Simulation
Welcome to SEN's renewable energy conceptual simulation of Western Australia’s South-West Interconnected System (SWIS). WA's renewable energy resources could provide many times the amount of fossil-fuelled energy currently used in the state. SEN’s computer simulation models the SWIS and allows you to create, cost and evaluate scenarios for supplying our electricity using a mixture of renewable energy sources.
By placing virtual renewable energy plants around WA, you will be able to determine the optimal locations to access renewable energy sources, minimise grid connection costs and meet the varying demand on the SWIS, while achieving the best efficiency, cost effectiveness, energy security, job creation and carbon reduction for Southern WA.
The interface to the simulation is a little complicated so we have developed a user guide to help you. Scroll down to view the user guide below. (We are currently developing an interactive user guide, which will be available shortly.) Once you have read the user guide, click on the Conceptual Simulation button below to launch the simulation.
Please Note: We recommend that you use Mozilla Firefox or Safari web browser to run the simulation to ensure it operates reasonably quickly.
SEN's Conceptual Simulation: A User Guide
Jump to a section:
- Scenarios
- Full Summary
- Seasons
- Grid Statistics
- Power Station Statistics
- Change Parameters
- Concept
- Feedback
The Main Screen
Load Demand Graph
The graph on the right hand side of the simulation, as pictured here, represents the average load demand on the SWIS for each season. The light blue shaded area at the bottom of the graph represents the current renewable energy that contributes to the SWIS. This is made up mostly of wind from the Emu Downs and Albany Wind Farms, also identified on the map of Western Australia.
By using the buttons above the graph, you can switch between seasons to see the difference in average load demand through the year. Note that as you begin to construct your scenario, the load demand graph will update to reflect the new renewable energy sources inputting into the grid, showing how they might displace fossil-fuel generated electricity.
Meteorological Chart
The meteorological chart in the bottom right-hand corner of the simulation, as pictured here, displays the average solar, wind and wave energy resource profile for each season. When you click on the map of Western Australia on the land area, the average solar, wind and geothermal energy resource for that location is displayed here. Notice how it changes if you click in different places. Likewise, when you click in the ocean the average significant wave height for the area is also displayed here, although we are currently using randomised data for this section. Switch between seasons by using the buttons above the two graphs.
Interactive Map of WA
The interactive map of Western Australia is where you will build your scenario of an energy mix for the SWIS. The white lines represent the main skeleton of the existing electricity grid infrastructure of the SWIS. As you build your scenario, the simulation adds additional infrastructure to connect the new generation plants to the grid. You will also notice the existing wind farms shown as light blue dots, corresponding to the colour of the wind farm node.
The arrows at the bottom of the map allow you to scroll up to northern regions, although the simulation focuses only on the SWIS in WA. You can also use the Zoom + and Zoom - buttons to scale closer and further on the map. If you would like to view the map from a different angle above the horizon, click the up or down arrows. You can also rotate the map to view from the North or other directions.
When you click on the ocean, the typical significant wave height data will display in the meteorological chart in the bottom right-hand corner of the screen. Likewise, when you click on different locations on land you will see the average solar and wind conditions for that area. Underlying the map are the renewable energy resource ‘contours’ which contain this information.
Adding Renewable Power
On the left-hand side of the screen, there are a number of different Renewable Energy types available to build into your scenario. Clicking on one of these energy types will take you to another screen, in which you can identify where in WA you would like to install the energy plant. Please note that it may take a few seconds to load once you have clicked on the energy type, especially if you are using Internet Explorer.
The Energy Subscreens
Wind Node
You will notice the different coloured wind resource contours on the map indicating where in Western Australia the higher wind resource is located. The average wind speed is shown as ‘greater than x metres per second’. As you can imagine, closer to the coast provides higher winds, so placing the new wind farm in the dark blue section will increase its output.
Note that you can change which type of renewable energy you would like to install in your scenario from here by clicking on the appropriate renewable plant node at the bottom left of the screen.
