Parameter DictionaryΒΆ
The gep_onsset can get overwhelming for a new user - or even for experienced ones :) - due to the number of parameters, variable and naming conventions used. The following table aims to provide a brief explanation of common parameters one might encounter in the process.
| Dataset | Data Type | Units | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| Country | String | The official name of the country. Capital first letter | |
| Country code | String | Official country code as per ISO 3166-1 alpha-2 | |
| Start year | Integer | year | The year to be used as starting point of the analysis (Base year). All input data should be allighed to this year |
| End year | Integer | year | The final year of the analysis defining the modelling period |
| Discount Rate | Float | Percentage (8% used) | Rate used for discounting bills of exchange |
| Settlement Area | Float | square kilometers (km2) | Size of the settlement. This can be dynamic, in case a cluste based approach is adopted or static, in case a grid cell approach is adopted. |
| Plant Capacity | Float | Kilowatts (kW) | Size of plant |
| Investment Cost | Float | USD/Kilowatts ($/kW) | Cost per unit of installed capacity |
| Operation and Maintenance Cost | Float | Percentage | Percentage of Investment Cost per Year |
| Capacity Factor | Float | Ratio (0-1) | Ratio of actual electrical energy output over a given period of time to the maximum possible electrical energy output over that time |
| Expected Lifetime of Technology | Float | Years | Average predicted lifespan for the technology |
| Base to Peak ratio | Float | Ratio (0-1) | Ratio used to estimate peak load and therefore sizing of capacity necessary to cover peak load. |
| Fuel Price | Float | USD($) per liter | Average price of fuel in the study area (specify for all applicable technologies) |
| Grid Electricity Generation Cost | Float | USD/kWh | Expected average levelized cost of generating electricity for all power plants supplying rid electricity by the end year |
| Grid Generation Capacity Cost | Float | USD/kW | Relative cost per capacity, weighted average value of mix of power plants on grid |
| Expected Lifetime of Technology | Float | Years | Expected lifespan, weighted average value of mix of power plants on grid |
| Grid Extension Limit | Float | Kilometers | Maximum distance of MV lines expansion |
| Capacity Factor | Float | Ratio (0-1) | Ratio of actual electrical energy output over a given period of time to the maximum possible electrical energy output over that time |
| Grid Penalty Ratio | Float | Ratio (0-1) | Obtained for each point depending on land cover, elevation, slope distance to roads and substations |
| Grid Extension Cost Ratio | Float | Percentage | Percentage increase in cost transmission lines in every electrification loop; Set at 10%; used to represent line reinforsement. |
| Grid capacity ramp up limit | Float | MW | Limit of additional grid based capacity that can be installed in the country in the defined timesteps |
| Base to Peak ratio | Float | Ratio (0-1) | Ratio used to estimate peak load and therefore sizing of capacity necessary to cover peak load. |
| Expected Lifetime | Float | Years | Lifespan of transmission and distribution line |
| HV line cost (108 kv) | Float | USD/Kilometer | Cost of 108 kv per kilometer |
| HV line cost (69 kv) | Float | USD/Kilometer | Cost of 69 kv per kilometer |
| MV line cost (33 kv) | Float | USD/Kilometer | Cost of 33 kv per kilomters |
| MV line cost (11 kv) | Float | USD/Kilometer | Cost of 33 kv per kilomters |
| LV line cost (.4 kv) | Float | USD/Kilometer | Cost of .2 kv per kilometers |
| LV line cost (.2 kv) | Float | USD/Kilometer | Cost of .2 kv per kilometers |
| HV to MV substation (1000 kVA) | Float | USD/unit | Cost of substation per unit |
| MV to MV substation (400 kVA) | Float | USD/unit | Cost of substation per unit |
| Service transformer (50 kVA) | Float | USD/unit | Cost of substation per unit |
| Max LV line length | Float | km | Maximum span of a single MV line (e.g. 0.5 km) |
| Load moment | Integer | kW m | Used in LV line dimensioning process. An indicative value for a 50 mm aluminum conductor under 5% voltage drop is 9643 kW m |
| Maximun demand nodes served per transformer | Integer | nodes | Maximum number of demand nodes to be served by service transformer |
| Additional Connection cost per household connected to the grid | Float | USD/Household | Additional Connection cost per household connected to the grid |
| Additional Connection cost per household connected to the minigrid | Float | USD/Household | Additional Connection cost per household connected to the minigrid |
| Transmission and Distribution Losses | Float | Percentage | Percentage of Total transmission and distribution losses per year |
| Operation and Maintenences costs of distribution | Float | Percentage | Percentage of total capital spend on O&M each year |
| MV line maximum reach (extension limit) | Float | Kilometer | Maximum reach of MV line |
| Power factor | Float | The ratio of the active power P (kW) to the apparent power S (kVA) and is used in sizing of transformers. | |
| Population, start year | Integer | People | Population at the beginning of the study |
| Population, end year | Integer | People | Predicted population at the end fo the study |
| Urban share, start year | Float | Percentage | Percentage of total population represented in urban communities, start of study |
| Urban share, end year | Float | Percentage | Percentage of total population represented in urban communities, end of study |
| Number of people/house (urban) | Float | People/household | Average household size in urban populations |
| Number of people/house (rural) | Float | People/household | Average household size in rural populations |
| Current National Electrification Rate | Float | Percentage | Percentage of electrified people in the country |
| Current National Electrification Rate Rural | Float | Percentage | Percentage of rural electrified population in the country |
| Current National Electrification Rate Urban | Float | Percentage | Percentage of urban electrifiedpopulation in the country |
| Urban cut off value | Integer | people | Number of people above which a setlement can be considered Urban |
| Urban ratio modelled | Float | Percentage | Urban ration identified by the model; used to crossvalicate the modelling approach |
| Minimum night light value | Integer | (0-64) | Value that implies electrificatio activity; above this the settlement might be considered potentially electrified |
| Minimum distance to service transformers | Float | km | Value that implies electrificatio activity; below this the settlement might be considered potentially electrified |
| Maximum distance to roads | Float | km | Value that implies electrificatio activity; below this the settlement might be considered potentially electrified |
| Maximum distance to the grid network | Float | km | Value that implies electrificatio activity; below this the settlement might be considered potentially electrified |
| Population cut off value | Integer | people | Value that implies electrificatio activity; above this the settlement might be considered potentially electrified |
| Electrification rate modelled | Float | Percentage | National electrification rate identified after modelling process; used to crossvalicate the modelling approach |
| Urban electrification rate modelled | Float | Percentage | Urban electrification rate identified after modelling process; used to crossvalicate the modelling approach |
| Rural electrification rate modelled | Float | Percentage | Rural electrification rate identified after modelling process; used to crossvalicate the modelling approach |