Data used by the model

This section explains in detail how PyPSA-RSA downloads and retrieves the various data types.

Preparing the power grid layout and climatic inputs are two essential aspects of the energy modelling workflow. In addition, PyPSA-RSA utilises several environmental, economic, and technological datasets.

1. Grid topology data

PyPSA-RSA allows the user to select the desired spatial resolution; shape files are presently available for South Africa, the nine provinces of South Africa, the ten supply areas outlined in the Eskom TDP, and the twenty-seven Eskom supply regions. These shape files may be found in GoogleDrive, where regions represents the desired spatial resolution, such as 10-supply.

The grid topology model is constructed using the build_topology rule. When the rule build_topology is executed, the buses and lines are computed and saved as geojson files in the folders resources/buses-{scenario}.geojson and resources/lines-{scenario}.geojson for each region.

2. Climate data

The climate data processing is provided by the atlite package and GWA. The weather data from ERA5 reanalysis weather dataset or SARAH-2. The atlite modules and the weather data are used to build cutouts and generate the time series of renewable potential build in prepare_extendable_wind.ipynb CHECK. This also accounts for the wind speed at 100m using GWA data which is provided in GoogleDrive.

_images/buils_renewables_profiles_cap_factor1.png

3. General data

There are a number datasets applied in PyPSA-RSA to build a realistic model. Original datasets are stored in the GoogleDrive folder. Currently we are using the following resources:

Environmental

  • SAPAD The South African Protected Areas Database (SAPAD)

img/copernicus.png

It is used in the preparing_availability_matrix.ipynb to quantify what are the land regions available for the installation of renewable resources, e.g. renewable assets may not be installed on arable land.

  • SACAD The South African Conservation Areas Database (SACAD)

img/copernicus.png

It is used in the preparing_availability_matrix.ipynb rule to quantify what are the land regions available for the installation of renewable resources, e.g. renewable assets may not be installed on arable land.

  • REDZ: A dataset of the Renewable Energy Development Zones (REDZs) containing 8 priority areas for investment of wind and solar PV development available from the Google drive link

The dataset is used to restrict renewable energy expansion to the REDZs regions in preparing_availability_matrix.ipynb.

  • corridors: A dataset of REDZs Strategic Transmission Corridors containing 5 priority areas for the investement of new electricity transmission and distribution infrustructure available from the Google drive link.

The dataset is used to restrict renewable energy expansion to the strategic transmission corridors regions in the rule preparing_availability_matrix.ipynb.

img/gebco_2021_grid_image.jpg

  • SAlandcover A dataset of the South African National Land Cover Google drive link

Economical

  • model_file_costs.csv which contains the default costs of the technologies along with their typical lifetime and efficiency values. The dataset is intended to give a starting point for running the model while user specific adjustments may be made.

  • ZAF15adjv4.tif raster dataset of the population located in Google drive link

4. Pre-calculated datasets

There are some datasets which were prepared to ensure smooth run of the model. However, they may (and in some cases) must be replaced by custom ones.

Currently the pre-build file is calculated for South Africa using the SAPAD and SACAD datasets.

  • SystemEnergy2009_22.csv is the electricity demand profile provided from the Eskom data portal. This pre-downloaded data on electricity demand is placed in Google drive.

  • eskom_pu_profiles.csv is Eskom hourly pu profiles for all wind and solar generators in South Africa. This data is located in data/eskom_pu_profiles.csv

  • Eskom EAF data.xlsx is daily Energy Availability Factor of Eskom plants. It is the difference between the maximum availability and all unavailabilities (PCLF, UCLF & OCLF) expressed as a percentage. This excludes renewables, IPPs and international imports. This pre-downloaded data is placed in data/Eskom EAF data.xlsx