL1 DSL ANNUAL IMP 0 10 10 10 foptional comment Note that for a Time Series Trade Data Parameter the cells in columns A and B must contain the two Regions between which Trade occurs and the cell in column C must contain the Parameter name This should be compared with the old TS TRADE format where the cell in column A contains the Parameter name and the cells in columns B and C contain the two Regions between which Trade occurs Otherwise similar considerations apply to those already discussed in section 2 10 4 3 Time Series Data Format TS DATA 2 10 4 6 Time Independent Trade Data Format TID TRADE 2 10 5 A worksheet that contains TID TRADE in cell A1 is assumed to contain Time Independent Trade data there may be several such worksheets in the Excel file Cell B1 of each TID TRADE worksheet must contain a comma delimited list of Region names indicating the Regions for which Trade data between regions is being specified For each instance of a TID Trade Data Parameter being sp
333. graphics ANSWER s RES graphics has two structures 1 The Process RES being centred on the selected Process Component Item 2 The Commodity RES being centred on the selected Commodity Energy Carrier or Material or End Use Demand or Emission Component Item The RES also has a number of features to facilitate its use These include cascading through the RES page resizing and scrolling refreshing and synchronizing and printing 9 2 1 The Process RES structure The Process RES depicts a selected Process Item and its Commodity input s and output s The RES graphic for Process Item SREFOOO Upstream refinery in the REGION1 region is depicted below showing its crude oil OILCRD input and diesel DIESEL gasoline GASOIL and heavy oil fuel HEVOIL outputs In addition the carbon dioxide CO2 emissions associated with the operation of the refinery are displayed on the RES Reference Energy System REGIONI region based on Data for Scenarios associated with Selected Cases Mel Process SREFOUOO Upstream refinery INPUT S OUTPUTS ILC RDM PD Ei IESEL GASOIL HE OL 9 2 2 The Commodity RES structure The Commodity RES depicts a selected Commodity Item i e an Energy Carrier or Material or End Use Demand or Emission Item and those Processes which supply and use that Commodity The RES graphic for Commodity Item DIESEL Diesel in the REGION1 region is depicted below showing the supply sour
334. gs up the Select Text Editor dialogue box see below Noble Soft Systems Pty Ltd 2004 09 sectiontwo 64 Starting ANSWER and the ANSWER Home Screen Select Text Editor Ei Look in E Accessories dem FE me Fe wordpad exe My Recent Documents Deskto p My Documents ra My Computer Mu Network File name Places l Files of type Text Editors exe Cancel Ee D Locate your favourite text editor and then click on the Open button 4 Click on the Close button to close the File Locations dialogue box Noble Soft Systems Pty Ltd 2004 09 section two 65 Starting ANSWER and the ANSWER Home Screen 2 15 Password protection facilities ANSWER has two password protection facilities namely a Database Logon password and a BASE Scenario Edit password Use of these facilities is optional Most ANSWER users do not password protect either logon to their Database or the editing of the BASE Scenario 2 15 1 Database Logon password facility The Database Logon password facility is available to prevent unauthorised access to each individual Database within ANSWER The password protection does not prevent unauthorised access to ANSWER or to non protected Databases within ANSWER As part of general software security and database integrity users should recognise that all data and software on a personal computer PC remains accessible to unauthorised access loss or corruption by other routes su
335. gy Items from one Scenario to another Scenario See section 5 2 9 Move Item s across Scenarios Right now in ANSWER TIMES both the Move facility and the bulk moving Move Item s across Scenarios facility are disabled It is expected that they will be enabled later in 2009 Displaying an Item s Set Memberships To display just the Set Memberships information for an Item clicking on the Sets button in the Item Management frame is an alternative to clicking on the Edit Browse button 1 Click on the required Component tab In the following example the Commodity tab has been selected 2 Select the Item that is to have its Set Memberships displayed by clicking on the Item s Name in the Items display 3 Click on the Sets button visible in both Edit and Browse mode and the Current Commodity Set Memberships message box will appear Noble Soft Systems Pty Ltd 2004 09 Data entry and editing 5 2 8 i Current Commodity Te Automobile Transportation Region UTOPIA Scenario BASE SET Memberships Commodity OOM Demand For Energy Services DEM Annual Time Slice Level Transportation TRE Copy Item s across Scenarios facility section five 12 The Copy Item s across Scenarios facility is a bulk copying facility that allows the user to multi select Items in the Items listview and in a single operation to copy these Items and their associated parameters from one S
336. h f No Basic Save File No Restart or Neither SPOINT nor Save SO no LPOINT specified SPOINT or LPOINT f Solve from scratch Default Basis Save File SET SPOINT 1 SET SPOINT 1 Solve from default Basis Restart File No Basis Save File SET SPOINT 2 SET SPOINT 2 f Solve from default Basis Restart File Default Basis Save File SET SPOINT 3 SET SPOINT 3 f Solve from user specified Basis Restart File f No Basis Save File SET LPOINT SET LPOINT BASEUTOP2 P GDX BASEUTOP2 BASEUTOP2 Solve from user specified Basis Restart File tf Default Basis Save File SSET SPOINT 3 SET SPOINT 2 3 BASEUTOP2 P GDX SET LPOINT SET LPOINT BASEUTOP2 BASEUTOP2 In ANSWER TIMES the Default Basis Save File and the Default Basis Restart File for Case BASEUTOP say are both named BASEUTOP_P GDX That is the general rule is that for Case lt casename gt the Default Basis Save File and the Default Basis Restart File are both named lt casename gt _P GDxX The following screen snapshot shows the GAMS Basis Restart File and GAMS Basis Save File options corresponding to the final row of the above table GAMS Basis Restart File Solve from scratch Solve from default Basis Restart File Solve from user specified Basis Restart File GAMS Basis Restart File C inswerTIMESv6 Gams_WrkTI gamssave baseutop2_p gdx Modify GAMS Basis Save File C No Basis Save File Default Basis Save File Ueser epecitied Basis Save Fi
337. haracter is P whose fourth character is in the range D to G and where any remaining characters are arbitrary 4 For most of the filtering criteria the user may enter shortened forms and ANSWER will expand these to match the formats displayed on the pop up menu For example the shortened form E01 entered by the user will be expanded to E01 Likewise the shortened form E01 E21 E31 entered by the user will be expanded to In E01 E21 E31 and any expression involving or such as P D G will be expanded to Like 2P D G In general the quotation marks surrounding names need not be entered by the user 5 The pop up menu also provides a simple means of entering into a cell a proforma for the particular filtering criterion that is desired 6 Where a filtering criterion exceeds the width of the cell the Zoom right mouse click pop up menu facility provides a convenient means of editing the cell contents Time Seres Filter Commodity In EOT E02 Cur Copy Paste Items Eq After invoking Zoom the following form appears to allow easy editing of the cell contents Noble Soft Systems Pty Ltd 2004 09 section three 36 ANSWER s Data Results Screen Zoom In EOL Ezi E3 L Cancel 3 7 12 How Filtering Criteria for individual cells combine In each row the criteria for individual cells are ANDed to form a composite row criteria and then these composite row
338. hat a Region filter is applied 6 The Regions subset specified at step 3 applies across all Component tabs That is if Regions are subsetted to just UTOPIA say on the Process tab then on switching to the Commodity tab only Commodities for Region UTOPIA will be displayed Noble Soft Systems Pty Ltd 2004 09 section three 8 ANSWER s Data Results Screen 3 4 The Component tabs In ANSWER the elements of an energy system that have a common nature are grouped together as already noted in section 3 2 2 1 There are seven broad categories or Components namely Global TimeSlice Commodity CommGroup Process TradeProcess and Constraint In addition the Parameter Component provides an alphabetical listing of all Parameters To select the Component that is to be displayed in the Data Results Screen 1 Click on the required Component tab or click on View in the menu bar and click on the required Component in the drop menu 2 Repeat step 1 to display a different Component Below the Process Component tab has been selected Global TimeSlice Commodity CommGroup Process TradeProcess Constraint Parameter Noble Soft Systems Pty Ltd 2004 09 section three 9 ANSWER s Data Results Screen 3 5 Items Filter frame Subset Items combobox Items display 3 5 1 The Items region The Items region shown below provides a list view display of the Items in the selected Component When in Edit Data mode the
339. he ANSWER database as Named Filters for details see below and thereafter are available for either or both of the following purposes e They can be applied to limit the processes that are displayed in the Process Items listview to those that satisfy the filter rule s operating similarly to the filtering by Set Memberships of the Process Items listview e g to limit the processes that are displayed to DMD Demand Devices e They can be used to simplify the task of defining User Constraints by identifying a group of processes to which a coefficient is to be applied e g all renewable processes where these processes have a common naming description convention See section 13 Defining a Rule based Constraint in ANSWER TIMES 2 The way in which the Process tab accommodates the Process Items Filters while also w F ajaja a retaining ANSWER s filtering by Set Memberships is shown below Utopia _LumpyInvestment ANSWER TIMES Energy Modelling File Edit View Bun Tools Functions Help Hl z Edit Data Regions Filter Item All 5 cenarios All Global TimeSlice Commodity CommGroup Process TradeProcess Constraint Parameter Items Filter i Sets Named ran Processes PRC Sets Filter Hamed Filter Mame a Region Description Status ltem Wlanagemert Current Process 5 EDI Sets UTOPIA Coal Steam Electric Ez UTOPIA LWA Nuclear Plant
340. he Data Results Screen 3 1 1 3 Browsing Case s results Noble Soft Systems Pty Ltd 2004 09 section three 2 ANSWER s Data Results Screen This facility takes the user from the Home Screen into the Data Results Screen to allow browsing of the selected Case s results As these results are determined by the database model runs ANSWER does not permit editing of Case s results To browse a Case s results in ANSWER 1 Use the Case selection buttons so that the Selected Cases display contains the Case s to be browsed 2 Click on the Results or Results tab button below the Selected Cases display 3 The Data Results Screen will appear in Results mode with the results displayed for all selected Cases 3 1 2 Effect of the screen mode on the appearance and facilities of the Data Results Screen The screen appearance of the Data Results Screen will not greatly vary with the entry mode only the visible data and some facilities will vary with the mode Note that while the user can switch between the various modes only one mode is active at any one time The Data Results Screen below has been entered in the Edit Data mode Utopia_LumpyInvestment ANSWER TIMES Energy Modelling Mi x File Edit View Run Tools Functions Help a Fl JRE E Alv Edit Data Regions Filter Items All Scenatias All Global TimeSlice Commodity CommGroup Process TradeProcess Constraint Parameter Items Filter S
341. he Sync Scen button An to synchronize the Selected Scenarios with the Selected Cases 2 Click on the required Component tab Commodity or Process 3 Click on a single Item in the Items display 4 Click on the RES button res in the Item Management sub region or click on View in the menu bar and click on RES Graphics in the drop menu or press Ctrl G on the keyboard 5 The RES graphic for the selected Item will appear In the example below while on the Data screen the Commodity FINELC Final energy Electricity was selected for the REGION1 region and then the RES button was clicked Reference Energy System REGIONI region based on Data for Selected Scenarios Commodity SUPPLY FINELC Final energy Electricity ELENGA coz ELCOIL HyYDRO ELCSTG ELCHCO 9 1 2 Closing the RES graphic To close the RES graphic Noble Soft Systems Pty Ltd 2004 09 section nine 3 Reference Energy System Graphics 1 Double click on the RES icon Fd in the top left hand corner of the RES graphic or click anywhere within the RES graphic using the right hand mouse button and click on Close in the pop up menu shown below Print Switch Background to White Increase Color Contrast Refresh w Scroll LHS RHS Together Synchronize Emissions On Commodity RES Noble Soft Systems Pty Ltd 2004 09 section nine 4 Reference Energy System Graphics 9 2 Features of the Reference Energy System RES
342. he Status indicator to provide information about Items that are modified in non BASE scenarios see section 3 5 4 that may not always correctly reflect the current state of the database particularly when the Items display combobox setting is Items Modified see section 3 3 2 2 To be sure that the Status indicators are correct Refresh the Items display The Item Management sub region The Item Management sub region provides the user with the facilities to create manage and view information about the Items The available facilities depend on the screen mode The full operation of the Item Management sub region facilities is detailed in Section 5 2 Data entry and editing for Items Noble Soft Systems Pty Ltd 2004 09 ANSWER s Data Results Screen section three 17 3 5 3 1 Browse Data and Results screen mode ltem Management Current Process ES Select All tems Move Sets Hem Fop Delete Browse RES 3 5 3 2 Edit Data screen mode ltem Management Current Process E3 i Select All ltem Move RE 3 5 4 Status of an Item Sets Edit ew Copy Delete afle Click on Sets button to display the Set Memberships information for the selected Item Alternatively click on Tools in the menu bar and choose Set Information in the drop menu Browse button to browse an existing Item and its specifications Select All Items
343. he Trade Matrix tab The existing Export Import Names and the Trade Matrix for this Commodity will be displayed in the EXPort IMPort spread For example the EXPort IMPort spread might appear as follows EXPIMP FEGI REG REGS REGA REGS sais T e To specify an additional Trade possibility it is always necessary to check the checkbox at the intersection of the Export region row and the Import region column If the Commodity Name for the Export region is blank it is also necessary to dial up the Export Commodity Name and likewise if the Commodity Name for the Import region is blank it is also necessary to dial up the Import Commodity Name So for example to specify the additional Trade possibility of region REG4 exporting NGAS4 to region REG3 where it is named NGAS3 we need to check the checkbox at the intersection of the REG4 row and the REG3 column dial up NGAS4 as the Export Name for region REG4 and dial up NGAS3 as the Import Name for region REG3 After doing this the EXPort IMPort spread will appear as follows Noble Soft Systems Pty Ltd 2004 09 section sixteen 13 Handling of Trade Processes in ANSWER TIMES EXPAIMP oe __ REGI REG REGS REGS REGS e Toremove an existing Trade possibility in general it is necessary to reverse the procedure used to specify an additional Trade possibility Suppose for example that we wish to remove the possibility of region REG3 exporting NGAS3 to region REG4 where its Name is REG4 T
344. he Units tree view shown below will appear Units ve 2000 US milion dollars 2000 L5 rm seen bilion passenger kilometres br pass km s bilion tonne kilometres bri t km bilion vehicle kilometres E w km z milion tonnes mt ve petajaules FJ petajoules FENT s being totalled are all in PJ F17 pid FJD sae terrajoules TJ vse thousand tonnes KT ve tonnes ft unit of volume for MYO uwal unit of weight for WT a uat vee unit vol if MYOs being totalled are all in uyol uyol vee unit wt if MTs being totalled are all im uwt uvt oe unt of DMs being totalled unitDh C Money ae 2000 US million dollars 2000 L5 mi J Money Macro it 2000 US billion dollars 2000 U Sb _ Process Activity ari 2000 US million dollars 2000 US rm billion passenger kilometres brn pass km xl New Delete Edit vw Check Money and Macro Money Units Noble Soft Systems Pty Ltd 2004 09 2 section four Setting up Units in ANSWER 4 2 2 Specifying a new allowable Unit To specify a new allowable unit 1 Ensure that you are editing the BASE scenario You may be on the Home Screen or the Data Results Screen 2 Click on Edit in the menu bar and click on Units in the drop menu 3 The Units tree view shown above will appear 4 Highlight the group for which the new unit is intended Commodity Process Activity or Process Capacity and click on the
345. he bottom item in the listview with the special icon E distinguishing it from other TimeSlices in the listview Refer again to the screen snapshot above 4 Use the Up button to move the new TimeSlice WIN DAY to its appropriate position in the Day Night Level TimeSlice order In this case move WIN DAY above the SPR DAY and SPR NITE TimeSlices The New TimeSlice form now appears as follows W New TimeSlice in scenario BASE Ea NS Create Mew Timestlice Enter Hame Region and Description for the new TimeSlice Specity TimeSlice Level change Global TimeSlice Order if necessary and specify Parent TimeSlice Optionally enter Comment After clicking OF specity GY ARFAR data value s NOTE Database has the Same TimeSlices in Ever Region so TimeSlice Changes Apply in All Regions TimeSlice Information Scenario BASE TIMES model BASE scenario Name Region Description WIN DAY aus winter Day TimeSlice Level Global TimeSlice Order 5 Time Sloe ALL_TS AL Annual ANNUAL i Summer Day HEL Seasonal SEASON BL Weekly WEEKLY E Dap Might DAY NITE Summer Might Autumn Day Autumn Might Winter Day Spring Dap SPR NITE Spring Night Parent TimeSlice Since the database has no Weekly TimeSlices this Day Night TimeSlice should have a Seasonal TimeSlice as Parent TimeSlice WIN Winter 5 Click on the OK button to save the new TimeSlice WIN DAY to the database Since this is a database that has the
346. he contents of the Additional Characterization listview automatically adjust to contain just those subsets that are appropriate according to the parent node selected It is not possible to select more than one node in the treeview Clicking on a radio button that is already selected causes it to become de selected By comparison in New Edit Item clicking on an already selected radio button has no effect Clicking on a de selected radio button when an alternate radio button is selected behaves in the same fashion as in New Edit Item So for example on the Commodity or Process or TradeProcess tab clicking on a de selected Seasonal Time Slice radio button when the Day Night Time Slice Level radio button is selected has the effect of selecting the Seasonal Time Slice radio button and de selecting the Day Night Time Slice Level radio button Initially the Subset Items combobox contains pre defined filters that for a particular Component tab comprise all of the possible single TIMES subsets for that Component If on the Set Memberships Items Filter form the user chooses just a single subset and clicks on the OK button then the appropriate pre defined filter will be selected in the Subset Items combobox and the Items display will be re populated accordingly Noble Soft Systems Pty Ltd 2004 09 section three 13 ANSWER s Data Results Screen f The Delete button allows a user defined Set Membership filter to be delet
347. hen click on the OK button 6 In the Progress frame you may see Creating SET Creating PARAMETER and Creating TABLE messages as an indication of progress while ANSWER creates the GAMS data dictionary This form will then close and a DOS Window running GAMS will appear The GAMS run should obtain an optimal solution and on its termination you should get a message box indicating Finished GAMS run BASETEST Model status Optimal 7 Click on OK and in the Results Management region case BASETEST appears with Status Not Imported 8 Click on the Import button You should get a message confirming successful import of results records with BASETEST being added to the Selected Cases display When you click OK the Status of BASETEST will change to Imported 9 If each of the above steps goes smoothly ANSWER has been installed correctly on your computer 10 Now you are in a position to move off ANSWER s Home Screen either by clicking on the Browse Data Edit Data buttons to examine Scenario data or by clicking on the Results button to examine Case results Noble Soft Systems Pty Ltd 2004 09 section one 8 What is ANSWER TIMES an Overview 1 4 5 Uninstalling ANSWER TIMES To uninstall ANSWER TIMES 1 Choose Settings Control Panel from the Start menu and then double click on Add Remove Programs 2 Highlight ANSWER TIMES and then click on the Add Remo
348. hen we must first uncheck the checkbox at the intersection of the REG3 row and the REG4 column If after unchecking this checkbox there are no remaining checked checkboxes in the REG3 row then we must also reset the NGAS3 combobox in the Comm column to blank the top setting And finally if after unchecking this checkbox there are no remaining checked checkboxes in the REG4 column then we must also reset the NGAS4 combobox in the Comm row to blank the top setting After doing this the EXPort IMPort spread will appear as follows EXP IMP i REGI REG2 REGS REGA REGS Noble Soft Systems Pty Ltd 2004 09 section sixteen 14 Handling of Trade Processes in ANSWER TIMES 16 6 Operation of the Master Trade Matrix facility As already noted a Bilateral or Market Trade Process where wv Same Commodity Name in All Regions may trade multiple Commodities The Master Trade Matrix facility simplifies the specification of the Trade Matrixes where all most of these Commodities have the same Trade Matrix In this context we say that two Commodities have the same Trade Matrix if they have the same checkboxes checked in the EXPort IMPort spread To use the Master Trade Matrix facility to simplify the specification of the Trade Matrixes for those Commodities that have the same Trade Matrix e Onthe Traded Commodities tab populate the Traded Commodities spread with the Commodities that are to be traded For example populate as follows
349. ice or change Global TimeSlice Order or Parent Time Slice or edit Comment NOTE Database has the Same TimeSlices in Ever Region so TimeSlice Changes Apply in All Regions Time Slice Information Scenario BASE TIMES model BASE scenario Name Region Description WIN NIGHT aus T winter Hight TimeSlice Level Global TimeSlice Order Time slice ALL_TS E Annual ANNUAL SUM DAY Summer Day B Seasonal SEASON SUM NITE Summer Night S Wee eel AUT DAY Autumn Dap M3 et al ETT AUT NITE Autumn Night WIN Dar Winter Dap Ef wiIN NIGHT Winter Might SPR DAy Spring Day SPR NITE Spring Night Parent TimeSlice Since the database has no Weekly TimeSlices this Day Night TimeSlice should have a Seasonal TimeSlice as Parent Time Slice WIN Winter Note that the TimeSlice in the Global TimeSlice Order listview with the special icon E now appears with Name WIN NIGHT instead of the previous WIN NITE If just this change is made and the user clicks on the OK button then the following changes will be made to the database In every region TimeSlice WIN NITE will be renamed to WIN NIGHT In every region all TS and TID parameter instances that involved WIN NITE will be replaced by equivalent instances in which WIN NITE has been renamed to WIN NIGHT This includes but is not limited to G_YRFR and TS_PARENT instances and the TS_ORD_DAYNITE instance in the GLOBAL region Noble Soft Systems Pty Ltd 2004 09 section four
350. ice Information Scenario BASE TIMES model BASE scenario Name Region Description WIN NITE aus 7 winter Night TimeSlice Level Global TimeSlice Order Time Slice ALL_T3 E Annual ANNUAL SUM DAY Summer Day B Seasonal SEASON SUM NITE Summer Night S Wee eel AUT DAY Autumn Dap M3 et al ETT AUT NITE Autumn Night WIN Dan Winter Dap EF wiN NITE Winter Night SPR DAY Spring Day SPR NITE Spring Night Parent TimeSlice Since the database has no Weekly TimeSlices this Day Night TimeSlice should have a Seasonal TimeSlice as Parent Time Slice WIN Winter 7 Click on the OK button to save the new TimeSlice WIN NITE to the database Similarly to New TimeSlice ANSWER TIMES creates the new TimeSlice WIN NITE in every region and also auto generates TID parameter instances G_YRFR and TS_PARENT for these TimeSlices with the TS_ PARENT instances specifying WIN as the Parent TimeSlice 8 Specify the appropriate numeric value in the Value column of the G_YRFR row in the TID data spread Again similarly to New TimeSlice ANSWER TIMES also auto generates new TS_ORD_DAYNITE parameter instance for WIN NITE in the GLOBAL region and adjusts the Values of existing TS _ORD_DAYNITE instances for SPR DAY and SPR NITE to reflect their new positions in the Day Night TimeSlice global order Noble Soft Systems Pty Ltd 2004 09 section fourteen 8 Handling of TimeSlices in ANSWER TIMES 14 4 Deleting a TimeSlice
351. icity Additional Charactenzation Ha Rule based UCRULE Set Memberships and Units Set Memberships CJ User Detined Constraint UIC_N n Bp Region Sum over Periods Time Slices UCAR B By Region Period Sum over Time Slices UCRT FS By Region Period Time Slice UCATS 2b Check this checkbox to indicate that you wish this to be a rule based constraint 2C Click on the button 3 As is the case with a standard User Defined Constraint ANSWER automatically creates an appropriate instance of the UC__ RHS parameter for example parameter UC__RHSRT is created for a Constraint that is By Region Period Sum over TimeSlices with the entry in the Bound column containing the place holder none Item Management Current User Defined Sa Constraint RENEWELC New Copy Delete Edit Select All Items Move RES subset Parameters ec User Defined Constraint T3 71D data Scenario Parameter Region Constraint Side _ Proc Fiter Commodity TimeSlic Item6 IE 1990 2000 2010 FENE WELL DEMO Aiule based constraint for renewable electricity UC_RHSAT DEMO RENEWELC b o bo b nme O0 00000 0 0000 0 0000 C o E a a a a a a 4 Use the direct cell edit facility to change the none to whichever of LO FX UP is appropriate according to the sense of the constraint gt lt respectively and specify appropriate numeric values
352. ies Rows and 400 Time Independent Rows wed This total exceeds the Maxinurn Rows to Display without Prompt value of 1000 rows To alter this value invoke Tools Options From the menu bar Would you like to apply a T5 and TID Filter Click on Yes to invoke the TS and TID Filter form click on No to display TS and TID parameters with no Filter and click on Cancel if you decide not to proceed with Select All Items For details of the TS and TID Filter Form facility see section 3 7 To adjust the default Maximum Rows to Display without Prompt value of 1000 choose Tools Options from the menu bar to bring up the Options form enter a new Maximum Rows to Display without Prompt value and click on OK Click on a single Item in the Items display to undo Select All Items Sort Items display by Name or by Region By default the Items display is sorted by Name and then by Region To sort the Items display by Region and then by Name click on the Region header in the Items display To re sort the Items display by Name and then by Region click on the Name header in the Items display Refresh Items display To refresh the Items display right mouse click in the Items display and choose Refresh from the pop up menu or click on View in the menu bar and choose Refresh in the drop menu In the main ANSWER automatically refreshes the Items display But there is one feature of the Items display namely t
353. iew Descriptions Toggle Size Hide Empty Numeric Columns al Hide TE Column Scenario Parameter Region Constraint Side _ VarType Hide Region Column 0 BASE UC REACH DEMO RENEWELC s Ppt eai Noble Soft Systems Pty Ltd 2004 09 section thirteen 6 Defining a Rule based Constraint in ANSWER TIMES This brings up the following form that has the benefit of displaying both the Name and the Description for each available Process Filter W Add Row Item Selection in region OR x ALDZEBE een Name based filter defining all GleECtriC prOCESSES uee RENEW ELE Name and description hased filter defining all renewable electric processes TRH DSL Transport demand devices with diesel as input commodity Cancel Select the appropriate Process Filter from this form in this case RENEW ELE and click on the OK button 7 After selecting ANNUAL in the TimeSlice combobox specify appropriate numeric values for this example we specify 1 0 in each time period for the renewable electric producers and press the key or hit the Add button to add the completed row into the TS spread as follows subset Parameters ec User Defined Constraint Ts TID Scenario Parameter _ Region Constraint Side Proc Fiter Commodity TimeSlice items 1 1980 2000 BASE UC_RAHSRAT DEMO RENEWELC b b p o o nooo o oo BASE UCRULEACT_ DEMO RENEWELC LHS RENEW ELE ANNUAL O 1 0000 1 0000 gad
354. ifications Noble Soft Systems Pty Ltd 2004 09 section eight 3 Charting and analysing ANSWER TIMES Results i Title a suggested title based on the first selected data results row will be displayed The suggestion is fully editable It can also be edited on the chart itself using MS Excel chart editing facilities ii Sub title a suggested sub title will be displayed based on the last sub title used The suggestion is fully editable It can also be edited on the chart itself using MS Excel chart editing facilities The Sub title combo box also stores the last four sub title entries used lil Style a suggested chart style based on the data to be charted will be displayed The Style combo box stores other suitable chart styles for selection by the user if required IV X Axes Label a suggested label based on the first data results row will be displayed The suggestion is fully editable Shown above In the situation of a chart requiring two X axes labels editing of the label can be done on the chart itself using MS Excel chart editing facilities V Y Axes Label a suggested label based on the first data results row will be displayed The suggestion is fully editable Shown above In the situation of a chart requiring two Y axes labels editing of the label can be done on the chart itself using MS Excel chart editing facilities 5 Click on the OK button and the Chart will be generated and displayed as specified in the Chart
355. ified if you return to the Traded Commodities tab you will see that the Trade Matrix Specified checkboxes associated with each of DSL and NGAS are now checked Natural gas 16 2 6 1 Example of Trade Matrix Specification for a Market Trade Process where Same Commodity Name in All Regions Suppose above that instead of specifying that the New Trade Process BITRDPRC was to be a Bilateral Trade Process we had specified that it was to be a Market Trade Process with Market Region REG2 while still retaining the Same Commodity Name in All Regions M same Commodity Hame in All Region Setting Then we would have proceeded as follows to specify the Trade Matrixes e Click on the Trade Matrix tab where the initial setting for the Commodity combobox will be DSL and allowable checkboxes in the EXPort IMPort spread will be confined to the REG2 row and the REG2 column reflecting the fact that REG2 is the Market Region Set Memberships Units Traded Commodities Use Commodity combobox to specify the Name of the Traded Commodity and then use checkboxes to TM Same as Master Clear TM specify the Trade Matrix Restore TM Commodity fps Diesel J All Links Bi Directional Check TM Integrity mewe en e e f ea Com REGI e Click on checkboxes in the EXPort IMPort spread to specify the regions between which DSL is traded For example below the Market Region REG2 exports DSL to each of regions REG2 REG3 and REG4 EXP
356. imported and where some of these had errors a message similar to the following is displayed All Excel Files were imported of these 1 had errors Do you Wish bo see the summary logfile Click on the Yes button to display the summary log file ImportDataExcelSummary log in the ANSWER Work folder 4 ImportDataExcelSummary log WordPad Of x File Edit View Insert Format Help peal SCR al 22 emlo S Summary Log File created on Saturday 31 January 2009 at 04 40 PM Regions selected for import GLOBAL DEMO IMPEXP MINRNW UTOPIA Target Scenario BASE Excel Files contain Interpolate Extrapolate Option Codes Column YES Strong Checking of TS and TID Data Parameters YES User option Merge Overwrite information in the Target Scenario with that on Sheets being Imported User option Prompt user to decide whether to Import for each Excel File that has errors No of Excel files to be imported 2 1 C AnswerTIMESv6 Ans UrkTI Utopia Demo MainData xls 2 C AnswerTIMESv6 ans UWrkTI Utopia Demo UserConstraints xls Excel Import File 1 C AnswerTIMESv6 ans WrkTI Utopia Demo MainData xls Utopia Demo MainData xls 1286 records were imported There were 2 errors Excel Import File 2 C AnswerTIMESv6 ins WrkTI Utopia Demo UserConstraints xls Utopia Demo UserConstraints xls 89 records were imported There were no skipped ANSWER sheets and no errors All Excel Files were imported of these 1 had errors F
357. in e Editing changes affecting the Traded Commodities and or the existing Trade Matrixes for Commodities are correctly reflected in the TOP_IRE parameter instances that are associated with the Trade Process e f on account of editing changes there are now some new regions that the Trade Process occurs in PRC_ACTUNT and PRC_CAPACT parameter instances are auto generated for each of these new regions e Conversely if on account of editing changes some of the regions that the Trade Process previously occurred in no longer trade any Commodities when the Trade Process is saved to the database these regions will no longer be associated with the Trade Process That is the Trade Process will be deleted from regions that no longer trade any Commodities Editing Traded Commodity and Trade Matrix where Traded Commodity has Different Names in Different Regions Where a Trade Process involves the trade of a Commodity that has different Names in different regions L Same Commodity Name in All Regions editing of the Names of this Commodity in each of the regions between which it is traded and or editing of its single Trade Matrix are both carried out on the Trade Matrix tab as described below e This editing is carried out in an essentially identical fashion for both a Bilateral Trade Process and a Market Trade Process To edit the Name of the Traded Commodity in one or more Export Import regions and or to edit the Trade Matrix e Click on t
358. ing Set Memberships Units Editing Traded Commodities where Same Commodity Name in All Regions Editing Trade Matrixes where Same Commodity Name in All Regions When the Edited Trade Process is saved to the Database Editing Traded Commodity and Trade Matrix where Traded Commodity has Different Names in Different Regions 16 6 Operation of the Master Trade Matrix facility 16 7 Operation of Buttons and Checkbox on the Trade Matrix Tab Appendix One Areas where ANSWER TIMES differs from the TIMES documentation Appendix Two Main ANSWER TIMES Interface Differences from ANSWER MARKAL A2 1 Main Home Screen differences from ANSWER MARKAL A2 1 1 A2 1 2 A2 1 3 A2 1 4 A2 1 5 File New Database File Import Model Data from Excel Region Management Run Model File Import TIMES GAMS DD A2 2 Main Data Results Screen differences from ANSWER MARKAL A2 2 1 A2 2 2 A2 2 3 A2 2 4 A2 2 5 A2 2 6 A2 2 7 ANSWER TIMES has fewer tabs and some tabs are named differently Data Time Periods may differ from Results Time Periods TimeSlice Tab New Copy Edit Form CommGroup Tab Process Tab New Copy Edit Form TradeProcess Tab New Edit Form TIMES Interpolate Extrapolate Options Noble Soft Systems Pty Ltd 2004 09 section one 1 What is ANSWER TIMES an Overview Section One What is ANSWER TIMES an overview This Section introduces the user to TIMES and the ANSWER TIMES user interfac
359. ing a TIMES GAMS Data Dictionary 2 11 1 The File Import TIMES GAMS DD facility 2 11 1 1 Where Units in the TIMES GAMS DD file are not known to the Current Database 2 11 2 Data and Results Time Periods Considerations when Importing a TIMES GAMS DD into ANSWER TIMES 2 12 Exporting Scenario Data to Excel 2 13 Repairing and Compacting a Database 2 13 1 ANSWER initiated Automatic Repair and Compact of a Database 2 13 2 User initiated Repair and Compact of the Currently Open Database 2 13 3 User initiated Repair and Compact of a Database that is not Currently Open 2 14 Tools Default File Locations and Tools File Locations 2 14 1 User Control of Folder Names for GAMS Source GAMS Work ANSWER Work Folders 2 14 2 User Choice of Text Editor 2 15 Password protection facilities 2 15 1 Database Logon password facility 2 15 1 1 Applying the Database Logon password protection 2 15 1 2 Using the Database Logon password protection 2 15 1 3 Removing the Database Logon password protection 2 15 2 Base Scenario Edit password facility Noble Soft Systems Pty Ltd 2004 09 contents 2 15 2 1 Applying the Base Scenario Edit password protection 2 15 2 2 Using the Base Scenario Edit password protection 2 15 2 3 Removing the Base Scenario Edit password protection 2 16 Update System Tables from Excel 2 16 1 Update System Tables from Excel for the Currently Open Database 2 16 2 Update System Tables from Excel for a Database that is not Currently Open
360. ing form is displayed shown for an ANSWER TIMES database in which the Results Time Periods are not equally spaced and in which the user has previously decided that case WEUDATY8 in this database will not involve the Results Time Periods 2000 2080 2100 Noble Soft Systems Pty Ltd 2004 09 section six 7 Running the Model Load Detault Milestone Save s Default Milestone fears B and E Years B and E Milestone fears Beginning fears Ending fears x Milestone Years B and E for case WEUDATYS are displayed in Edit mode Checkboxes that are checked specify which Results Periods will comprise Milestone Years for Aun Model Ya ann ao aan 220 aan aco momo ro ooo oe a0 x Besining Veer uf 2005 2008 2016 2025 2035 2046 2056 2066 T2081 a Beginning Year and Ending Year Bande halway between Milestone Years B and E such that Milestone ears at middle User specities B for First Milestone Year alternative condition of B and E official ETSAP condition and E for Ever Milestone rear Specify First B and Last E Specity First B Specify First B and Every E Clear B and E Auto generate B and E Briefly the operation of this form is as follows e Fora new Run Case the form initially displays the Default Milestone Years Beginning and Ending Years B and E for this database and for an existing Run Case the form initially displays the Milestone Years Beginning and Ending Years B and
