Conversion Technology Parameters

Technology Name

The name of the technology; must be unique within scenario.

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Virtual Technology

A virtual technology is a technology used purely for accounting purposes in the optimization. It converts one energy carrier to another at zero cost and with 100% efficiency. If set to true, the efficiency, costs and other values will automatically be fixed to these values.

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Stages

List of stages where the installation and operation of this technology are permitted.

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Hubs

List of hubs where the installation and operation of this technology are permitted.

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Installation Options

These options are mutually exclusive, meaning only one can be selected at a time. Options: Can be installed, Must be installed, Must be installed in at least one hub.

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Can be installed

Primary Modes

At least one primary mode must be selected. The primary modes of a technology define which modes will be used to calculate costs that depend on capacity.

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Seasonal & Hourly Operation

Specifies the allowed seasons for the technology's operation. If hourly operation is selected, a profile can be uploaded with values ranging from 100% to 0%, indicating max allowable operation per hour as % of installed capacity.

% (profile values)

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Input Energy Carriers

The input energy carriers of a technology mode; multiple may be selected.

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Output Energy Carriers

The output energy carriers of a technology mode; multiple may be selected.

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Input EC Share

For multi-input technologies, defines the ratio between inputs, representing the share of energy contributed by each Energy Carrier (EC). Values are absolute and can exceed 100.

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Output EC Efficiency

The conversion efficiency for producing a specific energy carrier in a mode relative to total inputs.

%

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Primary Output

Each technology mode must have a primary output energy carrier defining the mode’s capacity for capacity-dependent cost calculations.

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Technology Capacity

Select whether to Optimize capacity or Specify Capacity manually.

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Capacity

The pre-defined fixed capacity of the technology mode determined by primary output energy carriers; visible only if Specify Capacity is selected.

kW

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Maximum Capacity

The maximum allowable capacity of the technology mode determined by primary output energy carriers; visible only if Optimize option is selected.

kW

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Minimum Capacity

The minimum allowable capacity of the technology mode determined by primary output energy carriers; visible only if Optimize option is selected.

kW

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Maximum Annual Output

The maximum allowable annual energy output of the technology mode determined by primary output energy carriers.

kWh/year

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Minimum Annual Output

The minimum allowable annual energy output of the technology mode determined by primary output energy carriers.

kWh/year

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Curtailment Limitation

The percentage of maximum power capacity that cannot be curtailed. For example, 100% means no curtailment possible.

%

100%

Peak Power

Ratio of maximum operational power to installed capacity, allowing operation at higher/lower power levels without changing installed capacity or costs.

kW_max/kW

1

Minimum Part Load

If greater than 0%, this indicates the technology’s lower operational capacity limit as a percentage of installed capacity.

%

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Minimum Up Time

Constraints the mode to remain operational for a minimum number of hours once started.

Hours

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Minimum Down Time

Constraints the mode to remain non-operational for a minimum number of hours once shut down.

Hours

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Simultaneous Operation

If False, prevents this mode from operating simultaneously with other modes within this technology.

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True

Lifetime

The technical lifetime of the technology in years, used for calculating replacement costs and salvage value.

Years

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Fixed Investment Cost

Fixed investment costs incurred upon installation regardless of size.

Currency

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Variable Investment Cost

Variable investment costs per kW of installed capacity, determined by primary output energy carriers of primary modes.

Currency/kW

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Fixed O&M Cost

Fixed operation and maintenance costs incurred annually.

Currency/year

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Variable O&M Cost

Variable operation and maintenance costs incurred annually, based on: percentage of total investment, per installed kW, or per total production.

%/year, Currency/kW/year, Currency/kWh/year

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Fixed Replacement Cost

Fixed replacement costs incurred when technology is replaced at end of technical lifetime, regardless of size.

Currency/year

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Variable Replacement Cost

Variable replacement costs incurred when technology is replaced at end of lifetime, based on percentage of total investment or per installed kW.

%, Currency/kW

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Fixed Salvage Value

Fixed salvage value incurred when technology is salvaged at end of an investment stage, regardless of size.

Currency/year

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Variable Salvage Value

Variable salvage value incurred when technology is salvaged at end of investment stage, based on percentage of total investment or per installed kW.

%, Currency/kW

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Fixed Embodied CO2

Fixed embodied CO2 emitted when technology is installed, regardless of size.

kg-CO2

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Variable Embodied CO2

Variable embodied CO2 emitted, based on installed kW or total production.

kg-CO2/kW, kg-CO2/kWh/year

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Variable Captured CO2

CO2 captured during operation expressed per kWh of total input energy carrier of primary modes.

kg-CO2/kWh/year

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