Quick start

NEMO includes a number of features and options, so it's worth familiarizing yourself with the documentation before starting to work with it. To set up NEMO and run it through a first test, however, you can follow these steps.

1. Install NEMO using the instructions in Installation.

2. Try calculating a test scenario distributed with the tool. This scenario simulates a simple energy system with electricity demand, generation, and storage. Open a Julia prompt and enter the following commands:

   julia> using NemoMod, JuMP, Cbc
   
   julia> dbpath = normpath(joinpath(pathof(NemoMod), "..", "..", "test", "storage_test.sqlite"))
   
   julia> chmod(dbpath, 0o777)
   
   julia> NemoMod.calculatescenario(dbpath; jumpmodel=Model(solver=CbcSolver()))

   The first command activates the Julia packages for NEMO, JuMP (an optimization toolkit that NEMO uses), and Cbc (a solver). The next two commands locate the test scenario's database and ensure this file is writable (so NEMO can save scenario results). The final command calculates the scenario. You should see output like the following:

   2020-09-Sep 15:12:17.164 Started scenario calculation.
   2020-09-Sep 15:12:17.165 Validated run-time arguments.
   2020-09-Sep 15:12:17.226 0 specified for numprocs argument. Using 8 processes for parallelized operations.
   2020-09-Sep 15:13:15.411 Loaded NEMO on parallel processes 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8.
   2020-09-Sep 15:13:15.411 Connected to scenario database. Path = c:/temp/storage_test.sqlite.
   2020-09-Sep 15:13:16.035 Dropped pre-existing result tables from database.
   2020-09-Sep 15:13:16.037 Verified that transmission modeling is not enabled.
   2020-09-Sep 15:13:16.299 Created parameter views and indices.
   2020-09-Sep 15:13:16.321 Created temporary tables.
   2020-09-Sep 15:13:18.459 Executed core database queries.
   2020-09-Sep 15:13:18.613 Defined dimensions.
   2020-09-Sep 15:13:18.626 Defined demand variables.
   2020-09-Sep 15:13:18.628 Defined storage variables.
   2020-09-Sep 15:13:18.629 Defined capacity variables.
   2020-09-Sep 15:13:18.873 Defined activity variables.
   2020-09-Sep 15:13:18.874 Defined costing variables.
   2020-09-Sep 15:13:18.875 Defined reserve margin variables.
   2020-09-Sep 15:13:18.882 Defined renewable energy target variables.
   2020-09-Sep 15:13:18.883 Defined emissions variables.
   2020-09-Sep 15:13:18.883 Defined combined nodal and non-nodal variables.
   2020-09-Sep 15:13:18.884 Finished defining model variables.
   2020-09-Sep 15:13:18.908 Created constraint CAa1_TotalNewCapacity.
   2020-09-Sep 15:13:18.920 Created constraint CAa2_TotalAnnualCapacity.
   2020-09-Sep 15:13:18.931 Created constraint CAa3_TotalActivityOfEachTechnology.
   2020-09-Sep 15:13:18.964 Created constraint CAa4_Constraint_Capacity.
   2020-09-Sep 15:13:18.978 Created constraint EBa2_RateOfFuelProduction2.
   2020-09-Sep 15:13:19.003 Created constraint EBa3_RateOfFuelProduction3.
   2020-09-Sep 15:13:19.006 Created constraint VRateOfProduction1.
   2020-09-Sep 15:13:19.012 Created constraint EBa5_RateOfFuelUse2.
   2020-09-Sep 15:13:19.022 Created constraint EBa6_RateOfFuelUse3.
   2020-09-Sep 15:13:19.032 Created constraint VRateOfUse1.