361. ing the values DEMO and UTOPIA lt scenarioname gt taking the values BASE and LIMREN 1 and lt casename gt taking the value LIMRENEW ANSWER TIMES generates the following input files to the TIMES GAMS run CMD file that initiates GAMS run Master control file File defining SET ALL_TS BASE scenario Data Dictionary files BASE scenario Trade Data file Non BASE scenario Data Dictionary file Non BASE scenario Trade Data file ANSRUN CMD LIMRENEW GEN LIMRENEW_TS DDS BASE DEMO DD BASE UTOPIA DD BASE TRADE DD LIMREN 1 DEMO DDS LIMREN 1 UTOPIA DDS LIMREN 1 TRADE DDS and also generates the following file for a subsequent VEDA BE results handling run File containing topology RES information LIMRENEW VDT The TIMES GAMS run will create the following output files GAMS listing file Results file for ANSWER TIMES Quality Assurance Log Results file for VEDA BE run with user Sets Results file for VEDA BE run with elements of each user Set Results file for VEDA BE run with primal and dual run results Noble Soft Systems Pty Ltd 2004 09 LIMRENEW LST LIMRENEW ANT QA_CHECK LOG LIMRENEW VDS LIMRENEW VDE LIMRENEW VD section six 19 Running the Model Using VEDA BE in conjunction with ANSWER TIMES for Results Processing As at March 2009 ANSWER TIMES has limited results handling capabilities and it is strongly recommended that ANSWER TIMES users should acquire the VEDA BE results processing software to analy
362. inimum global cost more accurately at minimum loss of surplus by simultaneously making equipment investment and operating primary energy supply and energy trade decisions by region For example if there is an increase in residential lighting energy service relative to the reference scenario perhaps due to a decline in the cost of residential lighting or due to a different assumption on GDP growth either existing generation equipment must be used more intensively or new possibly more efficient equipment must be installed The choice by the model of the generation equipment type and fuel is based on the analysis of the characteristics of alternative generation technologies on the economics of the energy supply and on environmental criteria TIMES is thus a vertically integrated model of the entire extended energy system 1 1 2 TIMES s policy analysis role TIMES depicts a perfectly competitive market It assists policy analysts and decision makers to track the complex interactions and feedback systems in their energy system and assists them to quantify the effects of policy changes Examples of policy applications of TIMES include e Determining least cost strategies to limit greenhouse gas emissions and other waste emissions from the energy sector e Assessing the impact of demand side management programs e Assessing the economic merits of inter connecting national and international gas pipelines and electricity grids
363. initiating a model run See section 6 1 4 1 above 6 1 5 2 Run Default Milestone Years B and E facility Default Milestone Years B and E The Run Default Milestone Years B and E menu bar option allows you to specify the Default Milestone Years Beginning Years B and Ending Years E for any new model run If you invoke this menu bar option the following form will be displayed Milestone Years Beginning Years Ending Years Default Milestone Years B and E stored in Database are displayed in Edit mode Checkboxes that are checked specify which Results Periodes will comprise Milestone Years for Aun Model dd elmwCOCOCOCOCOUOUCUO i iritisisS i OONOOOOOCsSwstrs sSNiwSOiCRszsSLi Ssdsi a OONOCiCONCCNCCCCriSCNCSCSCNC C C C Beginning Year and Ending Year cy B and E such that Milestone ears at middle c User specifies B for First Milestone Year B and E halway between Milestone ears i of B and E official ETSAP condition and E for Every Milestone Year alternative condition Specify First B and Last E Specify First B Specity First B and Every E Clear E and E Auto generate B and E When first invoked the initial settings for Milestone Years B and E on the form are determined by ANSWER TIMES as follows e Every Results Time Period will be checked corresponding to a run in which every Results Time Period is a Milestone Year e The B and E halfway between Mil
364. ints about the format for Import Model Data from Excel are 1 Each of Item data Time Series data and Time Independent data must be in a separate worksheet or worksheets within the Excel file It is not allowable to have a single worksheet that contains say both Item data and Time Series data On the other hand it is allowable to have multiple worksheets for any of Item data Time Series data and Time Independent data within the Excel file 2 Cell A1 of each worksheet must contain a header record indicating the type of data as follows Item data within a single region ITEMS Time Series data within a single region TS DATA Time Independent data within a single region TID DATA Time Series Trade data between regions TS TRADE Time Independent Trade data between regions TID TRADE 3 Worksheets that do not contain one of the above types of header records in cell A1 are ignored by the Import Model Data from Excel facility 4 Cell B1 of each worksheet that has a header record of ITEMS or TS DATA or TID DATA must contain a single Region name indicating the Region for which data on the sheet is being specified 5 Cell B1 of each worksheet with a header record of TS TRADE or TID TRADE must contain a comma delimited list of Region names indicating the Regions for which Trade data between regions is being specified on the sheet Noble Soft Systems Pty Ltd 2004 09 sectiontwo 45 Starting ANSWER and the ANSWER Home Screen 6 Each line afte
365. io Parameter Region Region2 Process Commodity CommGroup__ CommGroup item Item Look for NCAP_COST E TOP OUT Like E E E Save Save amp Apply peti Cancel 3 Click on the Save amp Apply button Provided that no changes have been made to the Filter the Filter is immediately applied to the Time Series and Time Independent spreads 4 If changes are made to the Filter after its initial selection at step 2 the Save and Apply Filter form will be displayed with the Name and Description fields set to match those of the Filter that was chosen at step 2 To save these changes with the same Filter Name and Description simply click on the Save amp Apply button 3 7 4 To Create a New Filter but not Apply it 1 Follow the steps detailed in section 3 7 1 To Create and Apply a New Filter but at step 6 instead of clicking on the Save amp Apply button click on the Save button This brings up a Save Filter form as shown below Save Filter Fa Name Mew Filters Description a Noble Soft Systems Pty Ltd 2004 09 section three 32 ANSWER s Data Results Screen 2 Enter a Name for the Filter and optionally enter a Description Save Filter X Mame Importing Technologies Description s si Click on the Save button This saves the Filter to the database and redisplays the TS and TID Filter form It does not apply the Filter and so does not chang
366. ion three 25 ANSWER s Data Results Screen 3 6 4 3 Expansion of the Parameters spread Due to screen size limitations the Parameters spread displays about 20 Parameters and their data at 1024 x 768 resolution However the spread incorporates an Expand Contract Parameters spread button that enables the user to expand the display to about 36 Parameters at 1024 x 768 resolution To expand the spread 1 Click anywhere on the spread using the right hand mouse button and a pop up menu will appear 2 Click on Toggle Size in the pop up menu and the spread will expand as shown below to about 36 Parameters at 1024 x 768 resolution 3 Repeat the procedure to return the spread to normal size Expand contract Parameters spread F rc Puan Resin Ress inan Eos a ee ve _ vn an ao pease ACT_COST C ACT_COST ACT_COST CAP_BND CAP_BND CAP_BND FLO_FUNC i ANNUAL FLO_FUNC URN ANNUAL FLO_FUNC HYD ANNUAL FLO_FUNC i E41_OUT ANNUAL FLO_SHAR E41_OUT ANNUAL FL0_SUM i HCO ANNUAL FL0_SUM GAS ANNUAL FLO_SUM E41_OUT ANNUAL ANNUAL FA SP su wi ANNUAL e olololololo T 1 00000 0 8000 NCAP_AF NCAP_AFA NCAP_COST 1 400 0000 1 NCAP_COST 000 0000 5 NCAP_COST NCAP_COST INCAP_COST NCAP_FOM
367. ips of the Item click on the appropriate leaf node icon Ehin the tree view and click on the appropriate radio button and or click on off the appropriate checkbox s under Additional Characterization If changes are required to the Comment associated with the Item click on the Comment tab and make the required changes The OK button will become enabled when the Name or Description or Set Memberships or Comment have been changed If a Set Memberships change has been made the user will be prompted to confirm the change shown below Note that if a Set Memberships change has been made then subsequent entry editing of the ltem s Data Parameters may be required see Sections 5 4 1 Automated Data Parameter creation and entry 3 6 1 The Subset Parameters combobox and 3 6 3 The Data Results Parameter query button j Confirm change of SET memberships Cancel Click on OK and the edited Item will become the current Item in the Items display and will exhibit any changes made The Item s Data Parameters will be displayed in the Parameters spread ready for data editing deleting Editing an Item s Units To edit an Item s Units lie 2 3 Click on the required Component tab for example the Commodity tab Select the Item that is to be edited by clicking on the Item s name in the Items display Click on the Edit button in the Item Management sub region or click on Edit in the menu
368. irst Data Year data in this column is taken from a new IEOptCode field in table tolT Data in the ANSWER TIMES database Scenario Parameter Region Process Commodity CommGraup CommGr Item5 Bound 1E 2005 2m0 2m5 2020 BASE ACTLEND ajReGt jecceT e ANNUAL jue o 100 BASE FLO_FUNC REG1 ECCGT NGAS JELC ANNUAL jo oss 055 055 055 BASE NCAP_COST REGI ECCGT e o o o booo o booo aoooo 400 00 400 00 400 00 L BASE NCAP_TUIFE REG1 EccaT e o o oo ooo 80 00 aooo 30 00 30 00 Jagd ease S CT CT o d o T T S S S d The I E column contains one of the Option Codes for the control of data interpolation as displayed in Table 2 of the TIMES Version 2 5 User Note Inter Extrapolation of Input Parameters in TIMES TIMES Interpolate pdf This table is reproduced in slightly modified form below 5 4 5 1 Option Codes for the Control of Data Interpolation Extrapolation Action WE Option Code _ Applies to No interpolation extrapolation ao o w 1 All Default interpolation extrapolation oa Interpolation but no extrapolation 1 All Interpolation but extrapolation with EPS 2 All Full interpolation and extrapolation 3 All 10 ion wi Log linear interpolation beyond Year YEAR 5 4 5 2 Hiding the I E column in the TS Data Spread To hide the I E column in the TS Data spread possibly because you do not wish to use the TIMES advanced Interpolation Extrapolation options
369. is the data set that depicts an energy system under specified conditions This includes the BASE Scenario which is the data set that depicts the energy system under expected conditions It is the reference energy system against which the non BASE Scenarios are run Generally the term non BASE Scenario is used to refer to the data set that tests the BASE Scenario under varying conditions e g CO emission limits While there can be only one BASE Scenario for an energy system there can be any number of non BASE Scenarios It is the deviation of the non BASE Scenario results from the BASE Scenario results that is of interest to energy analysts When a Scenario is run under TIMES the result of the model run is called a Case The modelled BASE Scenario is termed the BASE Case and the modelled non BASE Scenarios are termed the non BASE Cases An example TIMES Database From this point the Manual will illustrate the ANSWER screens using a hypothetical TIMES Database called Utopia _Lumpylnvestment This database comprises Utopia a highly simplified TIMES model that has been loaded into an ANSWER TIMES database The Lumpylnvestment in the database name stems from the fact that this database contains a non BASE Scenario that specifies data for lumpy investment Noble Soft Systems Pty Ltd 2004 09 section two 5 Starting ANSWER and the ANSWER Home Screen 2 4 Creating Opening and Closing a Database in ANSWER 2 4 1 Cre
370. isabled ask your system administrator to change the Path for you Then if your GAMS installation directory is say C Program Files GAMS22 6 add the following to the end of what is currently displayed as the Value of Path C Program Files GAMS22 6 Noble Soft Systems Pty Ltd 2004 09 section one 7 What is ANSWER TIMES an Overview Note that there must not be any intervening space between the last character of the current Path and the semicolon and also the drive letter C must be capital Click on the OK button to confirm the new Path Reboot the PC so that the new Path takes effect On a PC running Windows XP choose Start Control Panel System On a PC running Windows 2000 choose Start Settings Control Panel System Once at the System dialogue box click on the Advanced tab and click on Environment Variables Scroll down in the System variables list until you find Path select Path and then click on the Edit button to bring up the Edit System Variable form If you find that the Edit button is disabled ask your system administrator to change the Path for you Then if your GAMS installation directory is say C Program Files GAMS22 6 add the following to the end of what is currently displayed as the Value of Path C Program Files GAMS22 6 note that there must not be any intervening space between the last character of the current Path and the semicolon and click on the OK button to confirm It is not necessary to
371. it is recommended that the user adopt an incremental and documented approach to building their TIMES database Such an approach would include the following practices 1 Maintain documentation of data entries and their data sources 2 Input edit data in the database in small increments and where possible undertake frequent models runs to ensure each increment of data is error free 3 Investigate and correct data inconsistencies and errors subsequent to each model run 4 Maintain a log of errors including how they were detected investigated and corrected 5 Retain back up copies of earlier error free databases for retrieval as required A common source of error is incorrect data entry or neglecting to enter required data ANSWER helps to minimizes these errors at the time of data entry through facilities such as 1 Creating compulsory Data Parameters at the time of Item creation and where it exists entering default data into the newly created compulsory data parameters 2 Flagging Data Parameters for which no numeric data has been specified with a in column iS E Gc Ce A E A EREA gt fe ACT_END aju ora em E aae a TN C E T A eo a S S O A C E E During the TIMES GAMS model run that ANSWER TIMES initiates the following types of errors may be encountered that in the main are the result of incorrect data 1 GAMS compilation errors GAMS execution errors Model optimization errors e g infeasibilities unbounded solution
372. itable Scenario and to edit that Scenario s data 1 Use the Scenario selection buttons so that the Selected Scenarios display contains the Scenario to be edited The Selected Scenarios display may also contain other Scenarios whose data will be browsable but not editable 2 Double click on the Scenario in the Selected Scenarios display that is to be edited a pen Icon will appear beside the highlighted Scenario The edit facility cannot be invoked unless a Scenario is double clicked Only one Scenario can be selected for editing at a time 3 Click on the Edit Data button below the Selected Scenarios display or click on View in the menu bar and choose Edit data in the drop menu 4 The Data Results Screen will appear with the editable Scenario s data displayed for editing and data for other Selected Scenarios displayed for browsing 2 6 8 1 Editing the DELETED Scenario Although unusual it is permissible to make the DELETED Scenario the editable Scenario by carrying out steps 1 2 and 3 above and at step 2 double clicking on the DELETED Scenario in the Selected Scenarios display Once on the Data Results Screen the standard Item Management facilities are available although it is difficult to imagine why the user would wish to use such facilities as New Item or Copy Item in respect of the DELETED Scenario 1 Edit Item allows the user to change the Name and or Description of an Item in the _DELETED Scenario and in on line Result
373. ith Hide Identical Rows as the setting for the Row Comparison Filter 3 7 11 Filtering Criteria for individual cells in the TS and TID Filters 1 A wide range of filtering criteria may be entered in individual cells of the Time Series and Time Independent Filters By right mouse clicking over any cell in the Time Series or Time Independent Filter the user can consult the pop up menu see below as a reminder of the allowable filtering criteria Noble Soft Systems Pty Ltd 2004 09 section three 35 ANSWER s Data Results Screen 00m Cut Copy Paste EQ Between EOT And E 70 Iim EUI elles oe ah Like FF P D G lt gt EO Not Between E01 And E70 Mot In EDT E21 EST Mot Like P D G gt EDT gt EDI lt EOT lt EDI 2 Note that in order to specify within an individual cell filtering criterion involving or it is necessary to use the In construct Thus the filtering criterion to say that Process is either E01 or E21 or E31 is handled via the criterion In E01 E21 E31 3 The Like and Not Like constructs provide for the use of asterisk as a wild character representing 0 or more of any character question mark as a wild character representing any single character D G to represent a single character in the range D to G Thus the example Like P D G on the pop up menu matches any name whose first and second characters are arbitrary whose third c
374. ity Refresh The RES graphic screen can be left open while the user makes editing changes to the underlying model data The RES graphic screen can be minimised to get it out of the way Where such editing changes are made ANSWER does not automatically refresh the RES graphic to display any effects of these changes Consequently in instances where the RES graphic is open and editing changes have been made that may impact on the RES graphic the user is strongly advised to refresh the RES graphic To refresh the RES graphic 1 Click anywhere within the RES graphic using the right hand mouse button and a pop up menu will appear Shown below Print Switch Background to white Increase Color Contrast w Scroll LHS RHS Together X Synchronize Emissions On Commodity RES Close 2 Click on Refresh and the RES graphic will refresh to display any relevant editing changes Editing changes that affect the RES While the RES graphic screen is open the user may make editing changes such as deleting or renaming an Item that affect an Item displayed in the RES graphic changes If subsequently the user forgets to refresh the RES graphic and then attempts to resize or scroll the RES graphic ANSWER detects the deletion rename change s and advises the user to refresh the RES graphic shown below Noble Soft Systems Pty Ltd 2004 09 section nine 9 Reference Energy System Graphics 9 2 7 9 2 8 Technology SAG no lon
375. jem SiS sis ooo jo ozo 3000 BASE CAPEND P DEMO E3 pooo eooo o bo ee o 01300 0 130 hd TEST CAP END 4 DEMO EJI LO o 0 1300 0 1300 O 5 Note that from among the multi selected Items only those that occur in the Origin Scenario will be copied any selected Items that do not occur in the Origin Scenario will be ignored If none of the multi selected Items occurs in the Origin Scenario the following message box will be displayed No selected Items in the Origin Scenario Fa T You can only do Copy Itemisi across Scenarios if at least one of the selected Items occurs in the Origin Scenario BASE Either change the Origin Scenario or exit the Form and change the selected Items 6 Where an Item being copied already occurs in the Destination Scenario the effect of the copy is that data parameter instances associated with the Item in the Origin Scenario are merged with data parameter instances already existing in the Destination Scenario for the Item In other words the values for data parameter instances in the Destination Scenario are overwritten by the values for corresponding parameter instances in the Origin Scenario with other data parameter instances in the Destination Scenario remaining intact The overwriting of parameter values occurs with no warning given to the user 7 The Copy Declaration Only Not Data checkbox may be used so that just declaration information Set Memberships and Uni
376. kboxes will now be detailed 6 1 4 1 Run Model Edit GAMS Control File checkbox option ff Edit GAMS Control File As is discussed in section 6 1 5 1 Run Edit GEN File Template facility below a TIMES model run is controlled by a GEN file This is a small master file in GAMS format that contain the essentials of the model run as specified by the user on the Run Model form The default version of this file as created by ANSWER is adequate for most users but some advanced users may need to edit this file to suit their purposes To make one off changes to the GEN file that controls a model run check the Edit GAMS Control File checkbox prior to clicking on the OK button on the Run Model form ANSWER will generate the BASE DD and non BASE DDS files for the run and then will display the GEN file for the run in a window so that it can be edited by the user Noble Soft Systems Pty Ltd 2004 09 section six 10 Running the Model Run Model mode is CMD oj x Hodel Run Details Mame LIMRENEW Change Run Description Renewable Limit Run eR j E Editing C AnswerTIMESY6 Gams _WrkTIELIMRENEW GEN at se File Edit Model Varia TITLE NOBLE SOFT ANSWER TIMES ERSION 6 5 0 TIMES ERSION 2 9 art OPTION LIMAOW 0 LIMCOL 0 SOLPRINT O0N ITERLIM 50000 OPTION RESLIM 50000 PROFILE 1 SOLYVEOPT REPLACE OPTION LP CPLEX OPTION LP MPSWRHITE OPTION SYSOUT 0N SOFFLISTING SONEMPTY
377. l 6 1 5 1 Run Edit GEN File Template facility 6 1 5 1 1 Details of the Run Edit GEN File Template facility 6 1 6 File Naming Conventions for ANSWER TIMES Model Runs 6 1 6 1 An Example Illustrating File Naming Conventions for an ANSWER TIMES Model Run 6 1 7 Using VEDA BE in conjunction with ANSWER TIMES for Results Processing 6 2 Run Model Detection and correction of inconsistencies and errors 6 2 1 The QA_CHECK LOG file and the lt Casename gt LST file 6 2 1 1 The QA_CHECK LOG file 6 2 1 2 The lt Casename gt LST file 6 2 2 Detecting data inconsistencies 6 2 3 GAMS compilation errors 6 2 4 GAMS execution errors 6 2 5 Errors at the model optimization report writing and results importing stages 6 2 5 1 Linear Program Optimization errors 6 2 5 1 1 Run Model status of Infeasible 6 2 5 1 2 Run Model status of Unbounded 6 2 5 2 GAMS Report Writing Errors 6 2 5 3 ANSWER Results Importing Errors Import Case Errors 6 2 5 3 1 Import Case into an ANSWER Database that is not aware of newly introduced GAMS MARKAL Results Parameters 6 3 Batch Run facility for Multiple Model Runs 6 3 1 Setting up a Batch of Model Runs 6 3 2 Using the Save Batch button 6 3 3 Using the Load Batch button 6 4 Batch Management facility 6 4 1 Invoking the Batch Management facility and viewing existing Batches of Cases 6 4 2 Creating a new Batch of Cases 6 4 3 Copying a Batch of Cases 6 4 4 Deleting a Batch of Cases 6 4 5 Editing a Batch of C
378. l in general differ from the Time Periods that are displayed on the Results Screen A2 2 3 TimeSlice Tab New Copy Edit Form On the TimeSlice tab if you click on the New or Copy or Edit buttons in the Item Management frame the form that appears differs significantly from the generic form that appears on the Commodity CommGroup and Constraint tabs in ANSWER TIMES and on almost all tabs in ANSWER MARKAL e The form has a Global TimeSlice Order section replacing the Additional Characterization section that allows you to specify the order of this TimeSlice in the Global TimeSlice Order e The form also has a Parent TimeSlice section that allows you to specify the Parent TimeSlice e On the TimeSlice tab if you create a new TimeSlice at the Seasonal Weekly Day Night level ANSWER TIMES auto generates TID parameter instances G_YRFR and TS PARENT for this TimeSlice Noble Soft Systems Pty Ltd 2004 09 appendix two 4 Main ANSWER TIMES Interface Differences from ANSWER MARKAL For details see section 14 Handling of TimeSlices in ANSWER TIMES A2 2 4 CommGroup Tab The CommGroup tab is a special ANSWER TIMES tab to handle TIMES Commodity Groups Commodity Groups may be either single Commodities or as the name suggests groups of Commodities or one of several pre defined Commodity Groups ACTGRP DEM ENV FIN MAT NRG Groups of Commodities are known in ANSWER TIMES as True Commodity Groups
379. l the desired option is visible and then left click on it 2b An alternative and sometimes more convenient way than 2a above of carrying out Direct Cell Editing is to right click in the combobox and select View Descriptions from the popup menu that appears Noble Soft Systems Pty Ltd 2004 09 UTOPIA EM eo b O sooo 70 0000 section five 22 Data entry and editing Scenano Parameter i Commodity Commaroup Com ten FA a __ _i _ ioe AEE Aaaa E o oo a E EE fesse fro sM ahoro Jen Hoa EAR E E E E e a a Toggle Size BASE NCAP COST 2uTORIA JEM o o i Hide Empty Numeric Columns C ease NCAP Fom efoto em SS A This brings up an Item Selection form that displays all legal options that are available for this argument with the additional benefit of displaying also the Description for each Item E tem Selection in region UTOPIA Activity related Group Carbon Dioxide Demand Commodity Type Diesel E41 OUT Electricity Environmental Commodity Type Financial Commodity Type GAS Gasoline Coal Mat Material Commodity Type NRG Energy Commodity Type OIL Oil RH Residential Space Heating RHG IN RHG IN E Select the desired option of HCO by clicking on it and then click on the OK button 3 For either of 2a or 2b above the change of Item argument from HYD to HCO is displayed in the Data Parameter row and immediately saved to the Database BASE FLO_FUNC JUTOPIA E0 f HCO ELC AN
380. lay each individual row of the Constraint with the fully resolved coefficients as they will be generated at Run Model time select the Rule based Constraint in the Items listview then right mouse click and select the Resolve Rule based Constraint menu option Mame Region Description ESB RENE WELC Togale Size z natant for renewable el Select All Copy Itemis across Scenarios aeaea Copy Items from Region to Regionis Scenario i k BASE L Refresh a BASE AOE TAJUEMUTRENEWELL LHS ALL ELE BASE UCRULE_ACT 2 DEMO ARENEWELC LHS RENEW ELE Resolve Rule based Constraint 2 The Resolve Rule based Constraint form will appear Initially the form is populated with a specially constructed temporary Case named _SELSCEN that comprises the BASE scenario followed by the non BASE scenarios in the Home screen Selected Scenarios listview in alphabetical order of CaseName Only the upper part of the form is displayed in the screen snapshot below Often resolving the Constraint against the SELSCEN temporary Case will be sufficient for the user to determine whether the Constraint has been correctly specified See 3 below for details of how to resolve the Constraint against an online Case W Resolve Rule based Constraint RENEWELC in region DEMO Case Selection _SELS CEN Resolve Desc Temporary Case comprising elected scenarios used for Resolve Aule based Constraint Scenario Scen SE D
381. lder in the target computer Noble Soft Systems Pty Ltd 2004 09 section twelve 12 Process Items Filters in ANSWER TIMES To import Process Items Filters into a Database 1 Open the target Database 2 Click on File in the menu bar and choose Import then choose Process Items Filters in the drop menu 3 An Import Process Items Filters dialogue box shown below will appear in which all the Process Items Filters text files fil produced by previous Export Process Items Filters operations and held in the C AnswerTIMESv 6 Ans_WrkT folder will be displayed Import Process Items Filters Import Process Items Filters allows Process Items Filters existing as a text file on disk to be imported into an ANSWER database Import from c ansiwertinesvo ans wrk stantorddemonow 2007 fil Utopia_lumpyinvestmernt fil Display of Database Process Items Filters previously exported Delete All Existing Process Filters Before Import Inport Clase 4 Click on the required Process Items Filters file lt name gt fil in the filelist display This causes the Import button to become enabled 5 If desired check the Delete All Existing Process Filters Before Import checkbox so that existing Process Filters in the target database are deleted before importing those in the Process Items Filters file selected at step 4 6 Click on the Import button The following message will appear to advise that the Proces
382. lder in the target computer To import a Database s Units Settings 1 Open the target Database 2 Click on File in the menu bar and choose Import then choose Units Settings in the drop menu 3 An Import Units Settings dialogue box shown below will appear in which all the Units text files unt produced by previous Export Units operations and held in the C AnswerTIMESv6 Ans_WrkTI folder will be displayed Noble Soft Systems Pty Ltd 2004 09 section two 26 Starting ANSWER and the ANSWER Home Screen Import Units Settings Import Units Settings allows units settings existing as a text file on disk to be imported into an existing ANSWER database Import from cohansivertinesvo sans wirkt stanforddemonow 007 unt utopia_lumpyinvestment urt Display of Database Units settings previously exported y Check Money and Macro Money Units Import Close 4 Click on the required Units Settings file lt name gt unt in the filelist display The Import button will then become enabled 5 The Import Units Settings dialogue box incorporates a 85 Money and Macro Maney Units V lt x button at the bottom LHS along with a or indicator to the left of this button as a visual cue that either the current target database does contain a single Money unit and a v multiple Money units and or multiple Macro Money units in which case the be displayed single Macro Money unit in which cas
383. le GAMS Basis Save File C AnswerlIMESv6 Game_ wrk TI GamesaveSBASEUTOP_p gds Modify 6 1 4 Assorted Run Model Checkbox Options As noted above there are a number of checkboxes at the bottom of the Run Model form and for most purposes ANSWER s default settings for these checkboxes as shown below are appropriate Noble Soft Systems Pty Ltd 2004 09 section six 9 Running the Model Edit GAMS Control File Generate Files Do Not Run M Create Results For Import into ANSWER IW Regenerate Base DD File W Suppress Pure Zero Time Series Results iW Regenerate Non Base DOS Files I Import Results Automatically M Regenerate Aule based DDS Automatic Repair amp Compact after Import 0k Cancel but there are occasions where other settings are needed When the user initiates a model run the settings for most of the checkboxes are saved to the registry and used as the default settings the next time that the Run Model facility is invoked Only the Edit GAMS Control File and Generate Files Do Not Run checkboxes are always initially unchecked when the Run Model facility is invoked Note that the settings of the Create Results For Import into ANSWER Import Results Automatically and Automatic Repair amp Compact after Import checkboxes for the Run Model facility are independent of the settings of the checkboxes of the same name in the Batch Run facility The operation of each of these chec
384. le Locations facilities in respect of the folder names used for the GAMS Source or GAMS Work or ANSWER Work folders To display the folder names that are associated with the currently open ANSWER database and to change these folder names as desired or to choose a favourite text editor in place of ANSWER s default of WordPad 1 Click on Tools in the menu bar and choose File Locations from the drop menu Then click on the appropriate item e g GAMS Work to highlight it see below File Locations for current database Utopia_LumpyInyvestment mdb bern Location GAMS Source C AnewerllMESve Games Sretl CManswerlMESve Qams wrk T eles Answer Work CMansiwernlliMeESvb 4ans wrk TI Answer Databases LC MAnswerlMESvb ansiwer Databases Text Editor C Program Files Windows NT Wccessones wordpad exe 2 Click on the Modify button This brings up the Select Folder dialogue box see below Noble Soft Systems Pty Ltd 2004 09 section two 63 Starting ANSWER and the ANSWER Home Screen 2 14 2 O Select Folder 0 X Folder name Gams_WwikTI Folder path C WanswerliIMESv6 Gams_WrkTl Cancel Modify the Folder Name and then click on the OK button Click on the Close button to close the File Locations dialogue box The most useful aspect of this facility is probably that it allows the advanced user who has a number of different ANSWER databases to have different Gams Work folders correspondin
385. leting any GLOBAL region TimeSlice and its associated TS _ORD_XXX parameter instance that should not be in the database because there is no longer a region TimeSlice of that name in the database If you invoke this menu function then the following message will be displayed Noble Soft Systems Pty Ltd 2004 09 section fourteen 16 Handling of TimeSlices in ANSWER TIMES _ i Global Region TimeSlices have been generated From Region TimeSlices 14 8 3 File Edit Global TimeSlice Order SET ALL_TS As noted above ANSWER TIMES auto generates the TID parameters TS_ ORD SEASON TS ORD_WEEKLY and TS_ORD_DAYNITE and it would be unusual to use the Parameter tab AddRow to create TS_ORD_XXxX instances or to alter the Values of existing TS ORD XXX instances in order to change the global order of TimeSlices at some TimeSlice Level Also it is quite unnecessary The ANSWER TIMES Edit Global TimeSlice Order SET ALL_TS menu function provides the user with a visually oriented way of ordering the TimeSlices at each TimeSlice Level by the use of Up and Dn buttons Edit Global Time Slice Order by TimeSlice Level For each TimeSlice Level Seasonal Weekly DayNite use the Up On butttons to alter the TimeSlice Order used for SET ALL_T5 Seasonal Weekly Hame Description Hame Description SLUM Summer AUT Autumn E Summer Might Wilh Winter Autumn Day SPR Spring Autumn Might Winker Day Winter Might Spring Day
386. letion of All Cases dialogue box will appear Confirm deletion of All Cases E Flease contirm that you wish to delete ALL Cases AN MOTE This deletion cannot be undone Options i Remember Case Definitions MW Automatically Repair and Compact Database after Delete Caze s Cancel Noble Soft Systems Pty Ltd 2004 09 sectiontwo 21 Starting ANSWER and the ANSWER Home Screen 2 7 6 3 4 8 The checkbox options for Edit Delete All Cases are always set as above but can of course be altered by the user To delete all Cases while remembering the Case definitions and then to repair and compact the database simply click on the OK button The following message box will appear to confirm that all Cases have been deleted while remembering the Case Definitions i All Cases have been Deleted and Case Definitions have been remembered The database has been Repaired and Compacted The Delete All Cases part of this facility runs very quickly even for a large ANSWER database that has many Cases loaded The Repair and Compact part of this facility also runs very quickly in this situation where results have been deleted for all Cases By comparison Repair and Compact where results have been deleted for only some Cases may be quite slow After use of the Edit Delete All Cases facility the Cases listview bottom LHS of ANSWER s Home Screen appears as follows Results Man
387. lice Changes Apply in All Regions TimeSlice Information Scenaria BASE TIMES model BASE scenario Name Region Description WIN DAY aus winter Day TimeSlice Level Global TimeSlice Order C Time Sice ALL_TS AL Annual ANNUAL i Summer Day HE Seasonal SEASON f Summer Might H EL Weekly WEEKLY Sat O ay Might DAYNITE Autumn Day Autumn Might Spring Day Spring Might Winter Day Parent TimeSlice Since the database has no Weekly TimeSlices this Day Night TimeSlice should have a Seasonal TimeSlice as Parent TimeSlice AUT Aut Wm The operation of the Parent TimeSlice frame will be discussed first The message indicates that this new Day Night Time Slice should have a Seasonal TimeSlice as its Parent and the combobox Noble Soft Systems Pty Ltd 2004 09 section fourteen 4 Handling of TimeSlices in ANSWER TIMES is populated with all existing Seasonal TimeSlices in alphabetical order with the first such Seasonal TimeSlice selected 3 Use the Parent TimeSlice combobox to specify the appropriate Parent TimeSlice in this case WIN Winter The operation of the Global TimeSlice Order listview is now discussed Firstly this listview is populated with all of the Day Night Level TimeSlices in the GLOBAL region in the order that is specified by the current TS ORD_DAYNITE Values So SUM DAY SUM NITE AUT DAY AUT NITE SPR DAY SPR NITE are added to the listview Then the new TimeSlice WIN DAY is added as t
388. ll appear as Browse if the selected Item is not in the editable scenario Move button to move an existing Item including its specifications and Data Parameters This facility allows the user to create a new Item in the specified Scenario to define its Set Memberships and if necessary to change its Units from the Component s default units To create a new ltem 1 Click on the required Component tab for example the Commodity tab 2 Click on the New button in the Item Management sub region or click on Edit in the menu bar and choose New Item in the drop menu 3 A New Commodity dialogue box shown below will appear A Enter Name and Description for the new Commodity Check the Region combobox setting Specify Set Memberships and change Units if necessary Optionally enter Comment After clicking OK specify parameter data as appropriate Scenario pas e scenario for Utopia model Name Desc fas UTOPIA Gasoline hd Set Memberships and Units Set Memberships C Commodity COM B Agricultural AGR B Commercial COM amp Industrial IND FS Non Energy NE E Other OTH amp Residential RES amp Transportation TRAN J Energy Carrier NAG F Conservation CONSRY amp Electricity ELC 5 Fossil FOSSIL j Demand for Energy Services DEM F High Temperature Heat HTHEAT Additional Characterization Annual Time Slice Level Seasonal Time Sli