When you click on the map, you will be taken to a new screen in which you can configure your new wind farm.
You now need to determine what size, in mega watts, you want your new wind farm to be. Depending on the value you enter for the size, the simulation will update after a couple of seconds to represent, for example, the number of turbines needed, the capital expenditure, the estimated performance values, the cost of any upgrade or new grid infrastructure required and more. Note that the further away from the existing SWIS grid infrastructure (the white lines), the more the upgrade or new SWIS grid cost will be for your new power plant.
Once you click on the apply button the load demand graph will be updated to demonstrate how your new power plant contributes to meeting the load demand for the SWIS.
Wave Node
When locating a wave generator, you must place it within the accessible part of the ocean in relation to the coast i.e. it's no use building one in the middle of the Indian Ocean. You also can't build a wave generator on land, not even at Wave Rock!
The simulation will only allow you to place a Wave Generator in the ocean, in the distance that is feasible for the technology, based on CETO, to work. Areas of suitably high wave resources are indicated along the coastline by a light blue band. Notice that the entire coastline of southwest Australia well endowed with wave energy.
Once you have chosen a location for your new wave generator a new screen will appear requiring you to choose parameters for the size, in megawatts (MW), that you intend to build. The accounting summary and performance estimates will update based on the value you enter for the size.
Other Energy Nodes
The other energy subscreens work in much the same way as Wind and Wave. More specific information on these sections will be posted here shortly.
Storage Node
Clicking the energy storage node brings up the window with a brief description of some of the types of energy storage available and being developed. Each type of energy storage has different capabilities such as speed of response, energy density, cost, lifespan, and other. At this stage in the development of the simulation, this element is preliminary, but does allow for some estimation of the contribution of energy storage to the new energy system.
The energy storage and grid-stabilisation capabilities of a fleet of electric vehicles (EVs) on charge is significant and offers an excellent synergy between stationary and transport energy. EVs and renewable energy enhance each other’s roles and with the use of smart-grid technology allow variations in energy demand and supply to be better managed by providing control over each. This EV and grid interaction is known as vehicle-to-grid (V2G).
Companies such as Duke Energy in the US are developing pumped-air storage to complement their wind farm energy.
For more information on this, see the Energy Storage section of our website.
Note that this node does not include thermal energy storage as this is included under solar thermal energy plants node.
Energy Efficiency Node
The cheapest and quickest way we can reduce our energy costs and consumption is to reduce waste by being aware of and making simple behavioural changes, which often do not affect our quality of life. Many savings can be achieved by simply turning off unnecessary appliances, lights, closing/opening doors and windows to heat/cool the house, and many others. Secondly we can install and use higher efficiency electrical appliances, lights, heating and cooling. While some of these may seem more expensive, often the cost of electricity is many times more than the cost of the device, so a small increase in up-front cost can save more over the life of the product.
It is commonly estimated that 20-30% energy savings can be achieved by waste reduction and efficiency gains. The simulation page on energy efficiency is in its infancy and requires further detail, however, it provides a simple method to illustrate how reduced energy demand can help reduce costs and impacts of additional energy generation and infrastructure, and compare this with the initial costs of implementing more efficient devices. There is the additional benefit of reduced greenhouse gas emissions.
Building a Scenario
As you create renewable energy power plants within the simulation, you begin to build your own energy mix scenario for Western Australia. When you have completed adding a renewable energy generator and determining its size, you will return to the home page where the map of WA will have the new generator added, including infrastructure to connect it to the SWIS, and the graph of the load demand on the SWIS will now be populated with the additional renewable energy.
You will also get a running accounting summary that updates with each change you make to the SWIS so you can see what efficiencies you can achieve, how many jobs will be created, the amount of investment that is required and more.
