4 - Add Network Technology Candidates

Network Technology Candidates and Network Link Candidates are used to specify the possible installation of network infrastructure for transfer of energy carriers between different hubs. Key features include:

A link candidate can be specified between any 2 hubs.
Multiple link candidates, e.g. corresponding to different energy carriers, can be specified between 2 hubs.
For each Link Candidate, a corresponding Network Technology needs to be defined, which specifies the technical and economic parameters of the link.

Similar to conversion and storage technologies, network technology candidates can be added from a database (Add from Database) or created from scratch (Create Custom)

Explanation of Network Technology parameters

PARAMETER	UNITS	REQUIRED?	DEFAULT	EXPLANATION
General parameters
Network Technology Name		Yes		The name of the technology; can be selected freely

Technical parameters
Energy Carrier		Yes		The energy carrier that can be transported with this network
Network Loss	%/m		0	The losses as % of total capacity per meter of network length
Maximum capacity	kW		Infinity	The maximum allowable capacity of the technology; only visible if Optimize is selected for "Technology capacity"
Minimum capacity	kW		0	The minimum allowable capacity of the technology; only visible if Optimize is selected for "Technology capacity"

Cost parameters
Lifetime	years	Yes		The financial lifetime of the technology; specified in years. This is used as a basis for annualizing the investment costs of the technology.
Fixed Investment cost	CHF/m		0	The fixed investment costs of the technology per meter (not annualized), incurred in the specified amount if the technology is installed, regardless of the sizing.
Variable Investment Cost	CHF/kW/m		0	The variable investment costs of the technology (per kW and meter of installed capacity, not annualized)
Fixed O&M Cost	CHF/m/year or % of Total Investment Cost/m/year		0	The operation and maintenance costs of the technology per meter that are incurred as a fixed amount each year if the technology is installed
Variable O&M Cost	CHF/kW/m/year		0	The operation and maintenance costs of the technology (per kW per meter of installed capacity) that are incurred as variable amount each year depending on the installed capacity.

Environmental parameters
Fixed Embodied CO2	kg-CO2/m		0	The embodied CO2 of the technology (i.e. the CO2 emissions incurred in the course of the technology's production and installation)
Variable Embodied CO2	kg-CO2/kW/m		0	The embodied CO2 of the technology (i.e. the CO2 emissions incurred in the course of the technology's production and installation); expressed per kW per meter of installed capacity

Explanation of Network Link parameters

PARAMETER	UNITS	REQUIRED?	DEFAULT	EXPLANATION
Optimization Options
This Network Link must be installed			FALSE	The hubs in which the technology is forced to be installed

Technical parameters
Technology Capacity	Optimize / Specify Capacity		Optimize	Select whether to Optimize the capacity or specify the capacity manually (Specify Capacity)
Capacity	kW	Yes, if "Specify Capacity" is selected above		The pre-specified capacity of the technology; only visible if Specify Capacity is selected above. A non-zero value of this parameter does not force the installation of the technology. Rather, it only specifies that, if the technology is installed, this is the capacity which it must assume.
Node 1		Yes		The hub which constitutes one of the extremes of the link.
Node 2		Yes		The other hub which constitutes the other extreme of the link.
Network Technology		Yes		The network technology which can be potentially installed in this link geometry
Length	m	Yes		Total length in meters of the network link
Uni-Directional Flow?		Yes	No	Whether 2 directions or just 1 can be chosen by the optimization for this link. The Sympheny engine will choose whether 1 à 2 OR 2 à 1 is the optimal direction of the energy flow