389. lly displays the origin Scenario and the Name Region and Description of the Item selected at Step 2 L The Scenario combobox is populated with every Scenario in the Database Its setting determines the origin Scenario il The Name Desc combobox is populated with those Items in the example shown above Commodity Items which are fully defined in the Scenario currently selected at Step i above and whose Set Memberships match the current Subset Items setting for the current Component Tab and whose Region s match the region s currently selected for data display via the Regions button ili The user may change the settings of either both of the Scenario and Name Desc comboboxes Where the target Scenario is the same as the origin Scenario 6a Enter a new Name and presumably a new Description The Region combobox is set to the same Region as for the origin Item selected at Step 5 ii above and is disabled since copy with change of Region is not permitted The OK button will only become enabled when a new Name has been entered Where the target Scenario differs from the origin Scenario 6b The OK button will be immediately enabled The Name and Description for the new Item in the target Scenario are allowed to be the same as in the origin Scenario Region is required to be the same Or the user may proceed as in Step 6a above and enter a new Name and a new Description for the copied Item in
390. locate the required rows of data results 3 Any number and configuration of data results rows can be selected for export to the three chart worksheet facilities 4 While the number of rows of data results and the number of periods able to be exported to the three chart worksheet facilities is virtually unlimited charts quickly become difficult to understand if they plot any more than about 10 rows of data results over 9 periods 5 By swiping just the periods required for export ANSWER will export either all the periods or some subset The periods must be adjacent 6 Rows of data results selected for exporting can have differing units While this may be a questionable practice for analytical purposes it can be useful for charting presentational purposes The title for the default units used in a chart will be the units of the first row of data results but this can be edited on the chart or in the preceding Chart Options dialogue box see later sections Noble Soft Systems Pty Ltd 2004 09 section eight 2 Charting and analysing ANSWER TIMES Results 8 2 The Chart facility ANSWER s charting facility exports the user s selected data results from ANSWER into a MS Excel chart sheet A chart sheet is a chart on a separate sheet in an Excel workbook but the chart sheet does not have any worksheet data or worksheets appearing with it in the workbook A chart with worksheet data appearing in association with it is termed an embedded ch
391. lp a Fl Alaz El al Y Edit Data Regions Filter Items All Scenarios All Global TimeSlice Commodity CommGroup Process TradeProcess Constraint Parameter Items Filter f Sets Named ran Processes PRC Sets Filter Hamed Filter Name Region Description Status al UTOPIA Coal Steam Electric E21 UTOPIA UWR Nuclear Plant E3 UTOFIA Hydro electric Plant E41 UTOFIA Natural gas combined cycle plant ESI UTOFIA Pumped Storage Power Plant E70 UTOPIA Oil Plant IMPOSLI IMMPEXP Import of Diesel ltem Management Current Process 5 EDI Sets New Copy Delete Edit Select All Items Hove FES Ts data IMPDSL1 UTOPIA Import of Diesel E 1990 2000 2010 IMPGAST IMPE P Import of Uranium o oao o3000 0 3000 IMPGAST UTOPIA Import of Uranium o 03200 03200 0 3200 IMPGSL1 IMPEXP Import of Gasoline o 830000 89 0000 89 0000 IMPGSLI UTOPIA Import of Gasoline oO 08000 08000 0 8000 IMPHCOT IMPEXP Import of Hard Coal O 1 400 0000 1 300 0000 1 200 0000 IMPHCO1 UTOPIA Import of Hard Coal o 40 0000 70 0000 100 0000 IMPOILT IMPEXP Import of Crude oj 4 at IFMPOIL1 UTOPIA Import of Crude IMPUAM IMPEXP Import of Uranium IMPUARM T UTOPIA Import of Uranium RHE UTOPIA Electric Boiler RHG UTOPIA Gas oil Boiler 4 RHO UTOPIA Database C VAnswerl IME Syvb 4ansiwer Databases Utopia _Lumpilnvestment mdb Edi
392. lter that selects all industrial end use demand processes should specify Name criteria Like I and Set Memberships criteria DMD in the same row of the Processes to be Included spread rather than specify Name criteria Like I in the Processes to be Included spread and Name criteria Like IMP in the Processes to be Excluded spread to exclude Import Processes 3 The least efficient filter to execute is one that involves multiple rows in both the Processes to be Included and Excluded spreads and where there are rows in each of the following three categories e Input Commodity but no Output Commodity criteria e Output Commodity but no Input Commodity criteria and e Input Commodity and Output Commodity criteria 4 In view of 3 when specifying a multi row filter that involves Input and or Output Commodity criteria if possible try to ensure that every row of the filter falls into just one of the following three categories e Input Commodity but no Output Commodity criteria e Output Commodity but no Input Commodity criteria or e Input Commodity and Output Commodity criteria So for example a multi row filter in which every row of the filter involves say Input and Output Commodity criteria and possibly also Name Description Set Memberships criteria will execute more efficiently than a filter in which some rows involve say Input but no Output Commodity criteria and other rows involve say Output but no Input Commodity crit
393. lts Screen provides the user with an extensive range of on line facilities principally create edit Scenarios data browse compare Scenarios data Reference Energy System graphics browse compare Cases results filter data and results export data and results to Excel specify and edit the default units for the Database data General features of the Data Results Screen The Data Results Screen is made up of five primary regions 1 the Menu bar the Tool bar a the Component tabs 4 the Items region 5 the Parameters region Home Screen Chart Chart with Excel Analyze with Excel Specify screen mode Specify Regions to be displayed TS amp TID Filter Specify Items to be displayed Apply Filter Specify Parameters to be displayed Tool bar a Fl JRE E alv Edit Data Regions Filter Items All Scenarias All Component tabs Items region Parameters region B E71 UTOPIA LWR Nuclear Plant i E3 UTOPIA Hidro electric Plant New Copy Delete Edit E41 UTOPIA Natural gas combined cycle plant ESI UTOPIA Pumped Storage Power Plarit Sect elem Moe res Global TimeSlice Commodity CommGroup Process TradeProcess Constraint Parameter Items Filter ii Sets Named an Processes PRC Sets Filter Hamed Filter a a aa FS ltem Management Current Process 5 EDI Sets UTOPIA Coal Steam Electric 5 Base jacT_cosy elvoria En y
394. ly imports the results for a TIMES model run Case and the Status of the run as displayed in the Cases listview will be Imported If this checkbox is unchecked then after undertaking a TIMES model run the run Case will be displayed in the Cases listview with a status of Not Imported To import a Case into the Database where its Status is Not Imported 1 In the Cases display highlight the Case that is to be imported 2 Click on the Import button or click on File in the menu bar and choose Import then choose Case in the drop menu 5 The Case will be imported into your Database and the following message summarising the import process will appear Manual Import of Results for Case MULTI EA Lol i DD 245 records imported 5 Results for the Case may now be browsed on line see Section 2 7 8 Browsing a Case s Results 2 7 3 Viewing the GAMS Listing file LST file associated with a Case For a TIMES run a single GAMS listing file LST file is created regardless of how many internal regions are involved in the run In comparison multiple GAMS listing files are created for a multi region MARKAL run To view the LST file associated with a Case 1 In the Cases display highlight the Case that is to be viewed Noble Soft Systems Pty Ltd 2004 09 sectiontwo 19 Starting ANSWER and the ANSWER Home Screen 2 7 4 2 7 5 2 Click on the View LST button or click on View in
395. meSlice tab to specify any additional TimeSlices that you require in this Region For details see section 2 5 Region Management A2 1 4 Run Model In ANSWER TIMES the form that is displayed when Run Model is invoked is very similar to that for ANSWER MARKAL and the facility operates in a very similar fashion but with the following important differences e Thereisan Endog Techn Leaming ETL checkbox that allows the user to specify that a model run involves the Endogenous Technology Learning ETL extension In ANSWER MARKAL the ETL extension could be selected via the Specify Model ariant button As is the case in ANSWER MARKAL there is a Lumpy Investment checkbox that allows the user to specify that a model run involves the Lumpy Investment extension e Thereisa Specify Milestone Years button that replaces the End Year combobox of ANSWER MARKAL and that allows the user to specify the Milestone Years Beginning and Ending Years B and E that TIMES requires for a model run e Ifthe user clicks on the Regions button the form that is displayed is populated only with the Internal Regions there are only T icons in the database and not with any External Regions e GAMS Basis Restart File and GAMS Basis Save File with associated option buttons replace the previous File Locations options of ANSWER MARKAL to allow the user to invoke the Savepoint Loadpoint Basis Save Restart enhancement in the TI
396. ment by clicking on UP This completes the process of Direct Cell Editing of the none placeholder and results in the following display Scenario Parameter Region Constraint Side Process Com TimeStice teme IE 1990 2000 2070 _ UTOPIA ELEMA o ooo UP 5 4 2 2 2 Using the Direct Cell Edit facility to edit a Data Parameter s argument BASE FLO_FUNC afutToPA EM HYD ELE ANNUAL O O03200 03200 0 3200 Base FLo Func autora em hyD wmhELC ANNUAL f o 9200 0 3200 0 3200 Suppose that the first Commodity Group argument for the FLO_FUNC parameter for a coal fired power station has been mis specified as HYD when it should it should have been HCO Hard Coal To use the Direct Cell Edit facility to edit the HYD argument proceed as follows 1 Click on the HYD argument field The argument field will display as a combobox and be backlit 2a Left click in the combobox This will cause the combobox to drop down and display all legal options that are available for this argument BASE FLO_FUNC yUTOPIA EOI H D ELC ANNUAL 0 0 3200 0 3200 HCO C02 ANNUAL O 89 0000 89 0000 db JUP o oo 08000 odbo f O 1400 0000 1 300 0000 Eq EM FLO_SUM NCAP_AFA NCAP FOM NCAP_TLIFE In this case select the desired option of HCO by pointing at HCO and left clicking Of course if necessary use the scroll bar at the right of the combobox to scroll down unti
397. menu bar and choose Edit Scenario in the drop menu 3 An Edit Scenario dialogue box similar to the New Scenario dialogue box above will appear 4 Change the Name and or Description and or Comment for the Scenario The OK button will be enabled 5 Click on OK and the edited Scenario will be displayed in the Scenarios display on the Home Screen 2 6 6 Moving a Scenario s between the Scenarios display and the Selected Scenarios display The Data Management region is split into two displays being the Scenarios display and the Selected Scenarios display The Scenarios display shows all the on line Scenarios in the current Database The Selected Scenarios display shows the Scenarios that are currently being edited or browsed aaa Move selected Scenario to right hand display To move individual or all Scenarios from the left Se eee EO ae i Move all Scenarios to ri and displa hand display to from the right hand display use the e selection buttons as shown Remove selected Scenario from right hand display eg Remove all Scenarios from right hand display 2 6 7 Browsing a Scenario s data This facility takes the user into the Data Results Screen to allow browsing of the selected Scenario s data Itis not possible to edit the selected Scenario s data using this facility To browse a Scenario s data 1 Use the Scenario selection buttons so that the Selected Scenarios display contains the Sc
398. meter Items om C Sets Named Ip ALLPROC All Processes Gets Filtern Named Filter E A E T T A E lienn emeen EDI UTOPIA Coal Steam Electric oi Process Sets E21 UTOPIA LWR Nuclear Plant E3 UTOFIA Hydro electric Plant w Copy Delete Edit E41 UTOPIA Natural gas combined cycle plant E51 UTOPIA Pumped Storage Power Plant rA ASS EO UTOPIA Oil Plant yee IMPEXP Import of Diesel IkADMCI d LITO Lrerork oF Ciel Subset Parameters e C Process Specific fts TID data a 6 When the Named option button is selected the Subset Items combobox is populated with the Named Process Items Filters that are currently defined in the database the Sets Filter button is disabled and the Named Filter button is enabled T Note that each ANSWER TIMES database contains a pre defined Process Filter _ALLPROC All Processes that will be the Named Filter initially selected when the Named option button is selected in an analogous manner to the selection of All Processes PRC as the Set Memberships Filter initially selected when the Sets option button is selected making all processes initially available 8 To define new Named Process Items Filters click on the Named Filter button to bring up the Process Items Filter Management form BS Process Items Filter Management Oy x Process Items Filters Modified _ALLPRUL 2006 11 07 23 3 Targ fiter defining all electric pro
399. mple the TimeSlice being edited might be SUM NITE in region WEU but it might be the case that TimeSlice s with Name SUM NITE occur in region s other than WEU ANSWER TIMES detects this situation and places a special label and accompanying checkbox on the form Timeslice SUM NITE being edited occurs in Other Regions Apply Name and or Description Changes Only to Region WEL as shown in the screen snapshot below Noble Soft Systems Pty Ltd 2004 09 section fourteen 18 Handling of TimeSlices in ANSWER TIMES E Edit Time Slice SUM MNITE in Region WEU in scenario BASE ea Edit Timeslice SUM NITE in Region WEU with Description Summer Night Edit Name andor Description for the TimeSlice or change Global Time Slice Order or Parent TimeSlice or edit Comment NOTE Database has Different TimeSlices in Different Regions TimeSlice SUM NITE being edited occurs in Other Regions Apply Name and or Description Changes Only to Region EU TimeSlice Information Scenaric ASE Name Region Description SUM NITE WwEL z Summer Night TimeSlice Level Global TimeSlice Order i Time Slice ALL_TS Annual ANNUAL SUM Daty Summer ay E Seasonal SEASON EF SUM NITE Summer Might E Weekly WEEKLY AUT DAY Autumn Day E DayNight DAYNITE AUT NITE Autumn Night SPR NITE Spring Might Parent TimeSlice Since region WEU has no Weekly TimeSlices this Day Night TimeSlice should have a Seasonal TimeSlice as Parent TimeSlice SU
400. n The development of a special version of ANSWER TIMES that incorporates a Library Database facility to meet the needs of the International Energy Agency for their Energy Technology Perspectives model IEA ETP model is currently under consideration Comprehensive documentation of the Library Database facility is not currently available Noble Soft Systems Pty Ltd 2004 09 section eleven 1 The special GLOBAL region and Cross Region Constraints in ANSWER TIMES Section Eleven The special GLOBAL region and Cross Region User Defined Constraints in ANSWER TIMES This section discusses the use in ANSWER TIMES of the special GLOBAL region to represent TIMES parameters that do not have a region index such as G_DYEAR Base year for discounting and UC_RHS Sum over Regions Periods TimeSlices It also describes the special considerations that apply to the handling of Cross Region User Defined Constraints in ANSWER TIMES and discusses Run Model and File Import Model Data from Excel considerations for the GLOBAL region 11 1 The special GLOBAL region in ANSWER TIMES In TIMES the majority of data parameters have a region index but there are a few that do not TIMES data parameters that do not have a region index include e Scalar G DYEAR Base year for discounting e Parameter MULTI J ALLYEAR Multiplier table e Parameter SHAPE J AGE Shaping table e Parameter UC_RHS UC_N LIM RHS of User Constraint that Sums over Regions
401. n and make a different multi select involving a reduced number of Items 2 To proceed with your current multi select click on the No button In the above example 129 Items will be multi selected in the Items listview 3 9 4 Maximum Rows to Display without Prompt The Maximum Rows to Display without Prompt value default 1000 comes into play in two contexts Select All Items Multi Select of Items when no TS and TID Filter is applied and where this would produce a large number of rows in the TS and TID spreads The user is prompted to apply a Filter Remove TS and TID Filter where multiple Items are selected in the Items display and where this would produce a large number of rows in the TS and TID spreads The user is prompted to consider reducing the number of selected Items before removing the TS and TID Filter In each of these contexts the Maximum Rows to Display without Prompt value determines how many rows is considered to be a large number If the total number of TS and TID rows would exceed this value then a prompt will be displayed and otherwise it will not For further details concerning the operation of Maximum Rows to Display without Prompt in the context of Select All Items and Remove TS and TID Filter see sections 3 9 4 1 and 3 9 4 2 below To alter the Maximum Rows to Display without Prompt value 1 Bring up the Options dialogue box by clicking on Tools in the menu bar a
402. n region UTOPIA and its Set Memberships are specified as By Region Period Sum over TimeSlices As illustrated below ANSWER will then automatically create the appropriate compulsory Data Parameters for a Constraint Item with these Set Memberships namely the TS Parameter UC__RHSRT and the TID Parameter UC_R_EACH The TS Parameter UC__RHSRT that specifies the RHS of the constraint is created with the special placeholder none in the Item6 column and with default numeric data of 0 in each time period and requires editing by the user The nature of the editing that is required is discussed in detail in section 5 4 2 2 Editing a Data Parameter s argument s and numeric data The TID Parameter UC_R_EACH is created with the default numeric data of 1 and does not require any editing by the user Utopia_LumpyInvestment ANSWER TIMES Energy Modelling O File Edit View Bun Tools Functions Help or Fl JAE E al Y JEdit Data Regions Filter Items Al T Scenarios All Global TimeSlice Commodity CommGroup Process TradeProcess Constraint Parameter Items Filter 6 Sets if iaf User Defined Constraints UC_N sets Filter Hamed Filter item highlighted Name Region Description Status _ p ltem Management i Curent User Defined in Items display ELE bl UTOPIA Maximum Electricity Constraint ELEMA Sets i Copy Delete Edit Select All tems move RES
403. n the Yes button then all online results Cases that involve the Target Scenario are deleted from the ANSWER database and the Import proceeds Noble Soft Systems Pty Ltd 2004 09 sectiontwo 41 Starting ANSWER and the ANSWER Home Screen e f you click on the No button then a message appears asking you to confirm that you wish to proceed with the Import without deleting any online results e And if you click on the Cancel button the Import is cancelled and you are returned to the Import Model Data from Excel dialogue box 2 10 3 2 Strong Checking of TS and TID Data Parameters checkbox Options M Strong Checking of TS and TID Data Parameters Details This checkbox is always checked when the Import Model Data from Excel dialogue box is displayed and it is recommended that you leave it checked As you would expect when the Strong Checking checkbox is checked there will be more thorough checking of the TS and TID Data Parameters than if it is unchecked In particular this more thorough checking means that ANSWER will check that the Set Memberships for each component Item of the Parameter are appropriate for the Parameter The difference in the checking that is carried out is best explained with an example Suppose that there is a TS Data Parameter COM PROJ record in one of the Excel Files that is being imported For the COM PROJ Parameter the Item in the Item2 position column D should be a Commodit
404. nd RENEW ELE rules so 1 0 05 0 95 is calculated by ANSWER as the appropriate final coefficient for UC_ACT The remaining processes in the spread for which the UC_ACT coefficients are 0 05 are the non renewable electric processes Noble Soft Systems Pty Ltd 2004 09 section thirteen 10 Defining a Rule based Constraint in ANSWER TIMES W Resolve Rule based Constraint RENEWELC in region DEMO Oy x Case Selection Select Case Mame BASEBOTH Base scenario for Utopia D emo model BASE The spread displays how the TS part of the Aule based Constraint will be resolved at Aun Model time for Case BASEBOTH The TID part of the Aule based Constraint will match what i displayed in the TID spread RENE WELC UC_ACT FENEWELC gt ANNUAL UC_ACT RENEWELC ANNUAL UC_ACT RENEWELC ANNUAL UC_ACT RENEWELC gt ANNUAL UL_ACT FENEWELC gt ANNUAL UIC_ACT RENE WELC ANNUAL UC_ACT RENEWELC ANNUAL 6 If any of the Process Items Filters used in defining a Rule based Constraint involve Processes whose Set Memberships are incompatible for the UC_ parameter with which they are associated then the rows that correspond to these Processes are put out to the spread colored pink and a message box alerts the user Note that these rows are not put out to the RULES DDS at Run Model time To do so would lead to GAMS 170 compilation errors Some Process Set Memberships incompatible with UC_ Parameter Some oF the Process I
405. nd choosing Options in the drop menu Initially the Maximum Rows to Display without Prompt value value will be 1000 as indicated below Maximum Hows to Display without Prompt Prompt user on Select All Mult Select Remove Filter it number of TS amp TID rows li O00 exceeds 2 Enter the new value in the Prompt user on Select All Multi Select Remove Filter if total number of TS amp TID rows exceeds textbox and then click on the OK button 3 9 4 1 Maximum Rows to Display without Prompt for Select All Items Multi Select of Items When carrying out Select All Iltems multi select of Items when no TS and TID Filter is applied and where this would produce a large number of rows in the TS and TID spreads a prompt is displayed inviting the user to apply a TS and TID Filter to reduce the number of rows see section 3 5 2 3 2 Noble Soft Systems Pty Ltd 2004 09 section three 44 ANSWER s Data Results Screen 3 9 4 2 3 9 5 Max Rows to Display without Prompt Exceeded You are about to display 915 Time Series Rows and 400 Time Independent Rows Neal This total exceeds the Maxinurn Rows to Display without Prompt value of 1000 rows To alter this value invoke Tools Options From the menu bar t Would you like to apply a TS and TID Filter In the above example a total of 1315 915 400 TS and TID rows would be displayed in the absence of a TS and TID Filter and the M
406. ng Import Close Click on the Add button An Import Model Data from Excel Select Excel Files to be Imported dialogue box will appear initially positioning you at the ANSWER Work Folder default C AnswerTIMESv6 Ans_WrkTI to begin the selection process Noble Soft Systems Pty Ltd 2004 09 sectiontwo 36 Starting ANSWER and the ANSWER Home Screen Import Model Data from Excel Select Excel Files to be Imported EE Look in O Ans_WwikT a fa Fe ath creg uc xls My Recent Documents Deskto p Utopia Demo UserConstraints xls Utopia Demo MainData xls at rest Saug xls a basestan xls at basetest xls at uccarelc xls trdngas xls Ath bdmingas xls My Documents PI My Computer bly Network File name Utopia Demo U serConstraints sls Places Files of type Microsoft Excel Files sls Cancel A 5 If necessary use the Look in combobox at the top of the above dialogue box to change to a different folder that contains the Excel files that you want to select Then either select a single Excel file to be imported and click on the Open button or multi select several Excel files to be imported by clicking on each file s icon while holding down the Ctrl key and click on the Open button Import Model Data from Excel Select Excel Files to be Imported E x Look irr E Ans wikTI E l c E SF sreg uc xls Mo Rece
407. ng and analysing ANSWER TIMES Results Section Eight Charting and analysing ANSWER TIMES Results This Section introduces the user to exporting selected Scenario data and Case results from ANSWER into Microsoft Excel s charting and worksheet facility for presentational and analysis purposes Users of this manual are expected to be familiar with MS Excel s charting and worksheet features ANSWER provides three chart worksheet facilities for presentation and analysis of Scenario data and Case results 1 Chart i e export into MS Excel chart 2 Chart with Excel i e export into MS Excel chart and worksheet 3 Analyse with Excel i e export into MS Excel worksheet The Chart and Chart with Excel facilities are available on all tabs except the TradeProcess tab The Chart that is produced is simplified if the data selected by the user for charting involves just a single region The Analyse with Excel facility is available on all tabs including the TradeProcess tab 8 1 Requirements for exporting data results to charting analysis ANSWER has a number of requirements for exporting Scenario data and Case results to the charting analysis facilities 1 ANSWER will export both Scenario data and Case results 2 The rows of data results that are to be exported must be adjacent to next to each other ANSWER s facilities for sorting by column header and filtering see Section 3 6 4 The Parameters spread may enable the user to co
408. ng down the Shift key click in the Name field for E31 in region UTOPIA See the following page Noble Soft Systems Pty Ltd 2004 09 section three 15 ANSWER s Data Results Screen The Items that are selected do not have to be contiguous Additional Items may be added to the selection by holding down the Ctrl key and clicking in their Name fields It is possible to de select an already selected Item by holding down the Ctrl key and clicking in its Name field Utopia _LumpyInvestment ANSWER TIMES Energy Modelling File Edit View Bun Tools Functions Help Fl JEES Ell Al Edt Data Regions Filter items All Scenatios All Global TimeSlice Commodity CommGroup Process TradeProcess Constraint Parameter Items Filter G Sets f Named Fan Processes PRC Sets Filter Hamed Filter Mame o Region Description Stats _ Na Es UTOPIA Coal Steam Electric UTOPIA LWA Nuclear Plant UTOFIA Hydro electric Plant ltem Management 3 tems selected Gets Hew Popy Delete Arase UTOPIA Natural gas combined cycle plant E5 UTOFIA Pumped Storage Power Flant aN a RES Subset Parameters Process Specific Ts data Scenario Parameter Fegin Process Commodity CommGroup CommGr Items teme E 1990 200 2mo Base jactcost ejoropa em ooo o o oaf BASE ACTCOST muto ER o eooo eo 8000 asooo 1 5000 BASE CAP BND mjutoPa En doo o do ooo o oo f
409. nother Item with Name E01 in a different Region say UTOPIA But Region DEMO cannot contain two Items each with Name E01 Noble Soft Systems Pty Ltd 2004 09 section five 3 Data entry and editing 2 The Name of an Item can comprise up to 16 24 characters for an ANSWER TIMES database created with Max Item Length 16 24 being comprised of A Z 0 9 hyphen _ underscore amp ampersand period ANSWER automatically converts lower case alpha characters entered by the user to upper case 3 Likewise the Region of an Item can comprise up to 10 characters being comprised of A Z 0 9 hyphen _ underscore ANSWER automatically converts lower case alpha characters entered by the user to upper case 4 The first character of a Name and the first character of a Region must be alphabetic A Z However the ANSWER TIMES user is strongly encouraged to adopt Naming and Description conventions that ease management of their TIMES model See Section 5 3 Item Naming Conventions 5 1 2 6 Number of decimal places In ANSWER the number of decimal places displayed is preset at the individual parameter level with most data being displayed to 4 decimal places Users should note that the number of decimal places for which data is displayed will determine the number of decimal places before data entry is truncated Hence if data is to be entered to 6 decimal places the user must first ensure that the data is displayed to 6
410. nstruct e g BATINCLUDE NEWTECHS DD provided that these other TIMES GAMS DD files are in the same folder as the main TIMES GAMS DD file e The TIMES GAMS DD file is assumed to contain SET DATAYEAR in a standard GAMS format e The RUN file is assumed to contain SET ALL_TS SET MILESTONYR and the G_DYEAR data parameter in a standard GAMS format If it does not use a text editor such as Wordpad to open both the TIMES GAMS DD file and the RUN file and copy any of SET ALL_TS SET MILESTONYR and G_DYEAR that are missing from the RUN file from the TIMES GAMS DD file to the RUN file and then save the changes made in the RUN file To import the TIMES GAMS DD file into an ANSWER TIMES database 1 Open an arbitrary existing ANSWER TIMES database in which case you will subsequently choose an option that creates a new ANSWER TIMES database whose Data and Results Time Periods are determined from the TIMES GAMS DD and RUN file data and are appropriate for import of the TIMES GAMS DD Alternatively open an existing ANSWER TIMES database into which you wish to import the TIMES GAMS DD making sure that its Data and Results Time Periods are appropriate for import of the TIMES GAMS DD See the discussion at step 7 below 2 Invoke File Import TIMES GAMS DD from the menu bar The following form will be displayed Noble Soft Systems Pty Ltd 2004 09 section two 53 Starting ANSWER and the ANSWER Home Screen Import TIMES GAMS
411. nt Documents Ukopia Demo MainData xls Deskto m My Documents Ukopia Demo UserConstraints xls test15aug xls basestan xls F basetest xls SP luccarelc xls SP trdngas xls afl bdmingas xls Sr My Computer A Mu N E File name Utopia Demo MainD ata sls Utopia Demo LUs Places Files of type Microsoft Excel Files xls Cancel A Note that the last folder you use to select Excel files from is remembered it is stored in the ANSWER database and the next time you use the Add button you will be positioned there to begin the selection process 6 The Excel Files to be Imported listbox of the Import Model Data from Excel dialogue box will display the Excel file s that have been selected at step 5 above and all of the buttons including the Regions button and the Import button will now be enabled Noble Soft Systems Pty Ltd 2004 09 sectiontwo 37 Starting ANSWER and the ANSWER Home Screen E Import Model Data from Excel OP x 4 aad 11 11a Excel Files to be Imported C Anewen lMESyv6bans wirk TSU topia Demo M ainD ata xls C VAansiwerllIMESvb 4ans wrk TSU topia Demo L serConstraints als pan age Remove All Add Up Orn J Excel Files contain Interpolate Extrapolate Option Codes Column Regions Target Scenario BASE Before Import Delete Online Results involving Target Scenario Option
412. nvoked from the Data screen or the Results screen as discussed below While viewing the RES the user can also view Data if in Browse Data Edit Data mode or view Results if in Results mode When the RES Graphics facility is invoked from the Data screen e The resulting RES is based on Data for the currently Selected Scenarios top RHS of the Home screen That is the RES is determined by commodity flow input output parameters for the currently Selected Scenarios e The fact that the RES is based on Data for the currently Selected Scenarios is indicated by the caption on the RES form that has based on Data for Selected Scenarios appended to it after the word region as follows l Reference Energy System REGION1 region based on Data for Selected Scenarios When the RES Graphics facility is invoked from the Results screen e The resulting RES is based on Data for the Scenarios associated with the currently Selected Cases The Selected Cases are displayed at the bottom RHS of the Home screen That is the RES is determined by commodity flow input output parameters for the Scenarios associated with the currently Selected Cases e The fact that the RES is based on Data for the Scenarios associated with the currently Selected Cases is indicated by the caption on the RES form that has based on Data for Scenarios associated with Selected Cases appended to it after the word region as follows Refer
413. o BASE NCAP cost JUTOPIA RHE 12 00 120000 12 0000 BASE _ NCAP_TLIFE JUTOPIA BHE ho ooo o e e e y y y a PAdd ease a PF I Scenario Parameter Region Process Commodity Item3 Items vear Value BASE NCAP_TLIFEp UTOPIA RHE bo bo o b na a ease _ PRCACTUNTIRIUTOPIA RHE oo f o o if _ JBASE PAC_CAPACT UTOPIA AHE bo o o bo o oo o boo obo 10w BASE TOP4AN___ W UTOPIA RHE ELF boo o y y BASE TOP OUT F UTOPIA AHE AH po ooo eo ee ee ee eee ee ee eee Database Ci MAnewer TIME Sv ErAnswer D atabasesSUkopia_Lumpylnvestment mdb Edit Scenario BASE ot Noble Soft Systems Pty Ltd 2004 09 section three 12 ANSWER s Data Results Screen 3 5 1 2 Using the Subset Items combobox to select a Set Membership Filter The Subset Items combobox provides an alternative mechanism that allows the user to select either pre defined or existing user defined Set Membership filters To select a Set Membership filter from the Subset Items combobox 1 Click anywhere in the Subset Items combobox This will drop down the combobox as follows DMD DAYNITE Processes user defined DMD DAYNITE Processes user defined ELE Electric Generation Processes HPL Heat Generation Frocesses3 IRE Inter Regional Exchange Import Export Processes MISC Miscellaneous Processes NST Night Storage Processes PRE Energy Processes PRY Material by volume Processes Choose the required
414. o delete all but a single Money unit delete all but a single Macro Money unit 2 An ANSWER database should contain a single Money unit and a single Macro Money unit Abort Export Units Settings sa vou can manually invoke Edit Units to fix the MoneyiMacro Money unit problernts i If you click on the Yes button you will exit the File Export Units Settings facility and should then invoke Edit Units to delete all but a single Money and single Macro Money unit However if you click on the No button a message box will appear to advise that the Units Settings information for the origin Database has been exported to C AnswerTIMESv6 Ans_WrkTI as text file lt name gt unt and that the resultant Units Settings text file contains multiple Money Macro Money units and when used for Import Units Settings all Money Macro Money units will be ignored i Units Settings information exported to disk as text File clanswertimesy6ans_wrktive90region1l densez unt Note that this Units Settings UNT file contains multiple Money Macro Money units and when used For Import Units Settings all Money Macro Money units will be be ignored 2 8 2 Importing Units Settings into a Database If the Units Settings information in text file lt name gt unt is to be copied to a Database on a separate computer the user will need to copy move the file via USB stick or network to the C AnswerTIMESv6 Ans_WrkTI fo
415. o Parameter Region Com Com Time Bou Ef 1990 2000 20o 2020 BASE COM_PRO uTOPia RH 0 40 0000 2 Press the F9 key 3 Enter the required constant number in the Divide by a Constant dialogue box shown below and click OK Noble Soft Systems Pty Ltd 2004 09 section five 36 Data entry and editing Divide by Constant x Enter constant walue to apply s 4 The calculated data is displayed in the Parameter spread and immediately saved to the Database Scenario Parameter Region Com Com Time Bou iE 1990 2000 2mo 2020 BASE COM_PROJ UTOPIA RH f po 0 5 4 4 9 Add a Constant F11 The values in each of columns 1 2 N are increased by the user specified constant C and we have anew n a n C for n 1 2 N In the instance of a null field this function will not create a data entry Mode 1 To invoke the Add Constant function 1 Click on the left mouse key and highlight the required consecutive data fields containing existing data Scenario Parameter Region Com Com Time Bou 1990 2000 amo 2020 BASE COM_PROJ UTOPIA RH j p 0 2 Press the F11 key or click on Functions in the menu bar and choose Add Constant in the drop menu oe Enter the required constant number in the Add Constant dialogue box shown below and click OK Enter constant value to apply 4 The calculated data is displayed in the Pa
416. o clear the numeric data 3 The deletion of numeric data from the fields selected at step 1 is displayed in the TS or TID Parameter spread and immediately saved to the Database 5 4 2 3 Deleting non required Data Parameters To delete a non required Data Parameter or non required Data Parameters 1a To delete a single Data Parameter select the Data Parameter by clicking on its status field the cell at the start of the row for that Data Parameter and then press the Delete key 1b To delete multiple Data Parameters multi select the Data Parameters by clicking on their status fields and then press the Delete key BASE ACT COST 9 UTOPIA BASE GE UTOPIA EO HCO ELC ANNUAL 0 Status fields _ BASE FLO_SUM 7 UTOPIA EC HCO HCO CO ANNUAL 0 atus fie sI f UP O d 3 0 o b b b 0 4oooo 7ooooo 100 0000 bb kbl a saf a 2 ee ee eee Alternatively after selecting or multi selecting the Data Parameter s to be deleted right mouse click on the spread and choose Delete in the pop up menu shown below Toggle Size Hide Region Column Reset Column Widths TS and TID Filter Form Apply Filter Chart Chart with Excel Analyze With Excel Copy Parameter From Region to Regionis Parameter Details b Functions Multi selection of Data Parameters in the Spread Multi selection of the Data Parameters to be deleted is performed in the standard fashion using the st
417. o control the way that information is imported into the Target Scenario 2 10 3 3 1 Merge Overwrite information in the Target Scenario with that on Sheets being Imported radio button 2 10 3 3 2 Before Import Delete Parameter information in the Target Scenario for Items on Data Sheets radio button 2 10 3 3 3 Before Import Delete All Information in the Target Scenario for Region s being Imported radio button 2 10 3 4 Alternative options to control level of user intervention if ANSWER detects errors in any of the Excel Files being imported 2 10 3 4 1 Prompt user to decide whether to Import for each Excel File that has errors radio button 2 10 3 4 2 Import only from Excel Files that are error free without prompting radio button 2 10 3 4 3 Import error free records from all Excel Files without prompting radio button 2 10 4 New Format for Import Model Data from Excel in ANSWER TIMES 2 10 4 1 Main Points about Format for Import Model Data from Excel 2 10 4 2 Item Data Format ITEMS 2 10 4 3 Time Series Data Format TS DATA 2 10 4 4 Time Independent Data Format TID DATA 2 10 4 5 Time Series Trade Data Format TS TRADE 2 10 4 6 Time Independent Trade Data Format TID TRADE 2 10 5 Checking of Data in the Excel Import File and Log File Errors 2 10 5 1 Checking Item Data for Valid Set Memberships and Units 2 10 5 2 Checking TS and TID Data Parameters for Valid Parameter and Item Values 2 11 Import
