Even more performance enhancements in BID3 2021.2.0!
Our second 2021 release focuses on performance improvements in Auto Build, hydro cascading, nodal and co-products.
Other new developments include a new dual-fuel option for thermal plants, and the ability to link renewable and storage plants together. We have also introduced the ability for users to set their own bespoke solver parameters so that they can be tailored to a particular problem.
We’d encourage our clients to read the complete release note (what better way to pass an evening?) but for those unlucky enough not to have a BID3 description we’ll tempt you with the following morsels.
- Co-product pipes and storage investment options are now available in Auto Build. Sounds complex, but it really means that the model will now build hydrogen pipelines and hydrogen storage automatically and optimially within the Auto Build. This is great for exploring what a future renewable and hydrogen system might look like!
- For nodal modelling, we got a bit frustrated by the runtimes with bigger problems, so we’ve spent a bunch of time and effort rewriting the constraints to improve performance. In addition we added a whole new approach: ‘post optimisation DC load flow’’. A bit of a mouthful, but it allows you to do a simulation assuming lines are unconstrained, and find out how much individual lines are overloaded by.
- Our cascading functionality has also had an upgrade, so that cascading can now be used ‘fully optimised’ hydro mode. Previously, you could only use the cascading alongside water values (which is how we envisaged it being used, mainly in the Nordics and Brazil), but we’ve added the ability to do this in fully optimised mode for markets where there is quite a bit of hydro and long cascades (e.g. in Spain).
- Hybrid RES and storage. Imagine you’re thinking of building a solar plant with some onsite battery storage to soak up the excess midday sun. You can now build this directly in the model without any pesky workarounds linking together any size of battery and solar farm, and constraining their grid export. It’s not just mad dogs, solar and batteries that go out in the mid-day sun *
- Dual fuel thermal plants allows you to have both a primary fuel and a secondary fuel, and decide how the model switches between the two: either cofiring (both together), choosing the cheapest fuel each day, or choosing the cheapest fuel (but with limits on how much is available).
* If you’re keen on 1930s English music hall, this will be a funny reference. For everyone else, there’s a chance to Google the genius of Noel Coward.