One important consideration is the overall cost of your new energy system, and the ‘levelised’ cost of the electricity. Levelised cost is essentially the sum of the capital (upfront) costs of building the power plant (or system) plus the operating costs over the life of the plant, divided by the total amount of electrical energy produced over its life. Our present-day levelised cost of electricity generation in WA, using mostly coal and gas, is approximately 5 to 6 cents per kWhr and rising rapidly to reflect the true cost of generation. However, consumers commonly pay a retail price of about 16 cents per kWhr, which includes transmission costs and some profit. It is useful to note that the generation cost is only about 30-40% of the total electricity retail price, so a doubling of generation cost does not double the retail price.
Other Functions
Scenarios
By clicking on the drop-down menu and selecting an option from the list, you can access data from a range of pre-set scenarios we have built into the system. These scenarios have been selected to demonstrate various visions for Western Australia’s energy mix, such as a low estimated levelised cost per kilowatt, a large reduction in carbon emissions, or greater energy efficiency.
There is an option to save your scenario, enabling you to create various different scenarios for comparison. Click the ‘Add to List’ button to save your scenario as the next item in the scenario list. To begin a new scenario, choose ‘Present Day’ from the drop down list.
In future development of the simulation we hope to be able to allow scenarios to be saved and exported for future reference. At this stage a scenario you create is only saved in the list for the duration of your session. To save a copy of your scenario you may wish to take a few images of your screen by using the Print Screen button on a Windows computer or Shift+Command+4 on a Mac.
Full Summary
In the summary section you can view and evaluate the inputs and outputs of your scenario, including information on the type of investment needed, jobs created, unit costs and more. You can also click on the Compare Scenarios button to compare your scenario to the present day as well as the pre-set scenarios built into the simulation.
Seasons
Use the Last Season and Next Season buttons to switch the season view for the SWIS load demand graph and the meteorological chart.
Grid Statistics
The Grid Statistics button takes you to a summary of the transmission lines of the SWIS connecting all power stations, including existing fossil fuel ones.
This enables you to consider a scenario for phasing out fossil fuel power and what renewable energy type and size may be suitable to use existing transmission lines, saving costs.
Using the left and right arrow buttons at the bottom of the table enables you to scroll through the scenarios.
Power Station Statistics
The Power Station Statistics button takes you to a summary of the power stations and the accounting summary details for each. This enables more detailed review of the summary of each scenario, providing a station by station summary.
Using the left and right arrow buttons at the bottom of the table enables you to scroll through the scenarios. Each renewable energy power station, including the existing Wind stations, are coloured in the colour that corresponds with that energy node.
Change Parameters
This conceptual simulation has been built on data that was the best available to us at the time. To allow currency and flexibility, should new or differing information be available, you are able to change the parameters that feed into the modelling used in the calculations.
By simply changing the available fields, you can update the parameter to whatever you think it should be. Clicking Apply will take you back to the simulation home page, with the Summary accounting updated calculating with the new information.
If you wish to return to the pre-set parameters, you can click Default on each page as applicable. Each of the parameter pages — General, Grid, Capital Costs etc. — has a References button that identifies the source of the data used for the modelling. In our research objective we aim to maintain current information and knowledge on latest technical, economic and regulatory areas to ensure comprehensive data for education, modelling and promotion.
If you have information you would be happy to provide to SEN, please Contact Us.
Concept
We describe the simulation as conceptual at this stage, because it currently uses average data rather than real-time or historical data and it needs to be subjected to independent verification.
In future, we look forward to enhancing the simulation so that the energy output from the renewable technologies is calculated from real-time and/or historical meteorological data for each location. These energy supplies will be integrated into the SWIS grid and compared against the actual grid demand at the same time. This will provide a vision as to what WA’s renewable energy future could be, given suitable regulatory and other conditions.
Contact Us
Feedback and questions
Feedback and questions are welcome via our contact page
If you are interested in the simulation, and what SEN are achieving, we would love to hear from you. Contact us or complete our membership form today!