418. o see is aQA_CHECK LOG file like the following j Qa_CHECK LOG WordPad Oe File Edit wiew Insert Format Help Clea alel al le l were OUALITY ASSURANCE LOG we eae tte ALL QUALITY CHECKS PASSED t r For Help press Fl Deleting a Case and the role of the DELETED Scenario The Delete Case facility allows the deletion of a Case All Cases including the BASE Case can be deleted using this facility When a Case is deleted ANSWER automatically ensures that the DELETED scenario is updated to contain only those Items that occur in on line Results but that have been deleted from Data This updating involves the deletion from the DELETED scenario of Items that occur in the about to be deleted Case but that do not occur in any other Cases To delete a single Case 1 In the Cases listview highlight the Case that is to be deleted Noble Soft Systems Pty Ltd 2004 09 section two 20 Starting ANSWER and the ANSWER Home Screen 2 Click on the Delete button below the Cases listview or click on Edit in the menu bar and choose Delete Case in the drop menu Si A Confirm Deletion of Case dialogue box will appear Confirm Deletion of Case Ea Confirm deletion of Case LUMP YIN AN BASE Lumpy Investment Options I Remember Case Definitions Automatically Repair and Compact Database after Delete Cassels Cancel 4 Where the Remember Case Definition s checkbox is checked the Case will be ret
419. oanswer Databases WE DAWEL Sparse mdb Browse Excel Update File E Wnewerl IME Sv6Update nsT imesSyeT ables v6 5 0 xls Update Close Noble Soft Systems Pty Ltd 2004 09 section two 71 Starting ANSWER and the ANSWER Home Screen TA Click on the Update button A message box appears confirming that the update has been completed and summarising the number of records added edited renamed Update Completed ES Update Completed Last record Found on row 52 24 record s added already present 2 record s edited 0 record s renamed 0 warnings Found 0 erroris Found Do vou wish bo view the File UpdatesystemTables log 8 In the unusual event that warnings or errors are generated as part of the update process you can examine them in the file UpdateSystemTables log in the C AnswerTIMESv6 Ans_WrkTI folder by clicking on the Yes button Email Noble Soft the UpdateSystemT ables log file if you are concerned about any warnings or errors in the log file Otherwise click on the No button 9 If you have several ANSWER databases that you wish to update use the Browse button alongside the ANSWER Database textbox to select another ANSWER database to be updated and click on the Update button to initiate the update 10 Click on the Close button to close the Update System Tables from Excel dialogue box Noble Soft Systems Pty Ltd 2004 09 section three 1 ANSWER s Data Results Screen
420. obox Type of Trade Bilateral Trade f Market Trade Market Region REGT REG Set Memberships Units Traded Commodipi acA li REGS h Set Memberships FEG4 C Trade Process REGS A 16 2 3 Commodity Type and Naming Use the combobox and the checkbox in the Commodity Type and Naming frame to specify the Commodity Type as one of DEM ENV FIN MAT NRG and to specify whether this Trade Process is one with the Same Commodity Name in All Regions Iw or with different Names in different regions E NOTE Before clicking on the Traded Commodities or Trade Matrix tabs it is important to ensure that the settings for Type of Trade and for Commodity Type and Naming correctly reflect the attributes for the Trade Process that you wish to create 16 2 4 Set Memberships Units These are specified via the Set Memberships Units tab in the same way as for a Process After specifying the above information the New Trade Process form might appear similar to the screen snapshot below Noble Soft Systems Pty Ltd 2004 09 section sixteen 3 Handling of Trade Processes in ANSWER TIMES E New Trade Process in scenario TSTTRADE Fi fel Ea Enter Name and Description for the new Trade Process Specify Type of Trade and Commodity Type and Naming Specify Set Memberships and change Units if necessary Use Traded Commodities and or Trade Matrix tabs to specify Traded Commodities v Scenario TSTTRADE Test Trade Scenario Name De
421. odity Group e Click on the OK button 15 1 3 When the New Process is saved to the Database Since the specification of the new Process OILREFIN is complete click on the OK button at the bottom of the New Process form to save this Process to the ANSWER TIMES database e ANSWER TIMES auto generates PRC_ACTUNT PRC_CAPACT TOP IN and TOP OUT parameter instances for the Process as shown in the screen snapshot below Noble Soft Systems Pty Ltd 2004 09 section fifteen 4 Handling of Processes in ANSWER TIMES E UWILMCri now Lil Dene la OILREFIN REGS DiR einen _ Select Al tems Hove Je subset Parameters c Process Specific a TID data pve Senet raana ein procese Commedy Comme Comme ptens Band IV 2006 es a ee i e e e e e E ase pac r r E E BASE PAC _CAPACT MAIREGS _ OILREFIN o ooo o Toin panees jouen fou ooo oo oo TOP OUT 2 REGS OILREFIN DSL a Of course now use the AddRow facility for the TS and TID spreads to associate such additional TIMES TS and TID data parameters with the Process as are needed to complete the specification of the Process e Note that the PRC_ACTUNT parameter instance involves Commodity Group OILREFIN G Since Process OILREFIN has an associated true Commodity Group comprising DSL and GSL ANSWER TIMES auto generates this true Commodity Group by appending G to the Process Name and also auto generates the associated COM_GMAP instances as can
422. of the Subset Parameters combo Where there are many selected Items this may lead to many rows of TS and TID data being displayed and associated slow response times Thus it is extremely useful to be able to define and apply TS and TID Filters to limit the rows of TS and TID data being displayed to that which is of particular interest The TS and TID Filter facility provides filtering facilities with the following general characteristics i A wide range of filtering criteria may be entered in individual cells on the TS and TID Filter form ii Multiple composite row criteria may be specified for each of TS and TID data These criteria are obtained by ORing the individual composite row criteria iii Filters are saved by Name all Filters are Named The work of creating frequently used Filters needs to be done only once After that the user can simply select the Filter by Name Thus via a Named Filter the user is able to create a useful user view of the data and then subsequently select this view by Name The term Specified Filter is used in the following documentation and in ANSWER to denote the Filter that is currently associated with a Component tab and data mode Data or Results The Specified Filter is the Filter that will be applied when the user clicks on the Apply Filter button If no Filter is associated with a Component tab and data mode the Specified Filter will appear on the TS and TID Filter form set to lt New
423. of Items being multi selected in the Items display again most likely leading to a long response time and the display of far more data than the user is really interested in The user is prompted to consider reducing the number of multi selected Items In each of these contexts the Maximum Items to Select without Prompt value determines how many Items is considered to be a large number If the number of selected Items would exceed this value then a prompt will be displayed and otherwise it will not For further details concerning the operation of Maximum Items to Select without Prompt in the context of Select All Items and Multi select of Items see sections 3 9 3 1 and 3 9 3 2 below To alter the Maximum Items to Select without Prompt value 1 Bring up the Options dialogue box by clicking on Tools in the menu bar and choosing Options in the drop menu Initially the Maximum Items to Select without Prompt value value will be 500 as indicated below Maximum Items to Select without Prompt Prompt user on Select All Mult Select if number of berms selected in lkerns listview 500 exceeds 2 Enter the new value in the Prompt user on Select All Multi Select if number of Items selected in Items listview exceeds textbox and then click on the OK button 3 9 3 1 Maximum Items to Select without Prompt for Select All Items When carrying out Select All Items and where this w
424. of a Case can be 1 Browsed on line in ANSWER or 2 Viewed and analysed by invoking Microsoft Excel chart and spreadsheet facilities from ANSWER This feature is detailed in Section 8 Charting and Analysing ANSWER TIMES Results 7 2 1 Browsing a Case s results on line This facility takes the user into the Data Results Screen to allow on line browsing of the selected Case s results The facilities of the Data Results Screen when browsing results are detailed in Section 3 2 The ANSWER Data Results Screen Similar to the Browse data mode the Results mode enables simultaneous comparison of the results of multiple Cases This feature enables the user to determine revisions to Scenario data re run the model s and compare subsequent Case results in a rapid iterative process Case s results can be browsed on line in three different ways 1 On the Parameter tab with the combobox selection set to All Results Parameters when the Parameter Items display will contain all the Results Parameters in alphabetical order 2 On the Parameter tab with the combobox selection set to one of the COST LEVEL MARG Results Parameter subsets when the Parameter Items display will contain just those Results Parameters for the selected Results Parameter subset 3 On any other Component tab for example Process in a similar manner to browsing data when the Items display will contain those Items which comprise that Component To br
425. om Excel facility has been enhanced by the addition of a new checkbox Excel Files contain InterpolateExtrapolate Option Codes Column e Where this checkbox is checked the default the user should ensure that each row on each TS DATA sheet contains a valid TIMES Interpolate Extrapolate option code in column H followed by the numeric Time Series values in columns l J K For details of the operation of the File Import Model Data from Excel facility see section 2 10 Importing Model Data from Excel in ANSWER TIMES A2 1 3 Region Management In ANSWER TIMES unlike ANSWER MARKAL regions are categorized as being Internal or External This leads to the following differences e The Region Management form has special T and G icons to distinguish Internal and External Regions Noble Soft Systems Pty Ltd 2004 09 1 appendix two 2 Main ANSWER TIMES Interface Differences from ANSWER MARKAL e Likewise the New Region or Edit Region forms have Internal Region and External Region option buttons to allow you to designate whether a Region is Internal or External e f you create a new Region for a database with the Same TimeSlices in Every Region the new Region will be created with the same TimeSlices as existing regions e f you create a new Region for a database with Different TimeSlices in Different Regions the new Region will be created with only the ANNUAL TimeSlice and you will need to move to the Ti
426. om Excel facility If you click on the Details button to the right of this radio button you will get the following message that summarises the way Merge Overwrite works Details re Merge Overwrite information in the Target Scenario with that on Sheets being Imported E3 Ca n Item declaration on a sheet being imported is 5 4dded to the target scenario if this Item declaration is not in the target scenario Or used to overwrite iF this Item declaration is in the target scenario TS or TID data instance on a sheet being imported is Added to the target scenario if this instance is not in the target scenario Or used to overwrite iF this instance is in the target scenaria Where overwriting an Item declaration changes its Set Memberships ANSWER checks that all TS and TID data parameters remain appropriate for the changed Set Memberships IF any are inappropriate the user is advised and asked whether or not Import should proceed IF Import proceeds all inappropriate parameters are deleted As stated in the above message where overwriting an Item declaration changes its Set Memberships ANSWER checks that all TS and TID data parameters remain appropriate for the changed Set Memberships For example if the effect of overwriting a Commodity declaration is to change that commodity s Set Memberships from say a Demand commodity to a non Demand commodity then a parameter such as COM PROJ that was associated with the Commodity
427. omatically W Automatically Repair and Compact Database After Import Run Batch Close T The Batch Run form is user resizable and ANSWER remembers the last size and position of this form So for example where some Cases involve quite a few Scenarios widening the form will allow the Scenarios that are associated with these Cases to be seen more readily Likewise where a batch comprises many Cases deepening the form will minimize the need for vertical scrolling to see the Cases that have been selected 8 If necessary use the Add button to add further Cases to the batch of runs to be carried out Note that there is an ANSWER internal limit of 100 on the number of runs in a batch 9 The Batch Run dialogue box allows the user to Add and Remove runs and to Remove All runs It is also possible to move runs up Up and down Dn in the order although since each run is solved from scratch the order in which runs are carried out does not affect their solution time 10 Before initiating the batch run ensure that the settings of the Create Results for Import into ANSWER Import Results Automatically and Automatically Repair and Compact Database After Import checkboxes are appropriate The default settings as above are particularly convenient for say an overnight batch run since when the last run in the batch is finished automatic import of results is carried out for each successful model run see step 16 bel
428. ome more likely Noble Soft Systems Pty Ltd 2004 09 section six 22 Running the Model Text and screen snapshots taken from the ANSWER MARKAL User Manual One way of deliberately generating a GAMS compilation error from an ANSWER MARKAL model run would be to proceed as follows 1 Carry out a model run of the BASE Scenario and use Windows Explorer to save the Base Case DD file with a different name to the standard name of BASE lt region gt DD 2 Create a new Technology Item say E02 in the BASE Scenario J Create a non Base Scenario called say COMPERR and in it create a Data Parameter entry say VAROM for the new Technology Item E02 4 Attempt to carry out a model run of the BASE Scenario plus the non Base Scenario COMPERR but with the Ee E checkbox checked and when the GEN file in this case COMPERR GEN is displayed for editing edit the INCLUDE BASE lt region gt DD line to replace BASE lt region gt DD by the name of the out of date Base Case DD file saved at step 1 above 5 This results in a compilation error and a Compilation error s line will appear in the GAMS Execution Command Prompt window but possibly too quickly for the user to see since this window then closes ANSWER displays the following message box which indicates that DATA or COMPILE error s have occurred Model Run and Automatic Import of Results EJ J Finished GAMS run COMPERR Error detected DATA or COMPILE erroris
429. ommodity Group matching Commodity Type of Trade Process So if Commodity Type is NRG PCG will be pre defined CG NRG in each region This assumption should prove adequate for a very high percentage of cases This assumption should be correct in all cases This assumption should be correct in all cases This assumption is only correct where user wishes PCG to comprise both export and import commodities and should prove adequate for the majority of Trade Processes that most users are likely to wish to specify To handle a Trade Process where the PRC_ACTUNT s specified by ANSWER TIMES are inadequate e Onthe CommGroup tab manually create the true Commodity Group that needs to be associated with the Trade Process Do this for each region where the Trade Process occurs e Return to the TradeProcess tab and use Direct Cell Edit for the PRC_ACTUNT instance to change the current PCG Item3 entry to the true Commodity Group just created Do this for each region each PRC_ACTUNT instance associated with the Trade Process Noble Soft Systems will give consideration to enhancing the treatment of PRC_ACTUNT s for Trade Processes if the current simplifying assumptions are inadequate for handling any commonly occurring category of Trade Process 16 2 8 Traded Commodity and Trade Matrix where Traded Commodity has Different Names in Different Regions Where a Trade Process involves the trade of a Commodity th
430. on five 9 Data entry and editing When an Item s Set Memberships are changed ANSWER automatically creates any new associated compulsory Data Parameters that are now required for the Item see Section 5 4 1 Automated Data Parameter creation and entry The user will need to populate the Item s new compulsory Data Parameters with the required data if the default entries are not appropriate or the fields are null The user will also have to add and populate any non compulsory Data Parameters that are required for the Item In addition when an Item s Set Memberships are changed ANSWER automatically deletes any Data Parameters that were associated with the Item but that would now be illegal for the Item s new Set Memberships The user should be also aware that changing an Item s Units may have significant ramifications through the entire Database Currently ANSWER TIMES unlike ANSWER MARKAL does not automatically detect and advise the user when a change in units will create a units conflict the ramifications of any such change are the user s responsibility Although changing an Item s Set Memberships and an Item s Units can be made simultaneously in ANSWER for ease of understanding they are dealt with below as separate operations 5 2 5 1 Editing an Item s Name Description Set Memberships or Comment To edit an Item s Name Description Set Memberships or Comment 1 Click on the required Component tab In the
431. on of a new Trade Process by the copying of an existing Trade Process To create a new Trade Process click on the New button in the Item Management frame and proceed as in the previous section 16 4 Deleting a Trade Process To delete an existing Trade Process make the Scenario in which the Trade Process exists the editable Scenario move to the TradeProcess tab and select the Trade Process click on the Delete button in the Item Management frame and when asked to confirm the delete J Gre you sure that you wish to delete Trade Process L TRO_NGAS Trade in nat gas From scenario TRONWGAS For each of the Regions REG1 REG REGS REG4 REGS Mote that all parameters involving this Trade Process will also be deleted From scenario TRONGAS click on the Yes button in the message box Note that the Trade Process is deleted only from the currently editable Scenario The Trade Process will not be deleted from any other Scenario s in which it may occur Noble Soft Systems Pty Ltd 2004 09 section sixteen 10 Handling of Trade Processes in ANSWER TIMES 16 5 Editing a Trade Process To edit an existing Trade Process make the Scenario in which the Trade Process exists the editable Scenario move to the TradeProcess tab and select the Trade Process then click on the Edit button in the Item Management frame to bring up the Edit Trade Process form Suppose for example that the Trade Process selected for edi
432. ong Checking checkbox is checked QNSWER checks that the Set Memberships of each component Item of the Parameter are LD appropriate For that Parameter When this checkbox is unchecked the Set Memberships checking of component Items is not carried out Strang Checking has been recoded and now runs much Faster than in earlier versions of ANSWER It is strongly recommended that you leave the Strong Checking checkbox checked 2 10 3 3 Alternative options to control the way that information is imported into the Target Scenario Noble Soft Systems Pty Ltd 2004 09 sectiontwo 42 Starting ANSWER and the ANSWER Home Screen Three alternative user options are available to control the way that information is imported into the Target Scenario f Mernge Overarite information in the Target Scenario with that an Sheets being Imported Details C Before Import Delete Parameter information in the Target Scenario for Items on Data Sheets Details Before Import Delete All Information in the Target Scenario for Region s being Imported Details The way that each of these options functions is now detailed 2 10 3 3 1 Merge Overwrite information in the Target Scenario with that on Sheets being Imported radio button If you select the Merge Overwrite information radio button the way that information is imported into the Target Scenario is the same as in earlier versions of the Import Model Data fr
433. onone 3 What is ANSWER TIMES an Overview 1 2 4 e On the TimeSlice tab a new TimeSlice specific form simplifies the specification of new TimeSlices and the copying editing of existing TimeSlices e On the Process tab a new Process specific form simplifies the specification of new Processes and the copying editing of existing Processes e On the TradeProcess tab a new Trade Process specific form simplifies the specification of new Trade Processes and the editing of existing Trade Processes e The Process Items Filters facility provides a powerful facility for filtering the processes that are displayed in the Process Items listview This facility allows the user to create Named Process Item Filters based upon process name description and set memberships and upon input output commodity name description and set memberships e The Rule based Constraints facility employs the new Process Item Filters facility and allows the user to specify a Constraint such as renewable electricity production must be at least 5 of total electricity production much more simply than previously and also with the benefit that the rule will automatically update the Constraint when new processes are added e A new format has been introduced for the ANSWER TIMES load templates that greatly simplifies the specification of Item data and the Import Model Data from Excel facility has been correspondingly enhanced Details of these enhancements ar
434. ons involved in the model run and also contains BASE scenario _GLOBAL region data parameters Noble Soft Systems Pty Ltd 2004 09 section six 12 Running the Model 6 1 4 4 Run Model Regenerate Non Base DDS Files checkbox option M Regenerate Non Base DDS Files The operation of the Regenerate Non Base DDS Files checkbox is similar to the operation of the Regenerate Base DD File checkbox as described in section 6 1 4 3 above If you run with the Regenerate Non Base DDS Files checkbox checked then ANSWER will regenerate all non BASE scenario DDS files for each region involved in the model run from the non BASE Scenario data in the Database and consequently you can be certain that the non BASE DDS file s correspond to the current non BASE Scenario data This excludes Rule based DDS files whose regeneration is determined by the setting of the Regenerate Rule based DDSs checkbox see section 6 1 4 5 below If you run with the Regenerate Non Base DDS Files checkbox unchecked then ANSWER will generate a non BASE DD file only if it does not already exist in the GAMS Work folder or if the Date amp Time Modified for the non BASE DDS file is later than the Date amp Time Modified for the associated non BASE scenario Running with this checkbox unchecked allows you to save the time it would take to generate a non BASE scenario DDS file whose Date amp Time Modified is later than the Date amp Time Modified f
435. optionally enter a Description Now the form might look as follows Noble Soft Systems Pty Ltd 2004 09 section three 30 ANSWER s Data Results Screen Name Processes lke E Description Processes like E NCAP COST and TOF OUT parameters Apply as Temp Save amp Apply Cancel 8 Click on the Save amp Apply button This saves the Filter to the database and applies the Filter to restrict the information that is displayed in the Time Series and Time Independent spreads for the selected Items If the selected Items at the time the Filter is applied are E01 E21 E31 E41 and E51 in the UTOPIA region this might result in the display shown below Utopia_LumpyInvestment ANSWER TIMES Energy Modelling OF x File Edit View Run Tools Functions Help FI JRB E Hy Edit Data Regions Filter Items An T S cenarios All x Global TimeSlice Commodity CommGroup Process TradeProcess Constraint Parameter Items Filter Sets C Named Fan Processes PRC v Sets Filter Named Filter ltem Management E 5 items selected Sets UTOPIA Coal Steam Electric UTOPIA UWA Nuclear Plant UTOPIA Hydro electric Plant UTOPIA Natural gas combined cycle plant UTOPIA Pumped Storage Power Plant jets New Copy Delete OWSE Select All Items Move RES UTOFIA Dil Plant 2 E90 UTOPIA High efficiency Wind Farm SM gl Subset Parameters process Specifi
436. or Help press F1 Mh 2 10 3 Import Model Data from Excel User Options A number of user options are available on the dialogue box to control the Import Model Data from Excel process as can be seen from the screen snapshot on the following page that displays the bottom part of the Import Model Data from Excel dialogue box This screen snapshot displays the default settings for the user options as they will appear the first time that you run AnswerTIMESv6 exe on your computer As already noted above your user option settings are saved to the registry and will be used as the default settings the next time that the Import Model Data from Excel facility is invoked The only exception to this rule is that the Strong Checking of TS and TID Data Parameters checkbox will always be checked Noble Soft Systems Pty Ltd 2004 09 sectiontwo 40 Starting ANSWER and the ANSWER Home Screen Target Scenario BASE Before Import Delete Online Results involving Target Scenario Options ff Strang Checking of TS and TID Data Parameters Details f Mernge Oyvernanite information in the Target Scenario with that on Sheets being Imported Details 0 Before Import Delete Parameter information th the Target Scenario forltems on Date Sheets Detaile Before Import Delete All Information in the Target Scenario for Region s being Imported Details f Prompt user to decide whether to Import for each Excel File tha
437. or Process RL2 in scenario CF1 being copied to scenario TEST thereby creating the undesirable situation of having redundant data Noble Soft Systems Pty Ltd 2004 09 section five 15 Data entry and editing 5 3 5 3 1 5 3 2 Item Naming Conventions ANSWER does not enforce Item naming conventions on the user there are just some broad limitations 1 The combination of the Name and Region of an Item must be unique to that Item 2 The Name of an Item can comprise up to 16 characters or up to 24 characters if when the database was created Max Item Length 24 was specified being comprised of A Z 0 9 hyphen _ underscore amp ampersand period 3 The Region of an Item can comprise up to 10 characters being comprised of A Z 0 9 hyphen _ underscore 4 The first character of a Name and the first character of a Region must be alphabetic A Z 5 The Item Description cannot contain single double quotes However the user is strongly advised to adopt well defined Naming and Description conventions to assist in the manageability of their ANSWER database For example well defined Naming and Description conventions assist in the filtering of data to be displayed using the Process Items Filter facility For details see section 12 Process Items Filters in ANSWER Name Code COMPONENT Suggested TIMES NAME code comoorvorouss SSS mocssss S wess OO CONSTRAINTS Description Convention
438. or at line 196427 division by zero 0 51465 ERRORS IN GAMS EXECUTION i wwewe Exec Error at line 51465 User abort execution halted d For Help press Fi i e Z Note The above EXECERR LST file was obtained running with PROFILE 0 in the GEN file Thus the first execution error is occurring at line 18897 in the GAMS TIMES code We need to examine the GAMS code in the vicinity of line 18897 looking for a divide operation so that we can determine the Data Parameter that is causing the problem In order to do this we need to generate a lt Casename gt LST file that shows all of the lines in the GAMS TIMES code by carrying out steps 3 4 and 5 below Click on the Run Model button to re run the model but with the Sau unaa te va sei vae aid E LGA checkbox checked and when the GEN file in this case EXECERR GEN is displayed for editing change the OFFLISTING command on the 7 line to ONLISTING Changing this command means that the lt Casename gt LST file will show all of the lines in the GAMS TIMES code along with any error conditions Noble Soft Systems Pty Ltd 2004 09 Running the Model section six 24 E Editing C AnswerTIMESv6 Ganrs_WrkT1I EXECERR GEN File Edit TITLE NOBLE SOFT ANSWER TIMES YERSION 6 5 0 TIMES ERSION 2 9 OPTION LIMAROW 0 LIMCOL 0 SOLPRINT ON ITERLIM 50000 OPTION RESLIM 50000 PROFILE 0 SOLYEOPT REPLACE OPTION LP CPLEX OPTION LP M
439. or the associated non BASE scenario and so where presumably the non BASE DDS file already on disk is identical to what would be generated Note that ANSWER always regenerates the non BASE TRADE DDS files that contain non BASE scenario Trade parameters for the regions involved in the model run and also contain non BASE scenario GLOBAL region data parameters 6 1 4 5 Run Model Regenerate Rule based DDSs checkbox option MW Regenerate Rule based DDS If you run with the Regenerate Rule based DDSs checkbox checked then ANSWER will regenerate the Rule based DDS file s for each region involved in the model run from the data in the Database and consequently you can be certain that the Rule based DDS file s correspond to the current data in the Database If you run with the Regenerate Rule based DDSs checkbox unchecked then ANSWER will only generate a Rule based DDS file if the Rule based DDS file does not already exist in the GAMS Work folder where the Rule based DDS file already exists it will not be regenerated Note that running with the Regenerate Rule based DDSs checkbox unchecked is a potentially dangerous choice If you run with this checkbox not checked you are taking full responsibility for the already existing Rule based DDS file s being appropriate ANSWER does no checking of the Modified Date amp Time for the Rule based DDS against such things as the Modified Date amp Time of TechFilters and Scenarios th
440. ork allows the possibility of TIMES models that have different TimeSlices in different internal regions So it would be unusual to uncheck this checkbox and thereby create a new database where different internal regions could have different TimeSlices Note also that although ANSWER TIMES provides support for different TimeSlices in different regions it does not currently provide support for other aspects that might come into play such as different units in different regions 9 The New Database form now appears as follows New TIMES Database Template Yersion Version MINSA e FEE EA TIMES v6 Was Item Length 24 Other Base Scenario Details Hame BASE Description Demon ewTIMES Database Results Time Periods Data Time Periods f Unequal pacing 0 Equal spacing f Unequal spacing 0 Equal spacing Ferods in Database Pernod in Database j Create Initial Region Jw Same TimeSlices in Every Region OF Cancel 10 Click on OK and the New Database dialogue box will appear Noble Soft Systems Pty Ltd 2004 09 Starting ANSWER and the ANSWER Home Screen New Database Save jni Answer_Databases de jt 3 My Recent Documenta Desktop er My Documents 41 Example4 latest mdb 4 bestDE mdb 4 newLiCs mdb 41 Copy4 of ImportWwEUOct2008 mdb 4 testhewDE mdb 2h Tiny model 1 mdb 2l TestImportExport3 mdb 41 StanfordDemoNovz007 md
441. orting the Units Settings from the origin Database into the ANSWER Work folder C AnswerTIMESve6 Ans_WrkTI as a text file and ii Importing the Units Settings from the text file in C AnswerTIMESv6 Ans_WrkTI into the target Database Exporting a Database s Units Settings To export a Database s Units Settings 1 Open the origin Database 2 Click on File in the menu bar and choose Export then choose Units Settings in the drop menu 3 An Export Units Settings dialogue box shown below will appear Export Units Settings Al Export Units Settings allows the units settings in an H ANSWER database to be exported to disk as a text file Export as ccNManswertimesvb ans wrk thutopia lumpyinvestnent unt Utania L t t Change name of Units OpRIA_LUM PHN YESIMEN Settings file to be exported stanford demo with interpolate extrapolate unt stantorddemonos A007 unt Filelist display of text files from previous Export Units Settings operations af Check Money and Macro Money Units Export Close 4 The name given to the Units Settings file defaults to the Database name and always has a file type of unt To vary the name given to the Units Settings file either change the name in the Export as C AnswerTIMESv6 Ans_WrkTI lt name gt unt textbox or choose an existing name from the file list display 5 The Export Units Settings dialogue box incorporates a _Eheck Money and Macro Money nits v
442. ossibility that change of units may result in a units conflict For example it does not check that change of units for a Commodity may result in a units conflict with the Process Activity Unit for a Process that has this Commodity as its output Likewise it does not check that changes to Process Activity Unit Process Capacity Unit and PRC_CAPACT Value are consistent On tabs other than the Commodity tab editing of an Item s Name Description Set Memberships Units and any Comment is carried out in exactly the same fashion as above But for a TimeSlice Item or a Process Item or a Trade Process Item additional attributes can be edited see also section 5 2 5 3 below Editing a TimeSlice Item or a Process Item or a Trade Process Item When editing a TimeSlice Item or a Process Item or a Trade Process Item specialized dialogue boxes are displayed according to which of TimeSlice or Process or Trade Process Item is being edited e See section 14 5 Editing a TimeSlice e See section 15 4 Editing a Process e See section 16 5 Editing a Trade Process Moving an Item In ANSWER MARKAL the Move facility allows the moving of an existing Item and its specifications and associated data from a BASE or non BASE Scenario referred to as the origin Scenario to the currently editable Scenario referred to as the target Scenario Also in ANSWER MARKAL there is a facility that allows the bulk moving of multi selected Technolo
443. ot be able to be imported into the ANSWER database e If you specified f Sparse Import of T5 Data do its Data Time Periods correspond to members of SET DATAYEAR If they do not you are warned that if import proceeds it will be carried out as if the option ee ee ee A e e had been specified e Do its Results Time Periods correspond to members of SET MILESTONYR If they do not you are warned that information regarding parameters B and E beginning and ending of periods specified in SET MILESTONYR in the RUN file will be disregarded Where the Current Database satisfies each of the above checks or where you choose to proceed with Import even though there have been some warnings the Import Step 2 button will be enabled permitting you to proceed to Import Step 2 Before clicking on the Import Step 2 button check that e The setting of the Import into Scenario combobox is appropriate But right now Import is allowed only into the BASE scenario and this combobox is disabled e f Import of only some of the Regions in the DD file is desired the Regions button should be used to specify the subset of Regions to be Imported But right now this facility is not fully operational If the user clicks on the Regions button the following message appears Noble Soft Systems Pty Ltd 2004 09 section two 55 Starting ANSWER and the ANSWER Home Screen Answer i Right now the Regions button is not operational and
444. oted above this manual is a self contained guide to the use of all of the facilities of the ANSWER TIMES software and no familiarity with the ANSWER MARKAL software or the ANSWER MARKAL User Manual is needed However it is assumed that the reader has reasonable familiarity with the TIMES model Documentation for the TIMES model may be downloaded from the ETSAP website http www etsap org documentation asp Acknowledgements Noble Soft Systems particularly wishes to acknowledge the extremely generous assistance provided by Antti Lehtila of VTT Finland who has willingly shared his TIMES expertise by answering numerous TIMES queries clarifying numerous TIMES fine points and at least equally importantly who has over an extended period been very encouraging of the development of ANSWER TIMES Uwe Remme of IER Germany has also been very generous in providing assistance and encouragement The development of ANSWER TIMES was partially funded by ETSAP thanks to GianCarlo Tosato the ETSAP Project Head for providing this funding support Finally Noble Soft Systems wishes to acknowledge the efforts of the team of ETSAP experts whose cooperative efforts led to the development of the TIMES energy system model For further information on ANSWER TIMES For further information on ANSWER TIMES please contact Dr Ken Noble Director Noble Soft Systems Pty Ltd 30 Beaumont Crescent The Ridgeway NSW 2620 AUSTRALIA Telephone Fax 61 2 6297 1405
445. ou click on the Regions button on the Run Model form to select the regions that will be used for the model run you will see all real internal regions in your model but you will not see the GLOBAL region The GLOBAL region is assumed always to be selected when you carry out a model run 2 A corollary of 1 is that if any of the scenarios that you select to comprise the model run contain GLOBAL region data parameters then the GLOBAL region data parameters in those scenarios will form part of the model run In particular this means that if you wish to do runs both with and without cross region User Defined Constraints you should place the cross region User Defined Constraints in one or more non BASE scenarios and you should not place cross region User Defined Constraints in the BASE scenario 3 For all regions that you select by use of the Regions button that is for all real internal regions lt scenario gt lt region gt DD DDS files are created in the standard fashion that is they contain SET PARAMETER and TABLE specifications for Items and TS and TID Data parameters respectively that are in region lt region gt 4 The lt scenario gt TRADE DD DDS files contain Trade parameters and also contain _GLOBAL region data parameters That is apart from Trade parameters they also contain SET specifications for Constraint Items in the GLOBAL region and PARAMETER and TABLE specifications for TS and TID Data parameters th
446. ould result in a large number of Items being selected in the Items display a prompt is displayed inviting the user to specify a filter for the Items listview to reduce the number of Items see section 3 5 2 3 2 Maximum Items to Select without Prompt Yalue Exceeded Ea P Select All For the Thems listview will result in 132 Items being selected r This exceeds the Maximum Items to Select without Prompt value of 100 Items To alter this value of 100 invoke Tools Options From the menu bar Would you like to specify a Filter For the Items listview to reduce the number of Items and then try again In the above example Select All Items would result in 132 Items being selected and the Maximum Items to Select without Prompt value has been set at 100 down from the default value of 500 so the prompt is displayed If the Maximum Items to Select without Prompt value had been gt 132 then the prompt would not have been displayed When the above prompt appears 1 To specify a filter for the Items listview or change the filter that is currently specified click on the Yes button The Items listview will be displayed as it was before you clicked on the Select All Items button allowing you the opportunity to specify a filter for the Items listview for example by using the Sets Filter button 2 To carry out Select All Items with no filter specified for the Items listview or with no change to the
447. ow followed by repair and compact of the database which is desirable after importing a large number of results and can be quite time consuming But if using VEDA BE to examine Results rather than ANSWER uncheck the Create Results for Import into ANSWER checkbox This automatically unchecks the Import Results Automatically and the Automatically Repair and Compact Database After Import checkboxes Note that the settings of these checkboxes for the Batch Run facility are independent of the settings of the checkboxes of the same name in the Run Model facility The settings are saved to the registry and will be used the next time the Batch Run facility is invoked 11 To initiate the batch run once all the Cases to be run have been added to the listview click on the Run Batch button 12 All of the files that are needed for the batch run are generated This includes the GEN file and the CMD file for each Case as well as the BASE DD files and non BASE DDS files that are needed for every Case in the batch run The Progress frame in the Batch Run dialogue box displays the generation of the DD and DDS files Each BASE lt region gt DD file and each non BASE lt region gt DDS file is generated just once Exception The BASE TRADE DD and lt non BASE scenario gt TRADE DDS files are an exception to the generated just once phrase above It is possible that in a Noble Soft Systems Pty Ltd 2004 09 Running the Model s
448. owse the selected Case s results 1 If on the Data Results Screen return to the Home Screen by clicking on the Home Screen Icon E 2 Ensure the Case s to be viewed on line has have been imported into the Cases display 3 Use the Case selection buttons to ensure that the Selected Cases display contains the Case s to be viewed 4 Click on the Results button _ Results below the Selected Cases display or click on View in the Menu Bar and click on Results in the drop menu Noble Soft Systems Pty Ltd 2004 09 sectionseven 2 ANSWER TIMES Results 5 The Data Results Screen will be displayed for the Parameter tab initially for the setting All Results Parameters Results will be displayed for all Cases listed in the Selected Cases display 6 Using the Sets Filter facility or the Items combobox see section 3 5 1 the user can now select either the comprehensive Results Parameters alphabetical listing i e All Results Parameters or one of the Results Parameter subsets In the example below the Solution Level LEVEL subset has been selected E Set Memberships Items Filter Results Parameters Oy x 5 select a parentleaf node from the Set Memberships tree Then select deselect sets in the La Additional Characterization list Set Memberships J Results Parameter Additional Characterization E Solution Cost COST Solution Level LEYEL n E Solution Marginal MARG Description L
449. ox The name given to the Export Scenario Data to Excel XLS file defaults to the Scenario name with a file type of xls To vary the name given to the XLS file Noble Soft Systems Pty Ltd 2004 09 section two 59 Starting ANSWER and the ANSWER Home Screen either change the name in the Export as C AnswerTIMESv6 Ans_WrkTl lt name gt xls textbox or choose an existing name from the display 6 By default the data for all Regions that comprise the scenario will be exported to the xls file To export data for a subset of Regions click on the Regions button This brings up the Export Scenario Select Regions to Export dialogue box on the following page Select the subset of Regions whose data you wish to export and click on the OK button This returns you to the Export Scenario Data to Excel dialogue box O Export Scenario Of x Select Regions To Export F GLOBAL MG MPEP HG MINA ES UTOPIA SelectAll Deselect All 7 By default the data for all Data Time Periods in the database will be exported to the xls file That is the default setting for the Start Year for Export of TS Data combobox will be the year corresponding to the first Data Time Period in the database and the default setting for the Final Year for Export of TS Data combobox will be the year corresponding to the final Data Time Period in the database To export data for fewer periods change the default settings of either or bo
450. part of this document may be reproduced stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means electronic mechanical photocopying recording or otherwise for any purpose without the express written permission of Noble Soft Systems Pty Ltd The furnishing of this document does not give you license to the copyright or other intellectual property except as expressly provided for in any written license agreement from Noble Soft Systems Pty Ltd Noble Soft Systems Pty Ltd 2004 09 ANSWER v6 TIMES User Manual Contents Section One What is ANSWER TIMES an overview 1 1 TIMES 1 1 1 What is TIMES 1 1 2 TIMES s policy analysis role 1 1 3 TIMES input requirements 1 2 ANSWER TIMES 1 2 1 What is ANSWER TIMES 1 2 2 Why was ANSWER TIMES developed 1 2 3 Major enhancements in version 6 of ANSWER TIMES 1 2 4 TIMES model variants supported by ANSWER TIMES 1 3 Operating ANSWER TIMES 153 1 What level of user skill is required to operate ANSWER TIMES 1 3 2 What backup is available to ANSWER TIMES users 1 3 3 What are the hardware software requirements of ANSWER TIMES 1 4 Installing and testing ANSWER TIMES 1 4 1 Installing ANSWER TIMES on your PC 1 4 2 ANSWER TIMES License File System 1 4 3 Installation of GAMS 1 4 4 Testing the ANSWER TIMES installation 1 4 5 Uninstalling ANSWER TIMES Section Two Starting ANSWER and the ANSWER Home Screen 2 1 Starting exiting ANSWER 2 1 1 Starting ANSWER 2 1 2 Exitin
451. pdate System Tables from Excel ANSWER s Update System Tables from Excel facility simplifies the process of updating ANSWER System Tables in an existing ANSWER database to incorporate new features or to rectify errors and omissions that may be detected from time to time This feature permits Noble Soft to email to ANSWER clients an Excel Update File containing the information needed to update System Tables in their existing databases so that the client can apply the update via a simple menu procedure The Update System Tables from Excel facility may be applied to either the currently open ANSWER database or to an ANSWER database that is not currently open This is detailed in sections 2 16 1 and 2 16 2 respectively If you have quite a number of ANSWER databases that you wish to update it is more efficient to proceed as in section 2 16 2 2 16 1 Update System Tables from Excel for the Currently Open Database To update System Tables for the currently open ANSWER database 1 Ensure that you have updated your ANSWER TIMES system to the most recent version and note the name of the Excel Update File that comes with the most recent ANSWER TIMES version For example if the most recent AnswerTIMESv6 exe is version 6 5 0 the Excel Update File will be named UpdateAnsTimesSysTables_v6 5 0 xls and will reside in your ANSWER TIMES home directory default C AnswerTIMESv6 2 Click on File in the menu bar and choose Update System Tables from
452. pear in which the Model Run details will default to the most recent model run involving the Scenario selected at Step 2 In this case where a model run is being repeated and none of the run details require changing simply click on the OK button at the bottom right of the form to initiate the model run See Step 15 below Noble Soft Systems Pty Ltd 2004 09 section six 2 Running the Model Run Model mode is CMD Of x Hodel Run Details Edit default name and description of Name B a model run Case if required Change Run Change model run Description Renewable Limit Run Comment 3 Model Vac Standard TIMES Specify Model Wariant Endog Techn Learning ETL T Lumpy Investment Specity Milestone Years Click on Add to select additional non Scenarios comprising this run Base Scenarios for the run J Specify Milestone Years for model run SJ Modified z l emMove If a non Base Scenario is no longer BASE Bate oo i Demo and Utopia models 20097 01731 16 42 required for a model run select the LIMAEN 1 Renewable Lirit 1 2009 01 28 25 39 non Base Scenario and click on Remove Display of Scenarios Base one or more Click on Up Dn to move selected Scenario non Base Scenarios comprising the model run up down in the order Regions Select Regions to comprise the model run GAMS Basis Restart File f Solve from scratch C Solve from default Basis Restart File Solve from user specified Basis Restart
453. perations concurrently This procedure first makes a copy of the Database named bak in the same folder as the original Database and then repairs any damage and compacts the Database file on disk Provided that no errors are encountered during the Repair and Compact process the bak copy of the original Database is deleted As a matter of course repairing and compacting a Database should be carried out at least once a week By default ANSWER automatically invokes the Repair and Compact Database facility when the size of the database mdb file exceeds 512 MB See section 2 13 1 below The user may also invoke the facility from Tools in the menu bar See sections 2 13 2 and 2 13 3 below for details ANSWER initiated Automatic Repair and Compact of a Database By default ANSWER automatically invokes the Repair and Compact Database facility when the size of the database mdb file exceeds 512 MB Specifically when you close a database via File Close Database or simply exit ANSWER via File Exit ANSWER checks whether the size of the database mdb file exceeds 512 MB and if it does the following prompt will appear Repair and Compact Database Ea The size of the database i Answer TIMES Y6 Answer Databases y EDAWwEU densez mdb thak you just closed is 523MB xe This exceeds the size of 512M6 at which Automatic Repair and Compact is suggested To alter this value of 512MB invoke Tools Options From the menu bar
454. processing errors GAMS reporting errors Errors importing GAMS results into ANSWER TIMES a S ay For further details see the discussion and examples in the remainder of this section 6 2 1 The QA_CHECK LOG file and the lt Casename gt LST file During a TIMES model run two files are generated by GAMS that are the primary avenue for the user in detecting and investigating data inconsistencies and illegal data entries These files are the QA_CHECK LOG file and the lt Casename gt LST file with both files being created in the GAMS Work folder default C AnswerTIMESv6 Gams_WrkT 6 2 1 1 The QA_CHECK LOG file The QA_CHECK LOG file or quality assurance log file is primarily a check on data inconsistencies It is not comprehensive for all errors and consequently should be viewed as a one tool to be used in conjunction with other means of error detection Because the QA_CHECK LOG file is re generated with each model run it only provides a log for the most recent model run If a user wishes to retain the QA CHECK LOG file for a particular run the user must save that file with a new name via Windows Explorer The QA_CHECK LOG file is generated after the GAMS execution Consequently a QA_CHECK LOG file will not be created in the case of a model run involving a GAMS compilation error Noble Soft Systems Pty Ltd 2004 09 section six 21 Running the Model The role of the QA _CHECK LOG file is discussed in detail in section 6
455. propriate Option Code E Interpolate Extrapolate Option Selection Of x No interpolation extrapolation Default interpolation extrapolation 1 Interpolation but no extrapolation 2 Interpolation but extrapolation with EPS 3 Full interpolation and extrapolation 4 Interpolation and backward extrapolation 5 Interpolation and forward extrapolation 10 Migrated interpolation extrapolation within periods 11 Interpolation migrated at end points no extrapolation 12 Interpolation migrated at end points extrapolation with EPS 14 Interpolation migrated at end Hackward extrapolation 15 Interpolation migrated at start forward extrapolation 2000 Log line ar interpolation beyond Year 2000 2005 Log line ar interpolation beyond Year 2005 5 4 5 4 Using the AddRow to specify a new TS Data Parameter Instance Default I E Option Code Value is Generated For now when the AddRow is used to specify a new TS Data Parameter instance the AddRow cell in the I E column simply contains the default I E Option Code of 0 and the user is unable to change this default until the parameter instance has been added into the TS spread The previous section 5 4 5 3 details how to change the I E Option Code value in an existing TS Data Parameter instance Future consideration will be given to enhancing the operation of the AddRow so that it does contain a combobox allowing the user to dial up any desired I E Option Code Noble Soft Systems Pty Ltd
456. pulsory Time Series Parameters _ UC RHSET RHS and type of user constraint by Region Period o YC_ACT Multiplier of YAR_ACT variables O YC_CAP Multiplier of VAR_CAP variables O UC _COMCON Multiplier of VAF_COMCON variables correct Desc needed O Yl_COMNET Multiplier of VAR_COMNET variables O YL_COMPRD Multiplier of VAR_COMPRD variables O YC_FLO Multiplier of YVAR_FLO variables O UC_IRE Multiplier of YAR_IFE variables O UC NCAP Multiplier of YAaR_HCAP variables O UC _T EACH Specifies periods for which constraint is generated Set Time Independent Parameters kee TIC R EACH Specifies regions for which constraint is generated Set O UC_ATTR Mapping of parameter names to groups Set O UC _R_ SUM Specifies regions being summed over Set O UC TS SUM Specifies timeslices being summed over Set Manual Data Parameter entry and editing Manual Data Parameter entry and editing involves three operations l Adding a Data Parameter 2 Editing a Data Parameter s arguments and numeric data 3 Deleting a Data Parameter The mechanics of each of these operations is discussed in the following sections Adding a Data Parameter Add Row When in Edit Data mode each of the TS and TID Parameter spreads includes an Add Row shown in blue for adding Data Parameters and their associated data to an Item Subset Parameters c User Defined Constraint 73 TID data Scenario Parameter Region Constraint Side Process
457. r Rule based Constraint RENEWELC2 in scenarios BASE LIMREN 1 and LIMREN 2 The top line of the run RULES DDS file indicates that the scenario order is BASE LIMREN 2 LIMREN 1 so with scenario LIMREN 1 the lowest down in the Run Model order So for example when the Rule based Constraint TS data for RENEWELC2 in scenario LIMREN 2 is encountered the following lines are written to the run RULES DDS file Skipped over TS Data for Rule based Constraint RENEWELC2 in scenario LIMREN 2 Data for this Constraint will be taken from scenario LIMREN 1 that is lower down in the Run Model order with similar lines written when the Rule based Constraint TS data for RENEWELC2 in scenario BASE is encountered O For user convenience the Time Series data for Rule based Constraints are put out to the run RULES DDS file grouped by Rule based Constraint and with an initial comment line indicating from which Run Model scenario the TS data was taken So in the above example the TS data for Constraint RENEWELC is put out as follows Pile Es BASEBOTH_RULES DEMO DDS WordPad File Edit View Insert Format Help Dll SIR al e This DDS contains Rule based constraints that occur in scenarios BASE for region DEMO SET UCN RENEWELC RENEWELC2 fs SET UC_N_UCRT Fi DEMO RENEWELC DEMO RENEWELC2 Rule based constraint for renewable electricity Rule based constraint for renewable electricity 2 TS Data follows for Rule b
458. r Trade Matrix tabs to specify Traded Commodities item Information Scenario TSTTRADE Name Desc Type of Trade Bilateral Trade Market Trade Commodity Type and Naming Type NRG J Same Commodity Name in All Regions Set Memberships Units Traded Commodities Set Memberships E Trade Process amp Electric Generation ELE F Energy PRE Material by weight PR B Material by volume PRY E Miscellaneous MISC Process Activity Units z Process Capacity Units Y PRC_CAPACT Value Change Unit Noble Soft Systems Pty Ltd 2004 09 section sixteen 2 Handling of Trade Processes in ANSWER TIMES 16 2 1 Item Information Specifying the Name and Description for the Trade Process is done in the same way as specifying this information for a Process on the Process tab e There is no Region combobox in the Item Information frame a Trade Process always occurs in two or more Regions with these Regions being automatically determined as the Regions between which Commodities are traded as specified on the Traded Commodities and Trade Matrix tabs see below 16 2 2 Type of Trade Use the option buttons in the Type of Trade frame to specify the Type of Trade as Bilateral Trade or Market Trade Note that where the Market Trade option is selected it is also necessary to specify the Market Region by selecting one of the Regions in the Market Region comb
459. r line 1 on a ITEMS worksheet specifies Item information Component Name Description Units Set Memberships optional Comment for a single Item with just a single line for each Item being specified 7 Each line after line 1 on a TS DATA TID DATA worksheet specifies a single instance of a Time Series Time Independent data parameter for a single region and optionally a Comment 8 Note that TIMES Time Series Time Independent data parameters that do not have a region index such as MULTI UC_RHST UC_RHSTS G DYEAR SHAPE UC_RHS may be specified via TS DATA TID DATA worksheets where the Region name specified in cell B1 is GLOBAL See also section 11 The special GLOBAL region and Cross Region User Defined Constraints in ANSWER TIMES 9 Each line after line 1 on a TS TRADE TID TRADE worksheet specifies a single instance of a Time Series Time Independent data parameter involving Trade between regions and optionally a Comment 10 Data records are contained in rows 2 3 4 of the worksheet The first completely empty row after row 1 and the first completely empty column after column A are taken as defining the data of interest on that particular worksheet Any row that contains a string beginning with an in column A is ignored by the Import process Such rows may thus be used for comments or otherwise to improve readability of the worksheet 11 Worksheets in the Excel file that contain Item data are process
460. r that you wish to be associated with Background Color Add Row Empty List in the Spreads and click on the OK button For example click on the bright red color that is at the far left of the second row of Basic colors and then click on the OK button The Spread Sheet Colors frame now appears as follows Spread Sheet Colors EA Background Color Add Row au List 4 Repeat steps 1 3 above for as many color indicators as you wish to change 5 Click on the OK button at the bottom of the Options form to save the new settings for the Spread color indicators to the registry The new settings will be applied on the next occasion that the Spreads are refreshed Spread Text Tips The TS and TID Spreads display Names for Scenarios and Cases Parameters and Items The Spread Text Tip facility allows for the momentary display of the corresponding Description when the mouse is held stationary over a Name in the Spread For example suppose that the mouse is held stationary over the Process Name T4X for region DEMO Then the Text Tip will momentarily display the Description AUTOMOBILE IMPROVED OTTO CYCLE as shown below 7 UTOPIA EA 5000 0000 T To alter the settings associated with Spread Text Tips 1 Bring up the Options dialogue box by clicking on Tools in the menu bar and choosing Options in the drop menu Initially the Show Spread Text Tips checkbox will be checked and the Text Tip D
461. rade Process Item specialized dialogue boxes are displayed according to which of TimeSlice or Process or Trade Process Item is being copied e See section 14 3 Copying a TimeSlice e See section 15 2 Copying a Process e See section 16 3 Copying a Trade Process 5 2 4 Deleting an Item or Items and the role of the DELETED Scenario The Delete Item facility is used to delete an existing Item or existing Items and its their associated specifications and data from the currently editable Scenario When an Item that does not occur in on line Results is deleted information for this Item in the currently editable scenario is permanently deleted from the database When an Item that does occur in on line Results is deleted information for this Item in the currently editable scenario is moved to the DELETED scenario The DELETED scenario is a special scenario whose role is to retain information about Items that occur in on line Results but that have been deleted from Data The Item information that is moved comprises the Name Description Units Set Memberships and the specific TS and TID Data associated with the Item So for a Process the specific TS and TID Data comprises those TS and TID Data parameters that are displayed on the Subset Parameters Process Specific setting To delete an Item or Items 1 Click on the required Component tab In the following example the Process tab has been selected 2
462. rade between regions The ANSWER TIMES Run Model facility also creates the following file that is used not as an input file for the TIMES GAMS run but as an Input file for a subsequent VEDA BE results handling run Input file to subsequent VEDA BE run File Naming Convention File containing topology RES information lt casename gt VDT The TIMES GAMS run creates the following Output files Output files from TIMES GAMS run File Naming Convention GAMS listing file lt casename gt LST Noble Soft Systems Pty Ltd 2004 09 Running the Model Quality Assurance Log Results file for ANSWER TIMES Results file for VEDA BE run with user Sets Results file for VEDA BE run with elements of each user Set Results file for VEDA BE run with primal and dual run results section six 18 QA _CHECK LOG lt casename gt ANT lt casename gt VDS lt casename gt VDE lt casename gt VD To be more precise the lt casename gt VD file is created by a call to the GDX2VEDA utility that is made immediately after the TIMES GAMS run has ended where lt casename gt is the Run Case Name 6 1 6 1 An Example Illustrating File Naming Conventions for an ANSWER TIMES Model Run Suppose that we carry out a multi region run involving the BASE scenario and non BASE scenario LIMREN 1 for a database with internal regions DEMO and UTOPIA and suppose that the Case Name specified for this run is LIMRENEW So we have lt region gt tak
463. rameter spread and immediately saved to the Database Scenario Parameter _ Region Com Com Time Bou iE 1990 2000 2010 2020 BASE COM_PROJ UTOPIA RH 0 28 0000 Mode 2 The currently active field is numbered 1 and the last field in the time horizon is numbered N Noble Soft Systems Pty Ltd 2004 09 section five 37 Data entry and editing To invoke the Add Constant function 1 Select the active data field containing existing data in this example 25 0000 Scenario Parameter Region Com Com Time Bou E 1990 2000 amo 2020 BASE COM_PROW a uTOPia RH 0 40 0000 2 Press the F11 key 3 Enter the required constant number in the Add Constant dialogue box shown below and click OK Enter constant value to apply Cancel E 4 The calculated data is displayed in the Parameter spread and immediately saved to the Database Scenario Parameter Region Com Com Time Bou 1990 2000 amo 2020 BASE COM_PROJ uTOPIA RH 0 20000 33 0000 38 0000 43 0000 Noble Soft Systems Pty Ltd 2004 09 section five 38 Data entry and editing 5 4 5 I E Option Code for Handling of TIMES Interpolate Extrapolate Options To provide support for the advanced TIMES Interpolate Extrapolate options when editing or browsing Time Series Data as compared with Results the Time Series spread displays a new IVE column immediately before the f
464. ration Only Not Data checkbox is to make it easier for the user to construct non BASE scenarios that contain parameter instances some of which may be for Items that occur in other non BASE scenarios This statement is elaborated on below For example suppose that the user s currently editable non BASE scenario is TEST and that the user wishes to place into TEST a Process parameter instance say a bound for Process RL2 that occurs in another non BASE scenario CF1 The user who selects Process RL2 in the Process listview will find that both the TS and TID AddRow Parameter combobox lists are empty ANSWER does not allow parameter instances to be added into a non BASE scenario when the selected Item is in a different non BASE scenario While there are some good reasons for this restriction it creates considerable user inconvenience The Copy Declaration Only Not Data checkbox has been introduced to reduce this inconvenience In the situation described above the user should select Process RL2 in the Process listview click on the Copy button in the Item Management frame to bring up the Copy Process form check the Copy Declaration Only Not Data checkbox and then click on the OK button Following on this copy the user will be able to use the AddRow to place Process parameter instances for technology RL2 into scenario TEST Doing the above copy but with the checkbox unchecked would result in all TS and TID parameter instances f
465. reen initially with a status of GAMS Running A Command Prompt Window will also appear displaying the progress of the GAMS TIMES run For a run of say Case LIMRENEW the Command Prompt Window will appear similar to the following screen snapshot and will close automatically at the end of the GAMS run Note Do not close the DOS Window while the GAMS run is occurring cy CO WINDOWS system32 cmd exe Optimal solution found Simplex iterations after crossover i Objective 76561 726798 Restarting execution LIMNRENEW GEN 52466 gt A Mb Reading solution for model TIMES GDA Point C AnswerT IT MESv6 Gams_WrekTI TINES_p gqdx TIMES Solve status Optimal LIMNREMEW GEN S59589 gt 5 Mb LIMNREHEW GEH 59648 gt 5 Mb Putfile SCREEN GC AnswerT IMESv6sGams_WekII CON Putfile END GANS C AnswerTl IMESv6 Gams_WekTI END_GANS STA Putfile Q LO0G C AnswerT IMNESv6sGams_WekTI QA_CHECK LOG Putfile SOLDUMNP C AnswerT I MESv6 Gams_WekTI SOLDUMF put Putfile solsete C AnswerT IMESv6 Gamse_WrkTI LINRENEW UDE Putfile solsets C AnswerT IMESv6 Gams_WerkT I LINRENEW UDS Putfile sola G AnswerT INESv6 Gams_WekTI LIMRENEW ANT GDA File C AnswerT INESv6 Gans_WekT Il qamesave LIMNREHEW gdx Status HMormal completion GDR File Symbols 1262 UELs 1148 VEDA Cube Dimensions 8 Entries 43 Text 1 SubSets 21 VEDA Cube DataRecords 1577 VEDA Cube Text Records 164 VEDA Cube SubSRecords 4 ANSWER TIMES GAMS run ended
466. rkTILIMRENEW GEN EA 2 j The file has been modified do you wish to save changes The GAMS TIMES model run will then be initiated in a Command Prompt window 6 1 4 2 Run Model Generate Files Do Not Run checkbox option W Generate Files Do Not Run The Generate Files Do Not Run option is an important Run Model user option since it is the only way currently available in ANSWER to define a new Case without the need to carry out a model run The ability to define a new Case is useful in the context of the Batch Run and Batch Management facilities see sections 6 3 and 6 4 respectively If you run with the Generate Files Do Not Run checkbox checked then ANSWER generates in the GAMS Work folder C AnswerTIMESv6 Gams_WrkT1 all of the files needed for a model run but does not submit the run so no Command Prompt window appears More importantly in the context of defining a new Case full details regarding the Case are written to the Database and the Case is added to the Cases listview with the following icon amp and with Status of Run Pending Results Management Cazes Created Status Er BASEBOTH Base scenario for Utopia Demo model BASE 2009 02 05 2232 Run Pending Note that having used the Generate Files Do Not Run checkbox option to cause ANSWER to generate all of the files needed for a model run you can if you wish initiate the run in a Command Prompt window yourself One way of doing this is
467. rmined at any time by invoking Help Status of Current Database from the menu bar Status of Current Database New TIMES Database mdb Ea e aooo This ANSWER TIMES database has TradeProcess bab Facilities Technology Process Filter and Rule based Constraint Facilities and being TIMES has JL Flexible TimeSlice Facilities This database has the Same TimeSlices in Every Region Also when the New Copy Edit TimeSlice form is invoked a label near the top of the form indicates which category either NOTE Database has the Same TimeSlices in Even Region so TimeSlice Changes Apply in All Regions or NOTE Database has Different TimeSlices in Different Regions will be displayed ANSWER TIMES incorporates facilities that make it easy for the user to manage TimeSlices both for models that have the same TimeSlices in every region and for models where different regions may have different TimeSlices These facilities which include an enhanced New Copy Edit TimeSlice form are discussed subsequently 14 1 1 ANSWER TIMES TimeSlice differences from the TIMES documentation In respect of TimeSlices ANSWER TIMES differs from the TIMES documentation as follows e In ANSWER TIMES a new TID parameter TS PARENT region child timeslice parent timeslice replaces the TIMES set TS_ MAP region parent timeslice child timeslice This has been done to minimize changes to ANSWER mechanics e In ANSWER TIMES new TID parameters TS ORD SEASON
468. roll bar This corresponds to the default setting for the right mouse button pop up menu option Scroll LHS RHS Together of checked See section 9 2 5 1 below 9 2 5 1 Scroll LHS RHS Together The Scroll LHS RHS Together facility allows the user to control whether 1 Both the left hand side and the right hand side of the RES graphic scroll simultaneously when the user scrolls either the left hand scroll bar or the right hand scroll bar the default corresponding to Scroll LHS RHS Together being checked or 2 The two scroll bars act independently of each other with the left hand scroll bar scrolling the Supply Process Items and the right hand scroll bar scrolling the Use Process Items corresponding to Scroll LHS RHS Together being unchecked By default Scroll LHS RHS Together is turned on To turn off Scroll LHS RHS Together 1 Click anywhere within the RES graphic using the right hand mouse button and a pop up menu will appear shown below Noble Soft Systems Pty Ltd 2004 09 section nine 8 Reference Energy System Graphics 9 2 6 9 2 6 1 Print Switch Background ta white Increase Color Contrast Refresh Scroll LHS RHS Together Synchronize Emissions On Commodity RES Close 2 Click on Scroll LHS RHS Together This toggles Scroll LHS RHS Together from on as indicated by the to off Repeat steps 1 and 2 to turn on the Scroll LHS RHS Together facil
469. roup T3 TID data Scenario Parameter Region VE 2005 2mo ams 2020 badd PASE E LL __ Scenario Parameter Region _ Commodity CommEroup TimeSlice alue BASE COM_GMAP 7 REG4 DSL OILREFIN2G 1 BASE COM_GMAFP 7 REG4 GSL OILREFIN2G E ee ee eee eee eee 15 2 2 Copying a Process with changes to I O Commodities and or Commodities comprising PCG When copying a Process it is allowable to change the I O Commodities and or the Commodities that comprise the PCG from those in the Process being copied e As would be expected the new Process created by the copy will have TOP IN and TOP OUT instances that reflect the changed I O Commodities and if the Commodities that comprise the PCG have been changed and the PCG is a true Commodity Group then the COM_GMAP instances will likewise reflect these changes Noble Soft Systems Pty Ltd 2004 09 section fifteen 7 Handling of Processes in ANSWER TIMES 15 3 Deleting a Process To delete an existing Process make the Scenario in which the Process exists the editable Scenario move to the Process tab and select the Process then click on the Delete button in the Item Management frame and when asked to confirm the delete Are wou sure that wou wish to delete Process t REFINERY Oil refinery in region REGS From scenario BASE Mote that all parameters involving this Process will also be deleted From scenario BASE click on
470. rt into ANSWER checkbox checked does not preclude the generation of the files that VEDA BE needs for its results processing For details regarding the use of VEDA BE in conjunction with ANSWER TIMES for results processing see section 6 1 7 Using VEDA BE in conjunction with ANSWER TIMES for Results Processing below 6 1 4 7 Run Model Suppress Pure Zero Time Series Results checkbox option i Suppress Pure Zero Time Series Results If you run with the Suppress Pure Zero Time Series Results checkbox checked then only Time Series results rows for which at least one numeric value is non zero are put out to the ANT file and Time Series results rows for which every numeric value is zero called pure zero Time Series are not put out to the ANT file This has the benefits of reducing the size of the ANT file that is created of speeding up the import of the ANT file and of reducing the growth in size of the ANSWER TIMES database as results for various Cases are imported On the other hand and particularly when first becoming acquainted with TIMES and with ANSWER TIMES it may be beneficial to run with the Suppress Pure Zero Time Series Results checkbox unchecked so that the fact that a particular Time Series results parameter instance is being created albeit with every numeric value zero is evident 6 1 4 8 Run Model Import Results Automatically checkbox option M Import Results Automatically If you run with the
471. s Strang Checking of TS and TID Data Parameters MergeOveranite information in the Target Scenaro with that on Sheets being Imported Details Before Import Delete Parameter intonation t the Target Scenario tor lteme on Data Sheets Detaile Before Import Delete All Information in the Target Scenario for Regionjs being Imported Details Prompt user to decide whether to Import for each Excel File that has errors Import only from Excel Files that are error free without prompting Import error free records from all Excel Files without prompting If necessary use the Add button to bring up the Select Excel Files dialogue box step 4 and then repeat step 5 to specify additional Excel files to be imported If you make a mistake in selecting an Excel File s use the Remove Remove All button to remove the currently selected file all files from the listbox If the order in which files are imported is important use the Up and Dn buttons to change the order The file at the top of the listbox will be the first file to be imported By default the data for all Regions in each of the Excel files will be imported To import data for a subset of Regions click on the Regions button This brings up the Select Regions to Import dialogue box that will display the Regions that occur in the Excel files to be imported Select the subset of Regions whose data you wish to import and click on the OK button
472. s Select Ongin Scenario S cenaric Select Destination Scenario Scenario TEST Test Copy Item s across Scenarias Copy Declaration Only Not Data Cancel 4 Use the Origin Scenario and Destination Scenario comboboxes to adjust the Origin and Destination Scenarios for the bulk copy as appropriate and then click on the OK button to initiate a bulk copy of all selected Items from the Origin Scenario to the Destination Scenario The screen snapshot below shows the result of copying the selected Process Items from the BASE Scenario to Scenario TEST Items Filter G Sets Named fan Processes FRC Sets Filter Hamed Filter Mame Pegon Description Status p ltem Management EDI DEMO Coal Steam Electric 4 items selected Sets EQ UTOPIA Coal Steam Electric E2 DEMO LA Nuclear Plarit Hew Eopy Delete Braves Ez UTOPIA CWA Nuclear Plant E3 DEMO eteeni e Fieni S EMS CER Pes E3l UTOPIA Hidro electric Plant E41 DEMO Natural gas combined cycle plant E41 UTOPIA Natural gas combined cycle plant Scenario Parameter Region Process Commodity CommGroup_ CommGrou items Item 1 1990 2000 BASE ACT_COST DEMO EOD 8000 oaod O M TEST__ACT_COST aypemo JEM 03000 oaooo O BASE ACT_COST DEMO ER bo 15000 1 5000 1 Pa Test fact cost ajpemo Jea o o o e d 1 8000 1 5000 1 Bse aer cosT prope Ea ooo SON 0 A 0 0 0 M rest acT_cost autora
473. s GOBASE Edit Global TimeSlice Order SET ALL_TS LUMPYINY Mapping of Nulls to GAMS DD ea Default Milestone Years B and E Default Model Variant The first two of these are alternatives to clicking on the pM and Batch Run buttons below the Selected Scenarios listview and the three TimeSlice menu options are detailed in section 14 8 File menu functions for TimeSlices Below we detail the operation of the Edit GEN File Template Default Milestone Years B and E and Default Model Variant facilities Noble Soft Systems Pty Ltd 2004 09 section six 15 Running the Model 6 1 5 1 Run Edit GEN File Template facility Edit GEN File Template Each TIMES model run is controlled by a GEN file This is a small master file in GAMS format that contains the essentials of the model run as specified by the user on the Run Model form ANSWER s Run Model procedure automatically creates the GEN file with name lt casename gt GEN where lt casename gt is the Run Case Name entered by the user So for example BASEBOTH GEN is the GEN file created by ANSWER if the user enters BASEBOTH as the Run Case Name The default GEN file created by ANSWER is adequate for most purposes and so most users need not be concerned with the contents of the GEN file or the way in which it is created by ANSWER The details in subsection 6 1 5 1 1 below are directed at those advanced users who find that the default G
474. s 2 Delete Item for an Item in the DELETED Scenario will produce the following information message Cannot Delete Item f1 of 1 x A Deletion of Process E90 UTOPIA High efficiency Wind Farm From scenario DELETED is not allowed This Process is needed For on line Results Noble Soft Systems Pty Ltd 2004 09 section two 16 Starting ANSWER and the ANSWER Home Screen 2 6 9 Carrying out a TIMES Model Run or a Batch of Model Runs As already noted in section 2 6 1 the Run Model button on the Home Screen allows the user to bring up a dialogue box to initiate a model run and the Batch Run button allows the user to bring up a dialogue box to batch up a succession of model runs to be carried out one after the other To bring up a dialogue box to initiate a model run 1 Click on the Run Model button below the Selected Scenarios display or click on Run in the menu bar and choose Run Model in the drop menu 2 A Run Model dialogue box will appear Complete the information required in the dialogue box see Section 6 1 Running the Model for details and click on the OK button to initiate the TIMES model run in GAMS S The name and description of the model run or Case will be displayed in the Cases listview in the Results Management region of the Home Screen and the results from the model run imported into the Database for viewing see Section 2 7 The Results Management region To bring
475. s Commodity etc columns in order to display more Time Series values on the screen without the need for horizontal scrolling If the user changes the width of any of the Scenario Parameter etc columns in the TS spread then the width of the corresponding column in the TID spread is automatically adjusted to match The converse also applies Noble Soft Systems Pty Ltd 2004 09 section three 24 ANSWER s Data Results Screen If the user changes the width of any numeric data column in the TS spread e g the 1990 column then all the numeric data column widths in the TS spread are automatically adjusted to match The width of the Value column in the TID spread is not affected If the user changes the width of the Value column of the TID spread the width of the numeric data columns in the TS spread are not affected The same column widths will then apply for each Component For example the Scenario column will have the same width regardless of which Component is selected Column widths which are in effect when ANSWER is exited are saved to the registry and become the default column widths when ANSWER is next opened 3 6 4 1 2 Resetting spread column widths ANSWER has a facility which allows the user to reset spread column widths to either standard ANSWER settings or to the settings which were in effect when ANSWER was opened i e to the settings which are currently saved in the registry To reset the spread column widths 1
476. s Items Filters records have been successfully imported P i 1 All 6 Process Items Filters records were successfully imported Note that any named Process Items Filter that already exists in the target database is replaced by the specification in the Import fil file Noble Soft Systems Pty Ltd 2004 09 section thirteen 1 Defining a Rule based Constraint in ANSWER TIMES Section Thirteen Defining a Rule based Constraint in ANSWER TIMES This Section shows the user how to set up a Rule based User Constraint in ANSWER TIMES The purpose of Rule based Constraints is to ease the burden on the user of creating and maintaining the integrity of User Constraints UC_Ns Previously to specify a User Constraint in ANSWER it was necessary for the user to specify each individual row of the Constraint Also the user was responsible for ensuring that the integrity of the Constraint was maintained if further processes were added to the database The Rule based constraint facility simplifies the handling of User Constraints that can be defined by rules Such as renewable electricity production must be at least 5 of total electricity production in two ways 1 It enables the user to much more easily specify such a User Constraint in ANSWER and 2 Because the User Constraint is specified via a rule rules it reduces the burden on the user of maintaining the integrity of the User Constraint as the model
477. s associated with technologies TXD and TXG Reference Energy System UTOPIA region based on Data for Selected Scenarios End Use Demand SUPPLY TX Automobile Transportation Repeat steps 1 and 2 to turn off the Emissions On Commodity RES facility 9 2 11 Print The RES print facility provides a simple outline print of the RES graphic The user should note that if the RES graphic is scrolled up on the left or right hand side the print copy will reflect this Noble Soft Systems Pty Ltd 2004 09 section nine 13 Reference Energy System Graphics If the RES graphic is larger than an A4 page the overflow will not automatically print To print the successive section s of the RES graphic the user should scroll up to the last item of the RES graphic shown on the print copy and re invoke the print facility To print the RES graphic 1 Click anywhere within the RES graphic using the right hand mouse button and a pop up menu will appear shown below Switch Background to white Increase Color Contrast Refresh ow Scroll LHS RHS Together Synchronize Emissions On Commodity RES Close 2 Click on Print and the RES graphic will print using the default printer and default print options associated with your computer Noble Soft Systems Pty Ltd 2004 09 section ten 1 Library Database facility Library Region implementation Section Ten Library Database facility Library Region implementatio
478. s Data gt while a temporary Filter applied to Results on the Commodity tab is always assigned the special Name lt Temp_Commodity_Results gt etc 3 7 2 To Remove a Filter that is Applied 1 Click on the Remove Filter icon Jv in the tool bar or click on Tools in the menu bar and choose Remove Filter in the drop menu or right mouse click on the TS or TID spread and choose Remove Filter in the pop up menu Noble Soft Systems Pty Ltd 2004 09 section three 31 ANSWER s Data Results Screen 2 Note that there is an important distinction between removing a Filter that is applied and deleting a Filter Removing a Filter that is applied simply has the effect that the Time Series and Time Independent information that is displayed is no longer filtered If immediately after choosing Remove Filter the user then chooses Apply Filter the same Filter that has just been removed will be re applied to the Time Series and Time Independent spreads 3 7 3 To Apply an existing Filter 1 Bring up the TS and TID Filter form as per step 1 in section 3 7 1 above 2 When the TS and TID Filter form appears drop down the Name combobox and select the existing Filter that you wish to apply as shown below Y TS and TID Filter oj x Specified Filter lt 1 emp_Process_Data Name Processes like E Delete Description Processes like E NCAP_COST and TOP OUT parameters Row Comparison Filter Time Series Filter Scenar
479. s a selection in the Region2 combobox the remaining comboboxes are populated in the standard fashion For a Trade Data Parameter such as IRE_FLO that has two Commodity arguments ANSWER TIMES automatically populates the first Commodity combobox with Commodities that are available in the region selected in the Region combobox and populates the second Commodity combobox with Commodities that are available in the region selected in the Region2 combobox 5 4 2 2 Editing of an existing Data Parameter s argument s and numeric data Editing of an existing Data Parameter s arguments and numeric data can be done at the time of creating the Data Parameter or subsequently However the user is encouraged to immediately replace any none placeholder that occurs when ANSWER creates a compulsory Data Parameter If none placeholders remain in a scenario s data they will be detected when the user attempts a model run involving that scenario There are two different sets of circumstances under which an existing Data Parameter s arguments may need to be edited e Where ANSWER has created a compulsory Data Parameter that contains a none placeholder that needs to be replaced by an appropriate argument e Where one of the arguments has been mis specified and editing is required to correct this mis specification In ANSWER editing of a Data Parameter s arguments is not carried out by simply keying in a replacement argument Name Ins
480. s active applied The color given to cells that are not in the editable scenario when editing Data and when a Filter is active applied This color is an indicator to the user that a Filter is applied Grid Color default is dark grey The backcolor of the Spread when no Filter is active applied The backcolor of the Spread is that part to the right of and below those cells that contain data Grid Color Filter Active default is light yellow The backcolor of the Spread when a Filter is active applied The backcolor of the Spread is that part to the right of and below those cells that contain data This backcolor is an indicator to the user that a Filter is applied To alter the Spread color associated with one of the above color indicators 1 Drop down the combobox in the Spread Sheet Colors frame and select the color indicator that you wish to change For example you might select Background Color Add Row Empty List where the default color is a light red as indicated below Spread Sheet Colors Background Color Add Row Empty List Modify Color 2 Click on the Modify Color button to bring up the Color dialogue box as below Color Ei Xx Basic colors Custom colors iT i A SEER Eee Define Custom Colors gt gt cancel Noble Soft Systems Pty Ltd 2004 09 section three 41 ANSWER s Data Results Screen 3 9 2 3 9 3 3 Select the colo
481. s in ANSWER TIMES Items listview whenever needed It may also be used when constructing Rule based User Constraints as discussed in section 13 If we click on the Close amp Apply button with TRN DSL as the selected Process Filter this closes the form and results in TRN DSL becoming the currently selected Named Filter in the Subset Items combobox which in turn causes the Process Items listview to be repopulated with the qualifying Processes for the Filter in this case just a single Process TXD as displayed below Utopia_LumpyInvestment 4NSWER TIMES Energy Modelling Miel File Edit View Rum Tools Functions Help or Fl JEJE E Alv Edit Data Regions Filter items All T Scenarios All Global Time5lice Commodity CommGroup Process TradeProcess Constraint Parameter Items Filter s Sets fe Named TRH D3t Transport demand devices with diesel Jets Filter Named Filter ltem Management Current Process Cats TsO Hew Copy Delete Edit Select All Items Move FES TaD UTOPIA Diesel Car subset Parameters c Process Specific T3 TID data Noble Soft Systems Pty Ltd 2004 09 section twelve 10 Process Items Filters in ANSWER TIMES 12 3 Guidelines for Specifying Process Items Filters The Process Items Filter form allows the specification of quite complex filters In general the user is encouraged to specify filters in the fashion that is mos
482. s to be used and then submitting with the Generate Files Do Not Run checkbox checked 4 The Resolve Rule based Constraint form will now appear as follows with the Name and Desc textboxes containing the Name and Description respectively for the selected Case and with the Scen textbox containing a list of the Scenarios that comprise the selected Case in Run Model scenario order The Resolve button has the focus pending the user clicking on it to resolve the Constraint E Resolve Rule based Constraint RENEWELC in region DEMO Case Selection Select Case Hame ep m Base scenaro for Utopia D emo model Scenario D cere Es Details The spread displays how the TS part of the Aule based Constraint will be resolved at Run Model time for Case The TID part of the Rule based Constraint will match what is displayed in the TID spread Scenario Parameter Region Constraint Side Technology Commodity TimeSlice Bound 1990 2000 2mo O 5 Click on the Resolve button to resolve the Constraint The spread displays each individual row of the Constraint that will be generated at Run Model time for the scenarios involved with the selected Case BASEBOTH See screen snapshot below Note that there are two processes in the spread E31 E52 for which the UC_ACT coefficients are 0 95 these are the renewable electric processes in the DEMO region They pick up the value 0 95 because they qualify for both the ALL ELE a
483. sage will appear to advise that the Units Settings records have been successfully imported Noble Soft Systems Pty Ltd 2004 09 section two 27 Starting ANSWER and the ANSWER Home Screen Answer i _l 132 units settings records were successfully imported 6b Where the x indicator is displayed the target Database contains multiple Money units and or multiple Macro Money units If you click on the Import button a message box will appear to suggest that you abort Import Units Settings and manually invoke Edit Units see section 4 2 5 to fix the Money Macro Money unit problems Not single Money unit single Macro Money unit This ANSWER database contains 5 Money units and 4 Macro Money units You can use the Edit Units menu Facility to delete all but a single Money unit delete all but a single Macro Money unit 2 An ANSWER database should contain a single Money unit and a single Macro Money unit Abort Import Units Settings sa vou can manually invoke Edit Units to fix the MoneyiMacro Money unit problemisy If you click on the Yes button you will exit the File Import Units Settings facility and should then invoke Edit Units to delete all but a single Money and single Macro Money unit However if you click on the No button a message box will appear to advise that the Units Settings records have been imported into the target Database with Money and Macro
484. sages from Checking for Valid Parameter Suppose that the user mis spells ACT_BND as ACT BND The following error message is produced Record 2 has error ACT BND is not a valid Data Parameter ACT BND E01 s ANNUAL UP O null null null Noble Soft Systems Pty Ltd 2004 09 section two 51 Starting ANSWER and the ANSWER Home Screen Suppose that the user mistakenly attempts to specify NCAP_PKCNT a TS Data Parameter from a TID DATA sheet The following error message is produced Record 25 has error NCAP PKCNT is a TS Data Parameter You cannot add it in from a TID DATA sheet NCAP _PKCNT E51 i FAD z 0 19 Checking for Valid Item1 Item6 Values in columns C H of TS DATA or TID DATA sheets ANSWER checks that each of the Items specified in the Item1 Item6 positions columns C H is an Item that already exists in the ANSWER database or is specified in the ITEMS worksheet s of the Excel file That is ANSWER checks that the combination of the Item name in the Item1 ltem6 position and the Region name for this worksheet as specified in cell B1 either already exists in the ANSWER database or is specified in one of the Item Data worksheets of the Excel file ANSWER also checks that each of the Items specified in the Item1 ltem6 positions is of the correct Component type for the TS TID Data Parameter instance being specified Checking for Valid ltem1 ltem6 Values in columns D I of TS TRADE or TID TRADE sheets Likewise ANSWER checks th
485. sc BIT RDPRC B ilateral Trade in Diesel and Natural Gas Type of Trade Commodity Type and Naning ic Bilateral Trade Market Trade Type NRG M Same Commodity Name in All Regions Set Memberships Units Traded Commodities Set Memberships SSS EE oy C Trade Process Additional Characterization Electric Generation ELE Annual Time Slice Level w Energy PRE l C Seasonal Time Slice Level B Material by weight PRW C Weekly Time Slice Level Material by volume PRV C Day Night Time Slice Level IV Import Export IRE Renewable RENEW Process Activity Units petajoules Process Capacity U nits petajoules Jannum PRC_CAPACT Value fi Change Units 16 2 5 Traded Commodities where Same Commodity Name in All Regions Specifying the Commodity Commodities that are traded by a Trade Process where each of these Commodities has the Same Name in All Regions iv same Commodity Name in All Regions is carried out via the Traded Commodities tab as described below e Specifying the Traded Commodities is carried out in an identical fashion for both a Bilateral Trade Process and a Market Trade Process To specify the Traded Commodities where Same Commodity Name in All Regions e Ensure that the settings for Commodity Type are correct e Click on the Traded Commodities tab to bring up the Traded Commodities spread e Click on the Add Comm button to bring up the Trade Commodity Selection form
486. scade through the entire Database and the Data Results Screen must be refreshed So change of Region Name may take some time Also following on change of Region Name consider invoking the Tools Repair and Compact Current Database facility Noble Soft Systems Pty Ltd 2004 09 sectiontwo 12 Starting ANSWER and the ANSWER Home Screen 2 6 The Data Management region 2 6 1 Features of the Data Management region of the Home Screen The Scenarios display on the left side of the Data Management region shows the current on line Scenarios For each Scenario the Name Description Date Created and Date last Modified are shown The Scenarios display always contains at least two special scenarios the BASE scenario and the _DELETED scenario Usually it will also contain a number of non BASE scenarios as shown below where there are non BASE scenarios LUMPYINV and MULTI The BASE scenario contains a complete depiction of the energy system under business as usual conditions The role of the DELETED scenario is to retain information about Items that occur in on line Results but that have been deleted from the BASE or non BASE scenarios The New Copy Delete and Edit buttons below the Scenarios display allow the user to create new scenarios and to copy delete and edit existing scenarios These facilities are detailed below in sections 2 6 2 to 2 6 5 The Selected Scenarios display on the right side of the Data M
487. scription of an existing Region or toggle a Region from Internal to External or from External to Internal 2 5 1 Invoking the Region Management facility and viewing existing Regions To invoke the Region Management facility 1 Click on the Region Management button in the Tool Bar row on the Home Screen or click on Edit in the menu bar and choose Region Management in the drop menu The Region Management dialogue box will appear displaying the Names and Descriptions of existing Regions and with special and G icons distinguishing Internal and External Regions Ea E IO x Regions A _GLOBAL Special region for data parameters with no AEG arg MPEP region MIN ANY region Utopia region Double clicking on icon toggles Internal to External External to Internal New Delete Edit Close A special re icon is used for the special GLOBAL region that ANSWER TIMES uses to represent TIMES parameters that do not have a region argument such as UC_RHS Sum over Regions Periods TimeSlices 2 The New Delete and Edit buttons below the Regions display allow the user to create new Regions and to delete and edit existing Regions These facilities are detailed below 3 Under some circumstances it may be useful to toggle a Region from External to Internal or vice versa This toggling can be achieved by double clicking on the icon for an External or Internal Region Noble Soft Systems Pty Ltd 2004
488. se more than once 3 7 9 2 Deleting a Filter that is in use more than once 3 7 10 Row Comparison Filter 3 7 11 Filtering Criteria for individual cells in the TS and TID Filters 3 7 12 How Filtering Criteria for individual cells combine 3 8 The TradeProcess Tab 3 8 1 The Items Region of the TradeProcess Tab 3 8 2 The Parameters Region of the TradeProcess Tab 3 8 3 TS and TID Filter on the TradeProcess Tab 3 9 Tools Options 3 9 1 Spread Sheet Colors 3 9 2 Spread Text Tips 3 9 3 Maximum Items to Select without Prompt 3 9 3 1 Maximum Items to Select without Prompt for Select All Items 3 9 3 2 Maximum Items to Select without Prompt for Multi select of Items by the user 3 9 4 Maximum Rows to Display without Prompt 3 9 4 1 Maximum Rows to Display without Prompt for Select All Items Multi Select of Items Noble Soft Systems Pty Ltd 2004 09 5 contents 3 9 4 2 Maximum Rows to Display without Prompt for Remove TS and TID Filter 3 9 5 Repair and Compact Current Database Section Four Setting up Units in ANSWER 4 1 What allowable Units should we use 4 2 Specifying allowable Units for the Database 4 2 1 Viewing allowable Units 4 2 2 Specifying a new allowable Unit 4 2 3 Deleting an allowable Unit 4 2 3 1 Deletion of a unit currently in use 4 2 4 Editing an allowable Unit 4 2 5 Money Units and Macro Money Units 4 2 5 1 Where an ANSWER database contains a single Money Unit and a single Macro Money Unit
489. sectiontwo 23 Starting ANSWER and the ANSWER Home Screen 2 7 8 2 7 9 Browsing a Case s results This facility takes the user into the Data Results Screen to allow browsing of the results for the selected Case s As these results are determined by the Database model runs ANSWER does not permit editing of Case s results To browse the results for the selected Case s 1 Use the Case selection buttons so that the Selected Cases listview contains the Case s whose results are to be browsed 2a Click on the Results button below the Selected Cases display or click on View in the menu bar and choose Results in the drop menu The Data Results Screen will appear always on the Parameter tab with the results displayed for all selected Cases alternatively 2b Click on the Results tab button below the Selected Cases display or click on View in the menu bar and choose Results tab in the drop menu The Data Results Screen will appear on the tab that was last visited for Data or Results with the results displayed for all selected Cases For example if you are looking at Results on the Technology tab and then return to the Home Screen clicking on the Results tab button will take you back to Results on the Technology tab Whereas clicking on the Results button will take you back to Results on the Parameter tab Synchronizing Selected Scenarios with Selected Cases The Sync Scen button allows the user to synchronize th
490. set Parameters Process Specific setting ANSWER automatically ensures that the DELETED scenario is updated to contain only those Items that occur in on line Results but that have been deleted from Data To delete a Scenario 1 2 In the Scenarios display highlight the non BASE Scenario that is to be deleted Click on the Delete button below the Scenarios display or click on Edit in the menu bar and choose Delete Scenario in the drop menu Noble Soft Systems Pty Ltd 2004 09 sectiontwo 14 Starting ANSWER and the ANSWER Home Screen 3 A Confirm Deletion of Scenario message box will appear T Confirm deletion of Scenario LUMPYINY Specify Lumpy Investment parameters PRC DSCNCAP NCAP DISC MOTE The Following Cases involving this Scenario will also be deleted LUMPY INY Cancel 4 Click on OK and the non BASE Scenario will be deleted along with its associated Cases 2 6 5 Editing a Scenario This facility allows the editing of a non BASE Scenario s Name and or Description and any associated Comment It also allows the changing of the BASE or DELETED Scenario s Description and Comment It is not possible to change the Name of the BASE Scenario or the _DELETED Scenario To edit a Scenario s Name and or Description and or Comment 1 In the Scenarios display highlight the Scenario that is to be edited 2 Click on the Edit button below the Scenarios display or click on Edit in the
491. splay by Name or by Region 3 5 2 5 Refresh Items display 3 5 3 The Item Management sub region Noble Soft Systems Pty Ltd 2004 09 4 contents 3 5 3 1 Browse Data and Results screen mode 3 5 3 2 Edit Data screen mode 3 5 4 Status of an Item 3 6 The Parameters region 3 6 1 The Subset Parameters combobox 3 6 1 1 Compulsory versus Optional Data Parameters 3 6 2 The Time Series Data TS Time Independent Data TID combobox 3 6 3 The Data Results Parameter query button 3 6 3 1 Status of a Parameter 3 6 3 2 Changing the Status and Properties of a Data Parameter and a Results Parameter 3 6 4 The Parameters spread 3 6 4 1 Adjustable spread column widths 3 6 4 1 1 Changing spread column widths 3 6 4 1 2 Resetting spread column widths 3 6 4 2 Sort spread by Column Header 3 6 4 3 Expansion of the Parameters spread 3 6 4 4 Data Parameter status field 3 6 4 5 Data Parameter Indicator for Null Data Row or Row containing none 3 6 4 6 Data Results Parameter Details query button 3 7 TS and TID Filter Form facility 3 7 1 To Create and Apply a New Filter 3 7 2 To Remove a Filter that is Applied 3 7 3 To Apply an existing Filter 3 7 4 To Create a New Filter but not Apply it 3 7 5 To Create a New Filter by Copying an Existing Filter 3 7 6 To Delete an Existing Filter 3 7 7 To Edit the Name of an Existing Filter 3 7 8 Three Categories of Filters 3 7 9 Applying the Same Filter more than once 3 7 9 1 Changing a Filter that is in u
492. ss tems Filter Name Description TRN DSL Transport demand devices with diesel as input commodity Comment Processes to be Included Name Description Set Memberships Input Commodity Output Commodity Output Commodity Look for Like T DSL ee O Processes to be Excluded Nae Desin Set Memberships Input Commodity Output Commodity E Clear Included Clear Excluded OF Cancel Clicking on the OK button saves this Filter to the database and returns us to the Process Items Filter Management form BS Process Items Filter Management Oy x Process Items Filters Modified Y _ALLPROC All Processes 2006 11 07 23 34 Y ALL ELE Name based filter defining all electric processes 2009701728 15 50 Y ALL RES Name and Set based filter defining all residential end use demand processes 2009 01728 15 51 YY TAN DSL Transport demand devices with OSL as input commodity 2009 01 28 15 56 Copy Delete Edit Close i Apply Close We may now create further new Process Filters or copy delete or edit existing Process Filters If we simply click on Close to close the form and return to the Process tab display the Subset Items combobox will be re populated with the Process Items Filters displayed above In particular the newly created Filter TRN DSL will now be available for sub setting the Process Noble Soft Systems Pty Ltd 2004 09 section twelve 9 Process Items Filter
493. ssociated with TS and TID Data Parameters ee Import Close Click on the imp file to be imported The Regions button and the Import button will become enabled To simplify the explanation we first assume that the Use IMP Filename as Scenario Name checkbox is unchecked See section 2 9 2 1 below for an explanation of how Import Scenario functions when this checkbox is checked The setting for the Import into Scenario combobox will default to the Scenario that is currently selected in the Scenarios display To vary the target Scenario either choose a different existing Scenario from the Import into Scenario combobox or key the name for a new Scenario into the combobox By default the data for all Regions in the imp file will be imported To import data for a subset of Regions click on the Regions button This brings up the Import Scenario Select Regions to Import dialogue box Select the subset of Regions whose data you wish to import and click on the OK button This returns you to the Import Scenario dialogue box It is recommended that you retain the default setting of checked for the Strong Checking of Items associated with TS and TID Data Parameters checkbox This activates more thorough checking of the TS and TID Data Parameters than if the checkbox is unchecked See section 2 10 Importing Model Data from Excel for an example that demonstrates the Noble Soft Systems Pty Ltd 2
494. ssword This database ts password protected Please enter the logon password Password E i iO Cancel Enter the password The OK button will then become enabled Click on OK and the Database will open 2 15 1 3 Removing the Database Logon password protection 2 15 2 To remove password protection from a Database 1 Z 3 Open the Database Click on Tools in the menu bar and choose Change Logon Password in the drop menu A Change Password dialogue box shown below will appear Change Logon Password lt new password in both the New Password and Very fields Old Password 7 New Password FO Verity Lancel Enter the Old Password the OK button will then become enabled but leave the New Password and Verify fields empty Click on OK and an ANSWER dialogue box shown below will confirm that the Database does not require a logon password G NOTE now no logon password is required for this ANSWER database BASE Scenario Edit password facility The BASE Scenario Edit password facility is available to prevent unauthorised editing of the BASE Scenario within _each individual Database within ANSWER The password protection does not prevent browsing of a BASE Scenario or unauthorised access to non BASE Scenarios within a Database As part of general software security and database integrity users should recognise that all data and software on a personal computer PC remains ac
495. subsets for example to limit the Processes that are displayed to those that have Set Memberships of DMD Demand Device and DAYNITE Day Night Time Slice Level The use of these facilities is now detailed Noble Soft Systems Pty Ltd 2004 09 section three 10 ANSWER s Data Results Screen 3 5 1 1 Using the Sets Filter facility to specify a Set Membership Filter The easiest most visual and most powerful way to specify a Set Membership Filter is to use the Sets Filter facility This facility enables the user to create user defined Set Membership filters that are added to the Subset Items combobox and stored permanently in the database For example to display just those Processes that are members of the DMD and DAYNITE Process subsets 1 Activate the Set Memberships Items Filter dialogue box by clicking on the Sets Filter button to the right of the Subset Items combobox The dialogue box will be displayed with Set Memberships in the treeview and in the Additional Characterization listview corresponding to the current setting of the Subset Items combobox The Set Membership display uses the same treeview listview mechanism that is used to specify Set Memberships when the user carries out the New Edit Item functions E Set Memberships Items Filter Processes OR x 5 select a parentleaf node from the Set Memberships tree Then select deselect sets in the La Additional Characterization list Set M
496. t natural to them But some specifications are more time consuming to execute than others whether this execution is related to applying a Process Filter to subset items on the Process tab or to resolving a rule based Constraint either on the Constraint tab or when carrying out a model run see section 13 Defining a Rule based Constraint in ANSWER TIMES When specifying a Process Items Filter and particularly if working with a large multi region database the user is encouraged to keep the following guidelines in mind if responsiveness becomes an issue 1 The most efficient filter to execute is a single row filter that involves only Name and or Description and or Set Memberships criteria and that does not involve any Input Commodity or Output Commodity criteria nor involve any Processes to be Excluded criteria This efficiency is little affected if the filter involves multiple rows but where every such row involves only Name Description Set Memberships criteria and does not involve any Input Output Commodity criteria 2 Where the Processes to be Excluded part of a filter involves simple Name Description Set Memberships criteria efficiency should be little affected unless this part of the filter generates a large number of Processes to be excluded e Nonetheless efficiency will be enhanced if use of the Processes to be Excluded spread can be avoided altogether Thus the user who wishes to specify the most efficient fi
497. t Click on the Add button to bring up the Case Selection form multi select Cases to be added to the Cases comprising this Batch listview and click on the OK button E Case Selection multi select allowed JOf S BASEBOTH Base scenario for Utopia D emo model 2009 024705 22 59 E BASEUTOP Base scenario for Utopia model 20087 12730 16 58 LIMA E N E s Renewable Limit Aur 2009 02 05 22 25 fea AEG UC Cross Region User Defined Constraint 2009701719 21 29 eepXAEG UC2 Crose Region User Defined Constraint 20097 01728 17 30 Scenario Details 4 The New Batch form will now appear as follows Noble Soft Systems Pty Ltd 2004 09 section six 42 Running the Model 6 4 3 Enter Name Description Comment and Add Cases for New Batch of Cases Mame Description UTOPIA DEMO CASES fal Utopia Demo cases Comment Cases comprising this Batch B BASEBOTH Base scenario for Utopia Demo model BASE i Stem EF BASEUTOP Base scenario for Utopia model BASE Remove B LIMRENEW Renewable Limit Run BASE LIMARAEN Remove All B XREG UC Cross A egion User Defined Constraint BASE SREG UC _Fiemove AI PS 8REG UC2 Cross Region User Defined Constraint BASE AEG UC Up Dn OF Cancel Use the Up and Dn buttons to alter the order in which the Cases occur within the Batch 5 Click on OK and the newly created Batch of Cases will be saved to the Database It will also be displayed in the Stored Batches of Cas
498. t Scenario BASE ot Diesel Boiler 3 Repeat the procedure to return the display to normal size 3 5 2 2 Item search ANSWER s built in Item search facility enables the user to quickly find a specific Item within a Component To find an Item 1 Click on the required Component tab Click on the Name code of any Item in the Items display Type at normal speed the Name code of the Item being sought The search facility will then take you to the specified Item Repeat step 2 for subsequent searches Oe eS The Item search facility operates in the same manner for the Parameter Component It enables the user to quickly find a specific Parameter from the list of all Data or Results Parameters 3 5 2 3 ltem Multi select and Select All Items By default a single Item is selected in the Items display and the TS and TID spreads display the Parameter data for that Item If multiple Items are selected in the Items display then the TS and TID spreads will display the Parameter data for every selected Item Multiple Items may be selected using the Item multi select facility or the Select All Items facility 3 5 2 3 1 Item Multi select Multi selection of the Items in the Items display is performed in the standard fashion using the Name field in the Items display So for example to multi select contiguous Items from E01 in region UTOPIA to E31 in region UTOPIA first select E01 in region UTOPIA by clicking in its Name field Then holdi
499. t has errors C Import only from Excel Files that are error free without prompting Import error free records from all Excel Files without prompting These user options can be summarised as follows e A checkbox option allows you before the import the option of deleting online Results for Cases involving the Target Scenario e A checkbox option allows you to carry out thorough checking of TS and TID Data Parameters in the Excel File s being imported e The first set of radio buttons allows you control over the way that information is imported into the Target Scenario e The second set of radio buttons allows you to control whether your intervention will be asked for if ANSWER detects errors in any of the Excel Files being imported Each of these user options is now explained in more detail 2 10 3 1 Before Import Delete Online Results involving Target Scenario checkbox Target Scenario LIMREN 1 I Before Import Delete Online Results involving Target Scenario If you check this checkbox then a check is made as to whether there are any online results Cases that involve the Target Scenario If there are the following message appears asking you to confirm their deletion Delete Online Results involving Target Scenario gt Before Import do you wish to delete the Following online Cases involving the Target Scenario LIMREN 1 ed LIMR EME Y Mote thak Case Definitions will be remembered e f you click o
500. t reduce the number of selected items Do you wish bo remove the current TS and TID Filter now In the above example a total of 1315 915 400 TS and TID rows would be displayed if the current TS and TID Filter is removed and the Maximum Rows to Display without Prompt value is 1000 so the prompt is displayed If the Maximum Rows to Display without Prompt value had been gt 1315 then the prompt would not have been displayed and the Remove Filter operation would have proceeded to display all TS and TID data associated with the currently selected Items When the above prompt appears 1 To carry out the Remove Filter and display all TS and TID data associated with the currently selected Items click on the Yes button In the above example the TS and TID spreads will contain 915 and 400 rows respectively 2 To cancel the Remove Filter operation click on the No button and reduce the number of selected Items before again invoking the Remove Filter operation Repair and Compact Current Database As noted in section 2 13 Repairing and Compacting a Database at Close Database time ANSWER checks whether the database has grown too big the default value of too big is 512MB and if it has recommends that the user Repair and Compact the database To alter the default settings associated with Repair and Compact Current Database Noble Soft Systems Pty Ltd 2004 09 section three
501. t units that are to be allowed for each Component in the Database have been correctly entered Where the units for individual Items in the Database are to be varied from the default Component units already entered they must be explicitly adjusted at the data entry and editing stage Otherwise the default units will be assigned by ANSWER to the Items concerned However given the volume and variety e g economic cost technical energy of data ina TIMES Database it is important that the user approach the specification of units in a disciplined and consistent manner Similarly to ensure model results are sensible and to encourage national and regional comparability the units must be consistent and standardised for all Database Items occurring in a particular relation 5 1 2 2 Time Slices First go to the TimeSlice tab and check that the Time Slices that are specified are appropriate If not specify any additional Time Slices that are needed Do this before entering data on any of the other tabs For details regarding the specification of Time Slices in ANSWER TIMES see section 14 Handling of TimeSlices in ANSWER TIMES 5 1 2 3 Work from left to right After ensuring that appropriate Units and Time Slices are specified as per sections 5 1 2 1 and 5 1 2 2 above when entering data into a newly created Scenario or when creating a major new entry it is strongly recommended that the user start with the left hand Component i e
502. tead a special process known as Direct Cell Edit is used that ensures that the user can select an argument Name only from those Items of the appropriate type for the Data Parameter argument that is being re specified We now detail the operation of the Direct Cell Edit facility for each of the above sets of circumstances 5 4 2 2 1 Using the Direct Cell Edit facility to replace the none placeholder We have previously seen in section 5 4 1 1 that ANSWER created a compulsory Data Parameter UC__RHSRT involving the none placeholder Noble Soft Systems Pty Ltd 2004 09 Data entry and editing section five 21 Scenario Parameter Region _ Constraint Side Process Com TimeSice Item IE 1880 2000 20m0 pe BASE UC RHSAT 2 UTOPIA eLEMAX dnoejo 0000 0000 0 0000 To use the Direct Cell Edit facility to replace the none placeholder left click on the cell containing the none placeholder which causes the cell to become a combobox and then left click again which causes the combobox to drop down and display all legal options that are available for this argument For the UC__RHSRT parameter this results in the following display Scenario Parameter Region Constraint Side Process Com TimeSlice Item IE 1990 2000 2010 C fease UC_ANSRT 2 UTOPIA eem OO _ eo ooj ooo ooon FE 2S a LO LIP Select say UP as the appropriate argu
503. teen 11 Handling of TimeSlices in ANSWER TIMES 14 6 TS_PARENT TID parameter to specify Parent TimeSlice In ANSWER TIMES a new TID parameter TS_PARENfT region child timeslice parent timeslice replaces the TIMES set TS_MAP region parent timeslice child timeslice This has been done to minimize changes to ANSWER mechanics Suppose for example that in a TIMES model region AUS has the following timeslices e ANNUAL timeslice e Seasonal timeslices SUM AUT WIN SPR e Day Night timeslices SUM DAY SUM NITE AUT DAY AUT NITE WIN DAY WIN NITE SPR DAY SPR NITE and that region AUS has no Weekly timeslices In ANSWER TIMES the following TS_ PARENT instances specify that the ANNUAL timeslice is the parent timeslice for each of the seasonal timeslices TS_PARENT AUS SUM ANNUAL 1 TS _PARENT AUS AUT ANNUAL 1 TS _PARENT AUS WIN ANNUAL 1 TS_PARENT AUS SPR ANNUAL 1 Likewise the following TS_ PARENT instances specify which of the seasonal timeslices is the parent timeslice for each of the day night timeslices TS PARENT TS PARENT TS PARENT TS PARENT TS PARENT TS PARENT TS PARENT TS PARENT AUS SUM DAY SUM 1 AUS SUM NITE SUM 1 AUS AUT DAY AUT 1 AUS AUT NITE AUT 1 AUS WIN DAY WIN 1 AUS WIN NITE WIN 1 AUS
504. teen 15 Handling of Trade Processes in ANSWER TIMES e Click on the Trade Matrix Same as Master button For each of the multi selected Commodities a Trade Matrix will be specified that is the same as the Master Trade Matrix and the checkbox will be checked in the Trade Matrix Specified column in the row where this Commodity occurs So for example the checkbox will be checked in the Trade Matrix Specified column for each of GSL and OIL Traded oe Trade Matix Master Trade commattes Dessintn ome Tae Moe C ie A i Gasoline Natural gas Oil tl Ej E Ej E _ E E E E WW TTL Add Comm Remove Comm Use Add Remove Comm buttons to add remove Traded Commodities e f we click on the Trade Matrix tab and dial up say the Commodity GSL we will see that the same checkboxes are checked in its Trade Matrix as were checked for the Master Commodity DSL Gasoline All Links Bi Direct Additional Comments Where all Commodities associated with the Trade Process have the same Trade Matrix use of the Master Trade Matrix facility allows the Trade Matrixes for all Commodities to be specified with only the Trade Matrix for the Master Commodity needing to be specified on the Trade Matrix tab ANSWER does not prevent the user from subsequently using the Trade Matrix tab to change a Trade Matrix that is the same as the Master Trade Matrix to be different from the Master Trade Matrix
505. tem and its Data Parameters 5 1 1 What does a new Database data entry screen look like A new Database contains a Base Scenario only which is devoid of data Consequently in the Data Results screen the Items region is empty and until an Item has been created the Parameters region is empty NewDatabase ANSWER TIMES Energy Modelling Iofs File Edit wiew Run Tools Functions Help F JEJEJ E Alv Edit Data Regions Filter Item All E cenarios All Component tabs Global TimeSlice Commodity CommGroup Process TradeProcess Constraint Parameter Items Filter G Sets Named H11 Processes PRC Sets Filter Hamed Filter Items enn 4 Ste ee eee se Item Management SSS SSS SS sub region New Eopy Delete Browse Select All ltem mave RES subset Parameters Process Specific Ts TID data Ei Scenario Parameter Region iE 2000 20m 2005 2m2 2m7 2022 2027 2032 2037 Parameters region a Scenario Parameter E Region Value Database C 4nswerlIMESv6 4nswerDatabases4 NewDatabase mdb Edit Scenario BASE ve Noble Soft Systems Pty Ltd 2004 09 section five 2 Data entry and editing 5 1 2 Rules for entry of data 5 1 2 1 Units As detailed in Section 4 Setting up Units in ANSWER before entering data into the Database the user must ensure that 1 The units that are to be allowed in the Database have been correctly entered and 2 The defaul
506. tem4 Item5 Item6 in columns B to H respectively followed by the TID value in column and optionally with a Comment in column J Noble Soft Systems Pty Ltd 2004 09 sectiontwo 48 Starting ANSWER and the ANSWER Home Screen COM GMAP CO2 EMM o 1 optional comment This format is very similar to the old TID DATA format Differences are that the cell in column A must be empty and the cell in column J may contain a Comment Column A For now the cell in column A of the TID Data Parameter row must be empty Parameter Column B The cell in column B of the TID Data Parameter row must contain the Parameter name ltem1 through Item6 Columns C through H The cells in columns C through H of the TID Data Parameter row must contain Item1 through Item6 specifying the arguments of the TID Data Parameter with each argument in the exact Item position that ANSWER expects In the above example for the COM _GMAP parameter ANSWER expects a Commodity Item in the Item2 position and a Commodity Group Item in the Item3 position and expects minus as a placeholder in the remaining Item positions Item1 Item4 Item5 Item6 For most ANSWER TIMES TID Data Parameters the Item positions are as follows ltem1 Process Item2 Commodity ltem3 Commodity Group Item4 no argument ltem5 TimeSlice or Year ltem6 Bound or Year but with the caveat that Trade TOP_IRE and User Constraint UC TID Data Parameters are excluded TID Data
507. tems Filters used in this Rule based Constraint generate Processes whose Set Memberships are incompatible with those required For the UC parameter with which they are associated In the spread there are 1 rows colored pink that correspond to such Processes and that will WOT be put out at Run Model time You may wish bo check the definition of the Process Items Filters used T For additional details regarding how Rule based Constraints are resolved at Run Model time see section 13 6 Run Model Considerations for Rule based Constraints 8 The Scenario Details button on the form allows the user to display details of the scenarios comprising the selected Case The only purpose of this button is to provide these extra details in case they may be useful in verifying that the selected Case is indeed the one of interest 9 Click on the Close button to close the Resolve Rule based Constraint form The Name of the selected Case is saved to the database as the default selected Case to be used the next time that you invoke the Resolve Rule based Constraint form and the temporary Case _SELSCEN is deleted from the database Noble Soft Systems Pty Ltd 2004 09 section thirteen 11 Defining a Rule based Constraint in ANSWER TIMES 13 6 Run Model Considerations for Rule based Constraints 1 Rule based Constraints may be defined in the BASE scenario and in any non BASE scenarios that the user wishes As is the
508. tems to Select without Prompt value of 500 Items To alter this value of 500 invoke Tools Options From the menu bar Would you like to specify a filter For the Items listyiew to reduce the number of Items and then try again If the user clicks on Yes Select All Items will not occur the user will be returned to the Data Results screen in order to specify a filter for the Items display or to change to a different filter to reduce the number of Items If the user clicks on No Select All Items will proceed notwithstanding that the Maximum Items to Select without Prompt value has been exceeded Noble Soft Systems Pty Ltd 2004 09 section three 16 ANSWER s Data Results Screen 3 5 2 4 3 5 2 5 3 5 3 To adjust the default Maximum Items to Select without Prompt value of 500 choose Tools Options from the menu bar to bring up the Options form enter a new Maximum Items to Select without Prompt value and click on OK Even where Select All Items results in a more modest number of Items being selected such that the above prompt is not displayed it is possible that this more modest number of Items would produce a large number of rows in the TS and TID spreads in which case the following prompt will appear inviting the user to apply a Filter to reduce the number of rows that will be displayed Mak Rows to Display without Prompt Exceeded E4 You are about to display 915 Time Ser
509. ter button is disabled and the documentation in section 3 5 1 below is applicable Items Filter i Sets fe Named When the Named option button is selected on the Process tab the Named Filter button is enabled and the Process Items Filters facility becomes available This facility allows the user to create very powerful Filters for the Process Items listview that allow filtering by a Process s Name and or Description and or Set Memberships and or Input Output Commodities For details see section 12 Process Items Filters in ANSWER The Sets Filter facility and the Subset Items combobox On initial entry to a Component tab the Subset Items combobox is set to display all the Items for that Component For example on initial entry to the Process tab the Subset Items combobox is set to All Processes PRC With this setting the Process Items display would list thousands of Processes for a detailed multi region TIMES model The Sets Filter facility and the Subset Items combobox are used in conjunction to provide the user with powerful Set Membership filtering capabilities for the Items display to limit the Items that are displayed to those currently of interest to the user For example on the Process tab the user can limit the Processes that are displayed to DMD Demand Devices And by use of the Sets Filter facility the user can create user defined Set Membership filters that involve several TIMES
510. terization Sets PRC_ANNUAL PRC_SEASON PRC_WEEKLY PRC_DAYNIT to be specified The following error message is produced Record 59 for Item RHE in Region UTOPIA has Set Membership problems as follows Exactly one of the sets PRC_ANNUAL PRC_SEASON PRC_WEEKLY PRC_DAYNIT must be specified for the leaf node PRC PRC_DMD in the Process Set Membership tree But none of these sets is specified sets PRC PRC_DMD Units checking As already noted in section 2 10 4 2 column E of a row for an Item may be an empty cell in which case ANSWER will assign default units according to the Item s Set Memberships Where column E is not an empty cell the unit s that is are specified must already exist in the ANSWER database into which the data is being imported Examples of Possible Error Messages from Units checking Suppose that the user enters the TCAP unit for Technology RHE as PJa when PJ a was intended The following error message is produced Record 118 has illegal UnitID UNLESS COMM PJ TACT PJ TCAP PJa Group of records for Item RHE in Region UTOPIA ending near record 120 skipped over because of errors 2 10 5 2 Checking TS and TID Data Parameters for Valid Parameter and Item Values Checking for Valid Parameter ANSWER checks that each Parameter Name is the Name of a valid Data Parameter Also ANSWER checks that each Parameter that is specified as being TS TID is a valid TS TID Data Parameter Examples of Possible Error Mes
511. ters for describing the characteristics of the energy system and the Items within it with additional Data Parameters associated with extended versions of TIMES The model is extremely flexible and depending on the complexity and diversity of the energy system being modelled many of the Data Parameters may simply assume their default values or be omitted if not relevant The Results Parameters typically determined by a TIMES model run include 1 the activity level and total installed capacity level for each Process in each time period 2 the level of new capacity installed for each Process in each time period 3 the level of flows of commodities into and out of a Process by TimeSlice in each time period 4 a range of prices such as the price of electricity by season and time of day the price of gas the price of energy provided by renewable technologies Only a rather small number of Results Parameters is imported into ANSWER TIMES following a model run and most of these Results Parameters are at a fairly low level rather than representing aggregates as is the case with many of the Results Parameters for an ANSWER MARKAL run Noble Soft Systems Pty Ltd 2004 09 section three 6 ANSWER s Data Results Screen 3 3 The Menu bar and the Tool bar 3 3 1 The Menu bar The menu bar provides operational access to all the Data Results Screen s facilities The operation of its facilities will be detailed in subsequent Sections 3 3
512. th changes to I O Commodities and or Commodities comprising PCG 15 3 Deleting a Process 15 4 Editing a Process 15 4 1 Item Information Set Memberships Units 15 4 2 Editing I O Commodities Primary Commodity Group 15 4 3 Editing a Process with change of Name but no change to I O Commodities and Commodities comprising PCG 15 4 4 Editing a Process with changes to I O Commodities and or Commodities comprising PCG Section Sixteen Handling of Trade Processes in ANSWER TIMES 16 1 Overview 16 2 Creating a New Trade Process 16 2 1 Item Information 16 2 2 Type of Trade 16 2 3 Commodity Type and Naming 16 2 4 Set Memberships Units 16 2 5 Traded Commodities where Same Commodity Name in All Regions 16 2 6 Trade Matrixes where Same Commodity Name in All Regions 16 2 6 1 Example of Trade Matrix Specification for a Market Trade Process where Same Commodity Name in All Regions Noble Soft Systems Pty Ltd 2004 09 contents 12 16 2 7 When the New Trade Process is saved to the Database 16 2 7 1 ANSWER TIMES specification of PRC_ACTUNT parameter instances that specify Primary Commodity Groups for a Trade Process 16 2 8 Traded Commodity and Trade Matrix where Traded Commodity has Different Names in Different Regions 16 3 Copying a Trade Process 16 4 Deleting a Trade Process 16 5 Editing a Trade Process 16 5 1 16 5 2 16 5 3 16 5 4 16 5 5 16 5 6 16 5 7 16 5 8 Item Information Type of Trade Commodity Type and Nam
513. th data in this scenario facility 2 7 The Results Management region 2 7 1 Features of the Results Management region of the Home Screen 2 7 2 Importing a Case 2 7 3 Viewing the GAMS Listing files LST files associated with a Case 2 7 4 Viewing the quality assurance log QA CHECK LOG associated with the most recent Case 2 7 5 Deleting a Case and the role of the DELETED Scenario 2 7 5 1 The Edit Delete All Cases facility 2 7 6 Editing a Case 2 7 7 Moving a Case s between the Cases listview and the Selected Cases listview 2 7 8 Browsing a Case s results 2 7 9 Synchronizing Selected Scenarios with Selected Cases 2 8 Exporting and Importing a Database s Units Settings 2 8 1 Exporting a Database s Units Settings 2 8 2 Importing Units Settings into a Database 2 9 Exporting and Importing a Scenario 2 9 1 Exporting a Scenario 2 9 2 Importing Scenario data contained in an imp file 2 9 2 1 When the Use IMP Filename as Scenario Name checkbox is checked 2 10 Importing Model Data from Excel in ANSWER TIMES 2 10 1 Importing Model Data from ANSWER TIMES load templates Overview Noble Soft Systems Pty Ltd 2004 09 contents 3 2 10 2 Operation of the Import Model Data from Excel facility 2 10 3 Import Model Data from Excel User Options 2 10 3 1 Before Import Delete Online Results involving Target Scenario checkbox 2 10 3 2 Strong Checking of TS and TID Data Parameters checkbox 2 10 3 3 Alternative options t
514. th of these comboboxes to correspond to the Start and Final Years for which you want TS data to be exported 8 Retain the default setting under which the f New Format option button is selected lt would be rather unusual to select the Old Format option button 9 Click on the Export button of the Export Scenario Data to Excel dialogue box to invoke the Export Scenario facility A message box shown below will appear to advise that the Scenario has been exported to C AnswerTIMESv6 Ans_WrkTI as XLS file lt name gt xls _ Scenario information For scenario BASE exported to disk as Excel file chanswertimesy 6lans_wrktijbase xls Also the frame immediately above the Export and Close buttons displays a message reminding the user of the scenario that has just been exported 9 The Export Scenario Data to Excel dialogue box remains open so that the user can select another Scenario to export by choosing the Scenario from the Export from Scenario combobox and again clicking the Export button 10 Click on the Close button to close the Export Scenario Data to Excel dialogue box Noble Soft Systems Pty Ltd 2004 09 sectiontwo 60 Starting ANSWER and the ANSWER Home Screen 2 13 2 13 1 2 13 2 Repairing and Compacting a Database Over a period of time a Database can become fragmented and use disk space inefficiently ANSWER incorporates a Repair and Compact Database facility to carry out these two o
515. th the GDX2VEDA utility discussed further below e The ANS_GAMS CMD file that makes the GAMS call to initiate the GAMS TIMES model run always creates a GDX file containing assorted information including model run results in the gamssave sub folder This CMD file then contains a subsequent line that calls the GDX2VEDA utility that plays a fundamental role in generating the file lt casename gt VD containing detailed model run results and that is an essential input file to VEDA BE Briefly the GDX2VEDA utility utilizes the files TIMES2VEDA VDD lt casename gt VDS lt casename gt VDE and the GDX file mentioned above to generate the file lt casename gt VD containing detailed model run results The important point is that when the ANSWER TIMES generated model run concludes following the call to the GDX2VEDA utility and the Command Prompt window closes all of the files that VEDA BE needs will be available in the Gams Work folder Note that the GDX2VEDA utility GDX2VEDA exe has been made available by GAMS Corporation as part of their standard distribution for several years now and can be found in the GAMS home folder e g for GAMS22 8 the home folder is C Program Files GAMS22 8 Noble Soft Systems Pty Ltd 2004 09 section six 20 Running the Model 6 2 Run Model Detection and correction of inconsistencies and errors To reduce the possibility of data inconsistencies and errors and to assist with their detection and correction
516. that comprise the Batch UTOPIA DEMO CASES have been added Noble Soft Systems Pty Ltd 2004 09 section six 39 Running the Model Gi Batch Run Cases Comprising Batch Run Scenarios A a BASEBOTH Base scenario for Utopia Demo model BASE Remove amp LIMARENEW Renewable Limit Run BASE LIMAEN 1 _femove_ dd g LIMREN W2 Renewable Limit Run 2 BASE LIMREN 2 Remove All amp AREG UC Cross Region User Defined Constraint BASE SAEG UC Up On ed fC IW Create Results For Import into ANSWER I Import Results Automatically 7 Automatically Repair and Compact Database After Import Run Batch Close 3 You may immediately run this Batch of Cases by clicking on the Run Batch button or alternatively you may modify the Cases comprising the Batch Run by adding or removing Cases before then clicking on the Run Batch button In addition you may use the Save Batch button at any time prior to invoking Run Batch to save the Batch of Cases on the Batch Run form as a stored Batch of Cases 4 Note that after you click on the Load Batch button on the Batch Run form to bring up the Batch Management form and before you click on the Load button it is allowable to use the New Copy Delete Edit buttons on the Batch Management form to modify the currently stored Batches of Cases Noble Soft Systems Pty Ltd 2004 09 section six 40 Running the Model 6 4 6 4 1 Batch Management facili
517. that data rows for each successive scenario in the Run Model order are merged with those for scenarios that are higher up in the order rather than being overwritten or ignored 3 Where a particular Rule based Constraint has Time Series rows associated with it in more than one of the scenarios that comprise the model run a message is written to the special run RULES DDS file informing the user as to each Rule based Constraint and scenario for which data has been skipped over LIMRENEW_RULES DEMO DDS WordPad ioj x File Edit wiew Insert Format Help oela elel al ee This DDS contains Rule based constraints that occur in scenariot s BASE LIMREN 2 LIMREN 1 for region DEMO SET UCN RENEWELC Rule based constraint for renewable electricity RENEWELC2 Rule based constraint for renewable electricity 2 fs SET UC_N _UCRT DEMO RENEWELC DEMO RENEWELC2 fs Skipped over TS Data for Rule based Constraint RENEWELC2 in scenario LIMREN 2 Data for this Constraint will be taken from scenario LIMREN 1 that is lower down in the Run Model order Skipped over TS Data for Rule based Constraint RENEWELC2 in scenario BASE Data for this Constraint will be taken from scenario LIMREN 1 that is lower down in the Run Model order Noble Soft Systems Pty Ltd 2004 09 section thirteen 13 Defining a Rule based Constraint in ANSWER TIMES 4 In the above example the database contained Time Series rows fo
518. the Delete button below the Regions display 4 A Confirm Deletion of Region message box will be displayed Confirm Deletion of Region UTOPIA Please confirm that you wish to delete the Region UTOPIA and all associated Data and Results MOTE This deletion cannot be undone OK 5 Click on OK and the Region will be deleted from the Database along with its associated Data and Results The Region will also be deleted from the Regions display of the Region Management dialogue box 2 5 4 Editing a Region To edit a Region s Name and or Description and or Comment and or to change a region from External to Internal or vice versa 1 Invoke the Region Management facility to bring up the Region Management dialogue box Noble Soft Systems Pty Ltd 2004 09 section two 11 Starting ANSWER and the ANSWER Home Screen O gee YS In the Regions display highlight the Region that is to be edited Click on the Edit button below the Regions display An Edit Region dialogue box similar to the New Region dialogue box above will appear Change the Name and or Description and or Comment and or the Internal External option button selected for the Region The OK button will be enabled Click on OK and the edited Region information will be saved to the Database and displayed in the Regions display of the Region Management dialogue box Note that where the Region Name is changed this change of Name must ca
519. the Import TIMES GAMS DD Facility will create an IMP File that contains ALL Regions in the ia y G4M5 DD TF you want bo import For a subset of Regions in the GAMS DO proceed as Follows Respond Wo when asked Proceed with import of the IMP File created by the Import TIMES GAMS DD Facility Manually invoke File Inport Scenario to import the IMP File Use the Regions button on the Import Scenario Form to specify the subset of Regions to be imported e The setting of the No of Significant Digits for Numeric Data combobox is appropriate In some instances it has been necessary to Import a DD file into ANSWER to 10 or 12 significant digits in order to get a run out of ANSWER to replicate the results of running the same DD file from a Command Prompt window via the RUN file 13 Click on the Import Step 2 button ANSWER initiates a final GAMS run in a Command prompt window whose purpose is to generate a IMP file with no of significant digits for numeric data as specified by you that ANSWER can import into the Current Database 14 If this GAMS run generates a IMP file this will be named VEDAWEU2 IMP if the DD file is named VEDAWEU2 DD then you are invited to import it into the Current Database There are two possibilities a Every record in the IMP file can be imported in which case the Import is simply carried out b There are some problematic records in the IMP file that cannot b
520. the Time Series Data Time Independent Data combobox Noble Soft Systems Pty Ltd 2004 09 section three 23 ANSWER s Data Results Screen Expand contract However particularly when selecting multiple Items see Section 3 5 2 3 Item Multi select and Select All Items the number of Parameters contained in the spread will quickly overflow the screen Consequently the spread has a number of features to assist the user to view and sort Parameter s namely 1 Adjustable spread column widths 2 Sort spread by Column Header 3 Expansion of the Parameters spread To assist the user in understanding the status and details of a particular Data or Results Parameter the spread also incorporates 1 A Data Parameter status field 2 A Data Parameter Indicator for Null Data Row or Row containing none 3 A Data Results Parameter Details query button Also the TS and TID Filter Form facility provides the user with a powerful filtering mechanism to limit the Data or Results Parameters that are displayed in the spreads to those of particular interest This filtering facility is particularly valuable when multiple Items are selected in the Items display For details of the TS and TID Filter Form facility see section 3 7 Sort spread by column header Parameters spread Scenario Parameter _ Region ease act cost ejotoma jem ooo o 8000 3000 030o Base FLOLFUNC p uTOPIA em aco o EI o danmijaL o
521. the menu bar and choose GAMS Listing File in the drop menu 3 The LST file for the selected Case will appear as a WordPad file for example if the selected Case is LUMPYINV the file LUMPYINV LST will appear and can then be browsed and or printed using standard WordPad Viewing the quality assurance log QA_CHECK LOG associated with the most recent Case Each TIMES run creates a quality assurance log a file named QA_CHECK LOG in the GAMS Work folder This file may indicate problems with your TIMES model and particularly when developing a model you should check it regularly The QA_CHECK LOG file for the most recent run overwrites the QA_CHECK LOG file for the preceding run To view the quality assurance log associated with the most recent run Case 1 Click on the View QC button or click on View in the menu bar and choose Quality Assurance Checking QA_CHECK LOG in the drop menu 2 The QA_CHECK LOG file will appear as a WordPad file and can be browsed and if necessary printed using standard WordPad facilities For example the following QA_CHECK LOG file indicates that there is a problem with Process OILREFID in Region REG2 j QA_CHECK LOG WordPad Of File Edit View Insert Format Help olle SR al elo al eee OUALITY ASSURANCE LOG Tett ttt Process with missing or mismatched CG PRC ACTUNIT 10 FATAL ERROR Process with several POG groups R REG2 P QOILREF ID For Help press F1 What we are looking t
522. the required data results rows shown below to select all periods for the selected rows or Cass Parameter Region Process 1990 2000 2mo BASEUTOFP COST_INY UTOPIA EDI 0 00 452 0 00 BASEUTOP COS TINY TVUTORIA E31 ae 5 76 5 76 ASEUTOFP COST_IN 7 UTOFIA EO ffd q1 24 40 10 iL swiping the required periods they must be adjacent of the required data results rows to select a subset of the periods for the selected rows In the example below the periods 1990 and 2000 will be charted and written to the associated worksheet Cae Parameter _ Region Process 1990 2000 2mo BE E EE 2 Click on the Chart with Excel icon se or click on Tools in the menu bar and click on Chart with Excel in the drop menu o A Chart Options dialogue box shown below will appear l Chart Options x Chart Title Case Region UTOFIA BASEUTOP Annual Investment Costs aggregated ower vintages 5 ub title Style 30 Column Chart ne Anes Label Years Y Label 2000 US milion dollars 4 Fill in and or edit the Chart specifications L Title a suggested title based on the first selected data results row will be displayed The suggestion is fully editable It can also be edited on the chart itself using MS Excel chart editing facilities Noble Soft Systems Pty Ltd 2004 09 section eight 5 Charting and analysing ANSWER TIMES Results ii Sub title a suggested sub title will
523. the same as for existing Batch UTOPIA DEMO CASES and with the Cases comprising this Batch listview populated with the Cases from the Batch Run form The Cases from the Batch Run form differ slightly from those displayed at 2 above in that an extra Case LIMRENW2 is included Save Batch of Cases from Batch Run form Edit Name or Description or Comment and optionally modify Batch of Cases from Batch Run form Description Assorted Cases from Utopia _Demo database Comment Cases comprising this Batch 7 BASEBOTH Base scenario for Utopia Demo model BASE B LIMRENEW Renewable Limit Run BASE LIMAEN 1 Remove ES LIMRENW Renewable Limit Run 2 BASE LIMAREN 2 Remove All A REG UC Cross Region User Defined Constraint BASE AEG UC _Remove Al dd Up On Cancel Click on the OK button and a message box will be displayed confirming that The Cases from the Batch Run form have been Saved with Name UTOPIA DEMO CASES After clicking on the OK button for this message box you will be returned to the Batch Run form 8b Suppose that you are in situation b and select the existing Batch of Cases UTOPIA DEMO CASES because it has a similar Name and Description to what is wanted and then click on the Save button The Save Batch of Cases dialogue box will appear exactly as for 8a above Edit the Name and Description Comment to what is wanted and click on the OK button Again a
524. the target Scenario The user should note that retaining the existing Name and Description for the Item in the target Scenario creates data redundancy and the potential for confusion The user should carefully consider whether such a copy is appropriate lf there is a Comment associated with the Item being copied then this Comment is copied across to the copied Item and the original Comment is prefixed by the following line Noble Soft Systems Pty Ltd 2004 09 section five 7 Data entry and editing Copy of comment for Commodity GSL in region UTOPIA in scenario BASE follows Click on the Comment tab to display and change any Comment that may be present or to enter a Comment 8 Click on OK The copied Item will then become the current Item in the Items display ready for any necessary respecification see Section 5 2 5 Editing an Item The Item s Data Parameters will be displayed in the Parameters spread ready for data entry and or editing Copying a Commodity Group Item or a Constraint Item is carried out in exactly the same fashion as above and the Copy Commodity Group and Copy Constraint dialogue boxes are exactly similar to the Copy Commodity dialogue box shown above while of course displaying Set Memberships that are appropriate for Commodity Groups and Constraints respectively 5 2 3 1 Copying a TimeSlice Item or a Process Item or a Trade Process Item When copying a TimeSlice Item or a Process Item or a T
525. the user to easily recall a stored Batch of Cases to the Batch Run form The Batch of Cases that is recalled may be a Batch that was created by use of the Save Batch button or by use of the Batch Management facility See section 6 3 2 above and also section 6 4 for details of the Batch Management facility Suppose that the Batch Run form does not contain any Cases MS Batch Run Of x Cases Comprising Batch Run Description Scenarios Add Remove Remove All Up Ori Load Batch Save Batch To recall a stored Batch of Cases to the Batch Run form 1 Click on the Load Batch button on the Batch Run form This brings up the Batch Management form E Batch Management Select Batch of Cases to be Loaded into Batch Run form Of x Stored Batches of Cases 4 EMIS LIMIT CASES CO2 Emission Limit Cases for CO2 2009 03 05 23 50 2009 03 05 23 50 Ea LUMPY INVEST CASES Lumpy Investment Cases 2009 03 05 23 52 2009 03 05 23 52 Eg UTOPA DEMO CASES Assorted Cases from Utopia Demo databa 2009 03 05 23 47 2009 03 06 00 39 Nem Copy Delete Edit Load Cancel Note the phrase Select Batch of Cases to be Loaded into Batch Run form in the caption of the Batch Management form 2 Select the stored Batch of Cases to be recalled to the Batch Run form for example select UTOPIA DEMO CASES by clicking on its icon and then click on the Load button You will be returned to the Batch Run form where the Cases
526. ther the user is on the Process tab or the Parameter tab or some other tab such as Commodity Applying the Same Filter more than once The user may apply the same Filter in more than one place For example if a Filter is in the Data Results category applicable to both Data and Results the user may apply this Filter to say Data on the Process tab and then switch to Results and apply the same Filter there Another example the user may apply a Filter to Results on the Parameter tab and then switch to the Commodity tab still for Results and apply the same Filter there Changing a Filter that is in use more than once When the same Filter is the Specified Filter in more than one place and the user changes and saves the settings associated with this Filter while retaining the same Name the updated settings apply to all places where this Filter is the Specified Filter Thus having changed the Filter settings on switching back to other places where this Filter is applied the user may see different information displayed in the Time Series and Time Independent spreads from what was previously there when this Specified Filter had different criteria associated with it Deleting a Filter that is in use more than once When the same Filter is the Specified Filter in more than one place and the user deletes this Filter then the following Delete Filter message appears Delete Filter EJ P Confirm deletion of Filter
527. those for the most recent model run of this Case 13 If desired change the settings for the GAMS Basis Restart File and GAMS Basis Save File option buttons For details see section 6 1 3 Specifying GAMS Basis Restart and Save Files below 14 Before clicking on the OK button to initiate the model run ensure that the settings of the checkboxes at the bottom of the form are appropriate For most purposes ANSWER s default settings for these checkboxes as shown below are appropriate Edit GAMS Control File Generate Files Do Not Run iW Regenerate Base DD File if Regenerate Nor Base DDS Files Import Results Automatically i Regenerate Rule based DDS Create Results For Import into ANSWER Suppress Pure ero Time Senes Results lt lt 1 lt I 5 Automatic Repair amp Compact after Import OK Coca but there are occasions where other settings are needed The operation of each of these checkboxes is detailed below in section 6 1 4 Assorted Run Model Checkbox Options The settings for most of the checkboxes are saved to the registry and used as the default settings the next time that the Run Model facility is invoked 15 Click on the OK button at the bottom right of the Run Model form and the model run for the selected Scenario s and Region s will be initiated 16 The model run or Case Name and Description will be displayed in the Cases display in the Results Management region of the Home Sc
528. ting ANSWER database Import from c answertinesve ans wrktivtrdrgas imp base irnip baseitr inp BASE MATISSE IMP bdmingas imp lumppins imp matizse imp multi imp tiambase imp trddzl imp trddal irm uccarelc imp Import into Scenario TRONGAS Regions J Strong Checking of Items associated with TS and TID Data Parameters ee Import Close So in the screen snapshot above if the user checks the Use IMP Filename as Scenario Name checkbox and then selects trdngas imp as the imp file to be imported the Import into Scenario combobox will automatically be assigned TRDNGAS Under some circumstances checking the Use IMP Filename as Scenario Name checkbox allows the rapid import of a series of imp files since all that is required is for the user to select an imp file to be imported and click on the Import button then select the next imp file to be imported and click on the Import button etc with no need to adjust the setting of the Import into Scenario combobox One such set of circumstances might be where Export Scenario has been used to create a series of imp files with names corresponding to the Scenarios in the database being exported from and where these imp files are to be imported into a target database with the same Scenario names as in the origin database Noble Soft Systems Pty Ltd 2004 09 sectiontwo 34 Starting ANSWER and the ANSWER Home Scre
529. ting is BITRD SAME W Edit Trade Process BITRD SAME in scenario TRD DEMO Tols Edit Name Description for Trade Process BITAD SAME Or change Set Memberships or Units Or use Traded Commodities andor Trade Matrix tabs to change Traded Commodities andor Trade Matrines Item Information Scenario TRD DEMO Demonstrate assorted types of Trade Process Name Desc BITRD SAME Bilateral Trade in Diesel and Gasoline Same Commodity Hame in All Regions Type of Trade Commodity Type and Naming Bilateral Trade f Market Trade Type NRG MM Same Commodity Name in All Regions Set Memberships Units Traded Commodities Set Memberships Trade Process Additional Characterization Electric Generation ELE i Annual Time Slice Level at Energy PRE Seasonal Time Slice Level E Material by weight PRY O Weekly Time Slice Level E Material by volume PRY Day Night Time Slice Level B Miscellaneous MISC E Extraction XT RACT M Import Export IRE C Renewable RENEW Process Activity U pits petaoules E Process Capacity Units petajoules annum r PRC_CAPACT Value f Change Units 16 5 1 Item Information Editing of the Name and or Description for the Trade Process is done in the standard way e As already noted there is no Region combobox in the Item Information frame 16 5 2 Type of Trade Although changes to Type of Trade are not disallowed when Editing a Trade Process be aware that either e Chan
530. tion of PRC_CG is unnecessary since use of the SET RELAX_PRC_CG YES option when carrying out a model run allows the TIMES GAMS code to deduce set PRC_CG from the topology specified by other TIMES parameters e ANSWER TIMES uses TID parameters TOP IN TOP OUT to specify the input output commodities for a process in place of the TIMES set TOP Likewise it uses TS parameters IRE_FLOSUM IN IRE_FLOSUM OUT to specify the input output auxiliary consumption emissions for an inter regional process in place of the TIMES parameter IRE_FLOSUM and it uses TS parameters NCAP_COM IN NCAP_COM OUT to specify the use of input output commodities based upon capacity of a process in place of the TIMES parameter NCAP_COM e When ANSWER TIMES is used to create a process whose associated Primary Commodity Group PCG is a true PCG comprising two or more commodities the name of the true PCG is auto generated as the lt ProcessName gt with G appended So the true PCG name for the PCG associated with process AGROOO will be AGROOO G e In ANSWER TIMES a new TID parameter TS PARENT region child timeslice parent timeslice replaces the TIMES set TS_MAP region parent timeslice child timeslice This has been done to minimize changes to ANSWER mechanics For additional details see section 14 Handling of TimeSlices in ANSWER TIMES e In ANSWER TIMES new TID parameters TS ORD SEASON GLOBAL season timesilice TS _ORD_WEEKLY
531. tivity Units petajoules Process Capacity Units petajoules annum PRC_CAPACT Value 1 Above the BASE Scenario is the editable Scenario and Process OILREFIN in region REG4 in the BASE scenario has been selected as the Process to be copied Since the target scenario is the same as the origin scenario ANSWER TIMES indicates that a new Name and Description is required If you click on the OK button without changing say the Name you will get a message indicating that a new Name is required 15 2 1 Copying a Process with no change to I O Commodities and Commodities comprising PCG For the sake of simplicity suppose that the new Process created by the copy is to have the Name OILREFIN2 and Description Oil refinery 2 and that the I O Commodities and Commodities comprising the PCG for the new Process are unchanged from those for Process OILREFIN e After the new Name and Description are entered in the Item Information frame as follows Copy From Move From Scenario BASE Stanford demo z Name Desc 0ILREFIN REG4 Oil refinery Z ltem Information Scenario BASE Stanford demo x Name Desc DILREFIN2 FEG4 Oil refinery 4 Copy Declaration Only Not Data Noble Soft Systems Pty Ltd 2004 09 section fifteen 6 Handling of Processes in ANSWER TIMES clicking on the OK button will cause ANSWER TIMES to create a new Process OILREFIN2 in region REG4 in the BASE scenario as shown in the screen snapshot b
532. tment TIMES extensions Other TIMES model variants such as TIMES MACRO and the Multi Stage Stochastic Programming formulation are not currently supported Consequently there is no need for the user to invoke the Specify Model Variant button at the right of the Model Variant combo box To carry out a model run using the Endogenous Technology Learning or Lumpy Investment TIMES extensions check the Endog Tech Learning ETL or the Lumpy Investment checkboxes respectively For details see section 6 1 1 Model Variant Specification below 8 If desired change the Milestone Years for the model run by clicking on the Specify Milestone Years button and selecting the required Milestone Years Initially the default Milestone Years are the Database s Results Time Periods If re running an existing Case the Milestone Years will default to those for the most recent model run of this Case For details see section 6 1 2 Specifying Milestone Years B and E below 9 To select additional Scenarios to comprise the model run ANSWER allows Base Scenario plus zero or more non Base Scenarios click on the Add button The Scenario Selection Noble Soft Systems Pty Ltd 2004 09 section six 3 Running the Model display Shown below will show all non Base Scenarios that can be included in the model run E Scenario Selection multi select allowed OR Modified eB LIMAEN 2 Renewable Limit 2 2009 01 26 23 39 MAEG U
533. to open Windows Explorer and select the file ANSRUN CMD in folder C AnswerTIMESv6 Gams_WrkTI and then to double click on its icon Having carried out the model run in this fashion and created the results ANT file the results may be subsequently re imported into ANSWER in the standard fashion by clicking on the Import button under the Cases listview 6 1 4 3 Run Model Regenerate Base DD File checkbox option M Regenerate Base DD File If you run with the Regenerate Base DD File checkbox checked then ANSWER will regenerate the BASE DD file s for each region involved in the model run from the BASE Scenario data in the Database and consequently you can be certain that the BASE DD file s correspond to the current BASE Scenario data If you run with the Regenerate Base DD File checkbox unchecked then ANSWER will generate the BASE DD file only if it does not already exist in the GAMS Work folder or if the Date amp Time Modified for the BASE DD file is later than the Date amp Time Modified for the BASE scenario Running with this checkbox unchecked allows you to save the time it would take to generate a BASE scenario DD file whose Date amp Time Modified is later than the Date amp Time Modified for the BASE scenario and so where presumably the BASE DD file already on disk is identical to what would be generated Note that ANSWER always regenerates the BASE TRADE DD file that contains BASE scenario Trade parameters for the regi
534. tputs for an Item is indicated by a 2 Insufficient space to display all Items is indicated by a In the case of insufficient space to display all inputs and or outputs for an Item Noble Soft Systems Pty Ltd 2004 09 section nine 6 Reference Energy System Graphics Reference Energy System REGION region based on Data for Selected Scenarios Commodity DIESEL Diesel SUPPLY DOILEA O em FIN DSL LASOIL the user can click on the indicator and a Commodity Selection box will appear shown below This displays all the inputs or outputs for the Item concerned If we click on the indicator in the above RES graphic all commodity outputs for SREFOOO will be displayed in particular we can see that HEVOIL is also an output E Commodity Selection lel Ea To display the RES graphic for an Item click on that Item in the Commodity Selection box and then click on OK To return without displaying a new RES graphic click on Cancel In the case of insufficient space to display all Items Reference Energy System REGIONI region based on Data for Selected Scenarios Commodity SUPPLY FINELC Final energy Electricity ELCNGA re ELCOIL H DRO Insufficient space indicators use of page resizing and or scroll bars see Section 9 2 5 Page resizing and Scroll bars will enable the user to see all Items Noble Soft Systems Pty Ltd 2004 09 section nine 7 Re
535. traint 9 SREG USRCONSTA DEMO SM FES AEG USRACONSTR UTOPIA SM _ Scenario Parameter Region Constraint Side WarT ype ParamNam Times M XREG UC UCLR_SUM DEMO XREG USRCONSTR b co o PM XAEG UC UC A SUM 2 UTOPIA XREG USACONSTRA b bo E O ee ee eee eee Noble Soft Systems Pty Ltd 2004 09 section eleven 4 The special GLOBAL region and Cross Region Constraints in ANSWER TIMES Now focussing on say the 1990 column in the TS spread we can see that its content is 1 UC_ACT for Process E01 in the DEMO region 1 UC_ACT for Process E01 in the UTOPIA region lt 10 To be more precise the above content depends on the TID parameter UC_R_SUM that specifies the regions being summed over being specified for both the DEMO and UTOPIA regions 11 2 1 How do I change a User Defined Constraint from regional By Region to cross region Sum over Regions and what happens when I do 1 On the Constraint tab select the desired By Region User Defined Constraint for a region this will never be the GLOBAL region since the Constraint is By Region and click on the Edit button in the Item Management frame This brings up the Edit User Defined Constraint form 2 Change the Set Memberships of the Constraint e g change wg E Region Period Sum over Time Slices UCRT from mB Period Sum over Regions Time Slices UCT to by clicking on the mee By Period Sum over Regions Time Sli
536. trix spread to specify the Names of the Traded Commodity Clear TM in the Export Import Regions and then use checkboxes to specify the Trade Matrix Restore TM All Links Bi Directional Check TM Integrity e To specify that region REG1 exports natural gas to region REG2 with natural gas named NGAS1 NGAS2 in regions REG1 REG2 respectively use the combobox in the Comm column to dial up NGAS1 for region REG1 and use the combobox in the Comm row to dial up NGAS2 for region REG2 then check the checkbox at the intersection of the REG1 row and the REG2 column Likewise to specify that region REG3 exports natural gas to region REG4 with natural gas named NGAS3 NGAS4 in regions REG3 REG4 respectively dial up NGAS3 as the Export Commodity Name in region REG3 and dial up NGAS4 as the Import Commodity Name in region REG4 then check the checkbox at the intersection of the REG3 row and the REG4 column The Names of the Traded Commodity and the Trade Matrix now appear as below EXPIMP FEGI REG REGS REGA REGS ee e Note that it is only necessary to specify the Export Commodity Name for each region from which Export occurs and that likewise it is only necessary to specify the Import Commodity Name for each region into which Import occurs Noble Soft Systems Pty Ltd 2004 09 section sixteen 9 Handling of Trade Processes in ANSWER TIMES 16 3 Copying a Trade Process Right now ANSWER TIMES does not allow the creati
537. ts will be copied to the Destination Scenario while TS and TID data for the Technologies in the Origin Scenario will not be copied See section Noble Soft Systems Pty Ltd 2004 09 section five 14 Data entry and editing 5 2 9 5 2 10 5 2 10 Copy Declaration Only Not Data checkbox facility for further details regarding the circumstances under which using this checkbox option is beneficial Move Item s across Scenarios facility In ANSWER MARKAL there is a bulk moving Move Item s across Scenarios facility that allows the user to multi select Technology Items in the Items listview and in a single operation to move these Technology Items and their associated parameters from one Scenario to another Right now in ANSWER TIMES the Move Item s across Scenarios facility is disabled It is expected that it will be enabled later in 2009 Copy Declaration Only Not Data checkbox facility A Copy Declaration Only Not Data checkbox is available to the user who is copying a single Item see section 5 2 3 Copying an Item or who is bulk copying Items see section 5 2 8 Copy Item s across Scenarios facility lf the user checks this checkbox eee then when the copy or bulk copy occurs just Set Memberships information for the selected Item s in the Origin Scenario will be copied to the Destination Scenario while TS and TID data will not be copied The purpose of the Copy Decla
538. ttons so that the Selected Scenarios display contains the Scenario s to be browsed 2 Click on the Browse Data button below the Selected Scenarios display 3 The Data Results Screen will appear in Browse Data mode with the data displayed for the selected Scenario s 3 1 1 2 Editing a Scenario s data This facility takes the user from the Home Screen into the Data Results Screen to allow editing of a selected Scenario s data Only one Scenario can be edited at a time The remaining selected Scenarios will be displayed as browseable data in the Data Results Screen To edit a Scenario s data 1 Use the Scenario selection buttons so that the Selected Scenarios display contains the Scenario to be edited 2 To view other Scenarios data alongside the data of the Scenario to be edited use the Scenario selection buttons so that the Selected Scenarios display also contains the Scenario s to be browsed 3 Double click on the Scenario in the Selected Scenarios display that is to be edited a pen icon ae will appear beside the highlighted Scenario The edit facility cannot be invoked unless a Scenario is double clicked Only one Scenario can be selected for editing at a time 4 Click on the Edit Data button below the Selected Scenarios display 5 The Data Results Screen will appear in Edit Data mode with the Scenario s data displayed for editing All the remaining selected Scenarios will be displayed as browseable data in t
539. ty The Batch Management facility allows the user to create copy delete and edit named Batches of Cases inside an ANSWER Database This facility is used in conjunction with the Load Batch and Save Batch buttons on the Batch Run form to allow the user to store and hence easily recall a Batch of Cases to be re run See also section 6 3 Batch Run facility for Multiple Model Runs with particular reference to sections 6 3 2 Using the Save Batch button and section 6 3 3 Using the Load Batch button The Batch Management facility allows the user to 5 View the Names and Descriptions of existing Batches of Cases 6 Create a new Batch of Cases f Copy an existing Batch of Cases to create a new Batch of Cases 8 Delete an existing Batch of Cases 9 Edit the Name Description or Comment of an existing Batch of Cases and or change the Cases that are associated with an existing Batch of Cases Invoking the Batch Management facility and viewing existing Batches of Cases To invoke the Batch Management facility 1 On the Home Screen click on the Batch Management button in the Tool Bar row Utopia Demo ANSWER TIMES Energy Modelling File Edit view Run Tools Functions Help Fl JFE ikd Region Management Batch Management Data Management Scenarios 2 The Batch Management form will appear displaying the Names Descriptions and Dates Created and Modified of Batches of Cases stored within the Database
540. ty of a process in a period the level of investment in new capacity for a process in a period and the level of an emission in a period Handling of Bounds in ANSWER TIMES Note the following points in regard to Data Parameters that are Bounds 1 For a fixed bound or an upper bound specifying an explicit zero in a data field has a very different effect from leaving the data field blank specifying an explicit zero sets the bound to zero whereas leaving a blank imposes no bound So for example specifying an explicit zero for an NCAP_BND fixed or upper bound in a period constrains investment in new capacity in that period to be zero whereas leaving a blank in a period places no constraint The above assumes that neither interpolation nor extrapolation options cause a blank in a period to be replaced by an interpolated extrapolated value For a lower bound specifying an explicit zero in a data field or leaving the data field blank have the same effect the lower bound in that period is taken to be zero Again this assumes that neither interpolation nor extrapolation options cause a blank in a period to be replaced by an interpolated extrapolated value By default each model variable that may be bounded by using a Bound Data Parameter has a lower bound of zero and no upper bound an upper bound of The user may vary this by specifying a lower bound or an upper bound or both Also the user may specify a fixed bound possibly in
541. uded po Name Description Set Memberships Input Commodity ELE DAYNITE Noble Soft Systems Pty Ltd 2004 09 section twelve 7 Process Items Filters in ANSWER TIMES Note that it is not necessary to use the Specify Set Memberships menu option to specify Set Membership filtering criteria these criteria may simply be typed into the cell For example you could simply type ELE DAYNITE into the cell On leaving the cell ANSWER will automatically check that the Sets that you have entered are valid TIMES Sets The right mouse pop up menu option Toggle Not allows the user to toggle the sense of the Set Membership criteria Applying this menu option to the above cell would result in the following Processes to be Included Name Description Set Memberships Not ELE DAyNITE Input Commodity Applying the Toggle Not menu option again would remove the Not so Not ELE DAYNITE would revert to ELE DAYNITE For a cell in the Input Commodity or Output Commodity column the filtering options provided are based on the Name of the Input Output Commodity The same range of filtering options is provided in respect of the Commodity Name as are provided for Process Name These are displayed again in the following pop up menu 00m ut Copy Paste E01 Between E01 And E70 IM EDIS MEZI Esl Like 77P D G lt gt ECL Mot Between E01 And EFO Mot In EOL E21 ES1 Mok
542. uitable for importing into an ANSWER TIMES database C AnswerTIMESv6 Answer_Databases This subdirectory is used to contain your ANSWER TIMES databases Initially it contains a number of demonstration ANSWER TIMES databases C AnswerTIMESv6 Doc This subdirectory contains assorted ANSWER TIMES and ETSAP documentation It is a good idea to browse this documentation for information about new TIMES and ANSWER TIMES features C AnswerTIMESv6 Doc UserManualUpdates This subfolder contains documentation for recent ANSWER TIMES enhancements that may not yet have been incorporated into the ANSWER TIMES User Manual Again it is a good idea to browse this documentation for information about new ANSWER TIMES features C AnswerTIMESv6 Gams_SrcTl This subdirectory contains ANSWER specific GAMS TIMES source code C AnswerTIMESv6 Gams_WrkTI Noble Soft Systems Pty Ltd 2004 09 sectionone 6 What is ANSWER TIMES an Overview 1 4 2 1 4 3 This subdirectory is used to contain ANSWER generated files DD DDS GEN VDT and CMD associated with GAMS model runs and also the LST ANT VD VDE and VDS files that are created by the GAMS run Initially this subdirectory contains just the subfolder gamssave where the GAMS save restart GDX files will be stored C AnswerTIMESv6 UserManuals This subdirectory is used to contain the ANSWER TIMES User Manual ANSWERv6 TIMES User Manual pdf ANSWER TIMES License
543. un facility for Multiple Model Runs ANSWER s Batch Run facility allows the user to batch up a succession of model runs to be carried out one after the other Each of the runs Cases may be any combination of the BASE scenario plus multiple non base scenarios that the user wishes For a database containing multiple internal regions the runs in a batch do not have to involve the same internal regions and indeed it is allowable to have a batch of runs where some of the runs in the batch involve multiple internal regions and others involve a single internal region Of course in practice most likely the runs being carried out in a batch will be quite closely related to each other One restriction on the Batch Run facility is that it may be used only to run Cases that already exist within the database So prior to invoking this facility the user must create any new Cases that are to be run This may be done by using the Run Model facility with the Generate Files Do Not Run checkbox checked Another restriction is that there is currently no means by which the user can specify the GAMS restart files that are to be used for each model run in a batch all runs in a batch must be solved from scratch 6 3 1 Setting up a Batch of Model Runs To set up a batch of model runs 1 If on the Data Results Screen return to the Home Screen by clicking on the Home Screen icon FF 2 Click on the Batch Run button Batch Run
544. understanding the details of a specific Data or Results Parameter the spread incorporates a Parameter Details query button which when clicked brings up a Parameter Details form This form displays all pertinent definitional details for a Parameter including its Scenario Case its domain of definition and its units Importantly it also includes a facility for User Comments To display the Parameter Details form 1 Click on the Parameter Details query button E in the Parameter row in question Alternatively click anywhere in the Parameter row using the right hand mouse button and a pop up menu will appear shown below Then click on Parameter Details Appl Filter Analyze With Excel Parameter Details 2 A Parameter Details form will appear shown below displaying definitional details and User Comments if any 3 If in Edit Data mode and the Parameter is for the currently editable Scenario User Comments can be added See section 5 4 2 4 Associating a User Comment with a Data Parameter Noble Soft Systems Pty Ltd 2004 09 section three 27 ANSWER s Data Results Screen F Parameter Details Noble Soft Systems Pty Ltd 2004 09 section three 28 ANSWER s Data Results Screen 3 7 TS and TID Filter Form facility By default ANSWER s Time Series and Time Independent spreads display all Data Results Parameters corresponding to the currently selected Item s in the Items listview and the setting
545. up a dialogue box to batch up a succession of model runs to be carried out one after the other 1 Click on the Batch Run button below the Selected Scenarios display or click on Run in the menu bar and choose Batch Run in the drop menu 2 A Batch Run dialogue box will appear Complete the information required in the dialogue box see Section 6 3 Batch Run facility for Multiple Model Runs for details and click on the Run Batch button to initiate a succession of model runs to be carried out one after the other 3 The names and descriptions of the model runs or Cases will be displayed in the Cases listview in the Results Management region of the Home Screen and the results from the model runs imported into the Database for viewing see Section 2 7 The Results Management region 2 6 10 The Regions with data in this scenario facility This facility allows the user to select a Scenario and via a right mouse click bring up a pop up menu item Regions with data in this scenario to determine which Regions have data in the selected Scenario This facility is particularly useful when working with a multi region database and when the selected Scenario is a non BASE Scenario The BASE scenario will normally contain data for every Region whereas non BASE Scenarios may only contain data for a subset of the Regions in the database and it can be useful to know what this subset is The Scenario that is selected may b
546. user is attempting Import Scenario from an imp file with Description Specify MULTI NCAP_AFM NCAP_FOMM parameters into an existing Scenario LUMPYINV whose Description is Specify Lumpy Investment parameters PRC_DSCNCAP NCAP_DISC Almost certainly the user has made an error in selecting LUMPYINV as the Import into Scenario and can simply click on the Cancel button to cancel the import Noble Soft Systems Pty Ltd 2004 09 section two 32 Starting ANSWER and the ANSWER Home Screen 9c If the Name specified in the Import into Scenario combobox is not a Scenario in the target Database a New Scenario dialogue box shown below will appear with Name matching that in the Import into Scenario combobox and with Description taken from the imp file so that the user need only click on the OK button to create the new scenario and initiate Import Scenario O New Scenario Miel E Enter name description and optional comment for the new scenario Hame Description NOLIT Nox emissions limit Comment E Cancel Click on the OK button and a new Scenario will be created and then data in the imp file will be imported into this new Scenario As for Step 9a above a message box will be displayed to advise that the records in the imp file were successfully imported 10 If at Step 9a or 9b or 9c above the situation is encountered where the imp file has more time periods than the target database
547. ution error encountered at the GAMS report writing stage is normally indicative of a GAMS programming error rather than a user induced error A GAMS report writing error is rare If encountered such an error should be referred to Ken Noble of Noble Soft Systems noblesoft netspeed com au or to Antti Lehtila of VTT Finland Antti Lehtila vit fi for their attention 6 2 5 3 ANSWER Results Importing Errors Import Case Errors A successful GAMS TIMES run creates a text file lt Casename gt ANT in the ANSWER Work folder that contains the run results in a format suitable for importing into the ANSWER database If the M Import Results Automatically checkbox is checked the File Import Case facility will be invoked automatically to import the results in the lt Casename gt ANT file into the ANSWER database otherwise the user may subsequently manually invoke this facility Import Case errors are relatively uncommon and there are two different situations that together account for nearly all Import Case errors e Import Case is attempted into an ANSWER database that is not aware of newly introduced GAMS TIMES Results Parameters How this situation arises and how to correct it is examined in more detail in section 6 2 5 3 1 below e Import Case is attempted into an ANSWER database that is out of sync with the lt Casename gt ANT file Briefly a lt Casename gt ANT file created by a model run but not immediately imported into the ANSW
548. v button at the bottom LHS along with a or indicator to the left of this button as a visual cue that either the current database does contain a single Money unit and a single v multiple Money units and or multiple Macro Money units in which case the be displayed indicator will be displayed or that it contains x Macro Money unit in which case the indicator will 6a Where the v indicator is displayed the origin Database contains a single Money unit and a single Macro Money unit as it should Click on the Export button and a message box will appear to advise that the Units Settings information for the origin Database has been exported to C AnswerTIMESv6 Ans_WrkTI as text file lt name gt unt Noble Soft Systems Pty Ltd 2004 09 section two 25 Starting ANSWER and the ANSWER Home Screen 1 Units Settings information exported to disk as text file clanswertimesv lans wrktijutopia lumpyinvestment unt 6b Where the x indicator is displayed the origin Database contains multiple Money units and or multiple Macro Money units If you click on the Export button a message box will appear to suggest that you abort Export Units Settings and manually invoke Edit Units see section 4 2 5 to fix the Money Macro Money unit problems Not single Money unit single Macro Money unit This ANSWER database contains 5 Money units and 4 Macro Money units You can use the Edit Units menu Facility t
549. ve button 3 You may get messages indicating that the various directories associated with ANSWER TIMES cannot be removed but ANSWER TIMES itself will have been uninstalled To remove ANSWER TIMES directories 1 Choose Programs Windows Explorer from the Start menu 2 Highlight C AnswerTIMESv6 directory and delete it and all its subdirectories Noble Soft Systems Pty Ltd 2004 09 section two Starting ANSWER and the ANSWER Home Screen Section Two Starting ANSWER and the ANSWER Home Screen This Section shows the user how to start and exit ANSWER It introduces the ANSWER Home Screen and takes the user through the Home Screen facilities 2 1 Starting exiting ANSWER 2 1 1 Starting ANSWER To start ANSWER 1 Click on the Start button in the Windows taskbar and point to Programs 2 Click on the ANSWER icon E Alternatively a desktop shortcut using usual Windows procedures may be created 3 ANSWER will start and the ANSWER Title Screen shown below will appear momentarily ANSWER TIMES Energy Modelling for Windows Version 6 5 2 This Product Is Licensed To Fully registered Answer 6 TIMES licence for new HP desktop for Ken Noble Noble Soft Systems 4 The ANSWER Home Screen shown below will then appear At this stage the Home Screen will be empty as you have not yet loaded an ANSWER TIMES Database ANSWER TIMES Energy Modelling olx Fie Edit View Run Tools Functions Help ola El
550. would no longer be appropriate since this parameter is only meaningful for Demand commodities On the other hand parameters such as COM AGG COM _GMAP would remain appropriate since these parameters apply to non Demand and to Demand commodities 2 10 3 3 2 Before Import Delete Parameter information in the Target Scenario for Items on Data Sheets radio button Currently this option is not available in ANSWER TIMES 2 10 3 3 3 Before Import Delete All Information in the Target Scenario for Region s being Imported radio button If the Before Import Delete All Information in the Target Scenario radio button is selected then after the user clicks on the Import button to initiate Import Model Data from Excel one of the following two messages appears asking the user to confirm the deletion of all information in the target scenario Where the target scenario is a non BASE scenario Noble Soft Systems Pty Ltd 2004 09 sectiontwo 43 Starting ANSWER and the ANSWER Home Screen Delete all information in non BASE Scenario y Are you sure that before Import you wish bo delete all information in the non BASE Scenario LIMREN 1 You will not be able to undo this change Cancel Where the target scenario is the BASE scenario Delete all information in BASE Scenario Fa T Are vou sure that before Import you wish to delete all information in the BASE Scenario MOTE You will nok be able to
551. written to the file ImportDataExcel n log in the ANSWER Work folder These are examined in more detail in sections 2 10 5 1 and 2 10 5 2 below Noble Soft Systems Pty Ltd 2004 09 section two 50 Starting ANSWER and the ANSWER Home Screen 2 10 5 1 Checking Item Data for Valid Set Memberships and Units Set Memberships checking ANSWER checks that the Sets specified for an Item define a leaf node in the Set Membership tree Where the Additional Characterization Sets for this leaf node involve a radio button choice such as Annual Seasonal Weekly Day Night ANSWER checks that exactly one of these Sets has been specified Examples of Possible Error Messages from Set Memberships checking Suppose that the user specifies Set Memberships of PRC and PRC_DAYNIT for Process E01 These fail to define a leaf node in the Process Set Membership tree since one of CHP DMD ELE PRE HPL PRV PRW MISC is also required The following error message is produced Record 30 for Item E01 in Region UTOPIA has Set Membership problems as follows The set s PRC do not define a leaf node in the Process Set Membership tree sets PRC PRC_DAYNIT Suppose that the user specifies Set Memberships of PRC and PRC_DMD for Process RHE but fails to specify one of the Sets PRC_ANNUAL PRC_SEASON PRC_WEEKLY PRC_DAYNIT The Sets PRC and PRC_DMD define a leaf node in the Process Set Membership tree but this leaf node requires one of the Additional Charac
552. y Item Additionally the Set Memberships of the Commodity Item should indicate an End Use Demand Commodity Item SET DEM Suppose that the user has mistakenly specified a Commodity Item in the Item2 position that is not an End Use Demand Commodity e When the Strong Checking checkbox is unchecked ANSWER checks that the Item in the Item2 position column D is a Commodity Item but does not check the Set Memberships of the Commodity Item and so does not detect the mistake The COM_PROJ record will be imported into the Database e When the Strong Checking checkbox is checked ANSWER additionally checks that the Set Memberships of the Commodity Item are appropriate for the COM_PROJ Parameter and so detects the mistake An error message similar to that below will be generated in the ImportDataExcel n log file Record 33 has error Commodity Item HCO in Item2 position does not have appropriate Set Memberships for Parameter COM_PROJ COM_PROJ HCO 0 25 2 37 8 56 7 and this COM_ PROJ record will not be imported If you click on the Details button to the right of the Strong Checking of TS and TID Data Parameters checkbox you will get the following message explaining that Strong Checking has been recoded to run much faster than previously and concluding with the recommendation that you leave this checkbox checked Details re Strong Checking of TS and TID Data Parameters x i When the Str
553. y is not invoked the RES graphic will be drawn with the red boxes and text that are used for demand technologies being true red and the green boxes and text that are used for resource technologies being true green Whereas if the Increase Color Contrast facility is invoked the RES graphic will be drawn with the red boxes and text being less red and the green boxes and text being less green These less red and less green colors may contrast better with the black background than the true colors in some situations By default Increase Color Contrast is turned off To turn on Increase Color Contrast 1 Click anywhere within the RES graphic using the right hand mouse button and a pop up menu will appear shown below Print Switch Background to White Increase Color Contrast Refresh w Scroll LHS RHS Together Synchronize Emissions On Commodity RES Close 2 Click on Increase Color Contrast This toggles Increase Color Contrast from off to on Repeat steps 1 and 2 to turn off the Increase Color Contrast facility 9 2 10 Emissions On Commodity RES The Emissions on Commodity RES facility is not currently operative in ANSWER TIMES emissions associated with a Process are always displayed on an ANSWER TIMES RES graphic regardless of whether the setting of the Emissions On Commodity RES menu item is on or Off The text and screen snapshots below are retained from the ANSWER MARKAL User
554. ylltteset gt _ _teae_ _aamn_ _ 2000 BASEUTOP Aim ACT L 7 UTOPIA T 1 00 1 00 ASEUTOP WAR_ACT L UTOPIA EO FAN 0 03 3 46 BASELITOP WAR_ACT L UTOPIA EOD SPD 0 19 0 83 BASEUTOP YAR_ACT L UTOPIA SPM 0 21 0 66 BASEUTOP YA amp R_ACT L JUTOPIA SUD O26 0 45 MSEUTOP YWAR_ACT L UTOPIA gt SUN 0 05 0 10 BASEUTOP YAR_ACT L UTOPIA WID 1 36 4 59 M4SEUTOP WAR_ACT L UTOPIA Wills Oe 2 r0 ii swiping the required information data fields they must be adjacent of the required data results rows to select a subset of the information and periods for the selected rows In the example below the Case Parameter Technology and TimeSlice information and the data results for periods 1990 and 2000 but not 2010 will be written to the associated worksheet JBASEUTOP e FAD 1 00 1 00 WE BASEUTOP WAR_ACT L 7 UTOPIA ED FAN 5 03 3 46 301 PAm UTOPIA EC SPD 13 0 83 BASEUTOP VAR_ACTL UTOPIA EL SPN 2 0 66 D E SEUTOF WAR_ACT L UTOPIA EC SUD 11 26 0 45 MN GASEUTOP VAR_ACT L UTOPIA EQ SUN 01 05 0 10 ME BASEUTOP WAR ACT L 7 UTOPIA EC Wi 3B 4 59 BASEUTOP VAR_ACTL UTOPIA EC Wilh 27 2 70 4 79 2 Click on the Analyse with Excel icon Edi or click on Tools in the menu bar and click on Analyse with Excel in the drop menu 3 The Column Display for Analyze with Excel form appears On tabs except the TradeProcess tab this form appears with Name as the default for all columns except the Region2 column
555. ystem such as energy conversion storage processes refineries and demand devices along with their associated data parameters 6 TradeProcess Component comprises the Bilateral and Market Trade Processes involving trade between regions and their associated data parameters 7 Constraint Component comprises user defined Constraints that are additional to the standard constraints of a TIMES model These Components correspond to the first seven tabs on ANSWER s Data Results Screen The eighth tab on ANSWER s Data Results Screen the Parameter tab comprises all the Parameters listed in alphabetical order The user may wish to think of this as the Parameter Component but should realise that it is different in its nature to the first seven Components 3 2 2 2 An Item and its Set Memberships An Item is a unique user defined element of the TIMES model In TIMES the user defines Items representing TimeSlices Commodities Commodity Groups Processes Trade Processes and Constraints The TimeSlice Component then comprises all the TimeSlice Items and their associated Parameters the Commodity Component comprises all the Commodity Items and their associated Parameters and so on Each Item is defined by the user by its Name and Region the combination of Name and Region must be unique its Description its Set Memberships and its Units The Set Memberships of an Item determine the Data Parameters that are allowed to be associated with the Item
556. ystems Pty Ltd 2004 09 section fifteen 3 Handling of Processes in ANSWER TIMES E Output Commodity Selection for region REGS multi select allowed Of x Set Memberships 15 Diesel MAG Ga NAG Light Oil Natural gas Oil OF Cancel In this case the two Output Commodities DSL and GSL have been selected e If you make a mistake in specifying the Input Commodity Commodities or in specifying the Output Commodity Commodities use the appropriate Remove Comm button to remove the Commodity Commodities that are incorrect from the CommIN or CommOUT spreads and then use the Add Comm button to add the Commodity Commodities that should have been specified Suppose for example that instead of specifying Output Commodities of DSL and GSL as above you mistakenly specified DSL and LOIL so that the CommOUT spread appeared as follows Commit E Light Oil To remove LOIL from the CommOUT spread select the LOIL row by clicking in column 0 Commour TOSL Diesel NAG E n Light Gil NAG and then click on the Remove Comm button Multi select of Commodities to be removed from the CommIN or CommOUT spreads is allowed e Use the checkboxes in the PCG column to indicate which Commodities of the same Type comprise the PCG Primary Commodity Group for the Process At least one checkbox in the PCG column must be checked Above two checkboxes have been checked indicating that the Process has an associated true Comm
557. ze the results generated from their TIMES model run that ANSWER TIMES has initiated VEDA BE provides powerful and flexible facilities for results analysis To acquire VEDA BE contact Dr Amit Kanudia of KanORS Inc amit KanORS com Use of the VEDA BE software in conjunction with ANSWER TIMES is quite straightforward since a GAMS TIMES model run initiated by ANSWER TIMES generates all of the files that need to be imported into VEDA BE to analyze the results All that is then required is to manually invoke the VEDA BE executable VEDA_BE exe via a shortcut to import these files and proceed with results analysis The information in the remainder of this subsection is provided for the reader who is interested in additional details As part of ensuring that a TIMES model run initiated by ANSWER TIMES generates all of the files needed by VEDA BE the standard ANSWER aware TIMES GAMS code in folder Gams _SrcTI contains the following files e The file TTMES2VEDA VDD VEDA Data Definition file needed for use with the GDX2VEDA utility discussed further below In general it would be unusual for the user to make modifications to the file TIMES2VEDA VDD e The Template GEN file used by ANSWER as the template to create the GEN file that controls an ANSWER TIMES initiated GAMS TIMES model run is appropriately configured to ensure that the GAMS TIMES model run will generate the VEDA lt casename gt VDS and lt casename gt VDE files needed for use wi

ANSWERv6-TIMES User Manual - Noble

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