   2020-09-Sep 15:13:19.052 Created constraint EBa7_EnergyBalanceEachTS1.
   2020-09-Sep 15:13:19.056 Created constraint EBa8_EnergyBalanceEachTS2.
   2020-09-Sep 15:13:19.065 Created constraint EBa9_EnergyBalanceEachTS3.
   2020-09-Sep 15:13:19.073 Created constraint EBa10_EnergyBalanceEachTS4.
   2020-09-Sep 15:13:19.092 Created constraint EBa11_EnergyBalanceEachTS5.
   2020-09-Sep 15:13:19.098 Created constraint EBb0_EnergyBalanceEachYear.
   2020-09-Sep 15:13:19.100 Created constraint EBb1_EnergyBalanceEachYear.
   2020-09-Sep 15:13:19.101 Created constraint EBb2_EnergyBalanceEachYear.
   2020-09-Sep 15:13:19.103 Created constraint EBb3_EnergyBalanceEachYear.
   2020-09-Sep 15:13:19.114 Created constraint EBb5_EnergyBalanceEachYear.
   2020-09-Sep 15:13:19.150 Created constraint Acc3_AverageAnnualRateOfActivity.
   2020-09-Sep 15:13:19.157 Created constraint NS1_RateOfStorageCharge.
   2020-09-Sep 15:13:19.163 Created constraint NS2_RateOfStorageDischarge.
   2020-09-Sep 15:13:19.350 Created constraint NS3_StorageLevelTsGroup1Start.
   2020-09-Sep 15:13:19.350 Created constraint NS4_StorageLevelTsGroup2Start.
   2020-09-Sep 15:13:19.351 Created constraint NS5_StorageLevelTimesliceEnd.
   2020-09-Sep 15:13:19.353 Created constraint NS6_StorageLevelTsGroup2End.
   2020-09-Sep 15:13:19.362 Created constraint NS7_StorageLevelTsGroup1End.
   2020-09-Sep 15:13:19.409 Created constraint NS8_StorageLevelYearEnd.
   2020-09-Sep 15:13:19.410 Created constraint SI1_StorageUpperLimit.
   2020-09-Sep 15:13:19.410 Created constraint SI2_StorageLowerLimit.
   2020-09-Sep 15:13:19.411 Created constraint SI3_TotalNewStorage.
   2020-09-Sep 15:13:19.415 Created constraint NS9a_StorageLevelTsLowerLimit.
   2020-09-Sep 15:13:19.416 Created constraint NS9b_StorageLevelTsUpperLimit.
   2020-09-Sep 15:13:19.419 Created constraint NS10_StorageChargeLimit.
   2020-09-Sep 15:13:19.423 Created constraint NS11_StorageDischargeLimit.
   2020-09-Sep 15:13:19.433 Created constraint NS12a_StorageLevelTsGroup2LowerLimit.
   2020-09-Sep 15:13:19.433 Created constraint NS12b_StorageLevelTsGroup2UpperLimit.
   2020-09-Sep 15:13:19.434 Created constraint NS13a_StorageLevelTsGroup1LowerLimit.
   2020-09-Sep 15:13:19.434 Created constraint NS13b_StorageLevelTsGroup1UpperLimit.
   2020-09-Sep 15:13:19.445 Created constraint NS18_FullLoadHours.
   2020-09-Sep 15:13:19.446 Created constraint SI4_UndiscountedCapitalInvestmentStorage.
   2020-09-Sep 15:13:19.454 Created constraint SI5_DiscountingCapitalInvestmentStorage.
   2020-09-Sep 15:13:19.539 Created constraint SI8_SalvageValueStorageAtEndOfPeriod3.
   2020-09-Sep 15:13:19.541 Created constraint SI9_SalvageValueStorageDiscountedToStartYear.
   2020-09-Sep 15:13:19.541 Created constraint SI10_TotalDiscountedCostByStorage.
   2020-09-Sep 15:13:19.542 Created constraint CC1_UndiscountedCapitalInvestment.
   2020-09-Sep 15:13:19.546 Created constraint CC2_DiscountingCapitalInvestment.
   2020-09-Sep 15:13:19.605 Created constraint SV1_SalvageValueAtEndOfPeriod1.
   2020-09-Sep 15:13:19.608 Created constraint SV4_SalvageValueDiscountedToStartYear.
   2020-09-Sep 15:13:19.609 Created constraint OC1_OperatingCostsVariable.
   2020-09-Sep 15:13:19.610 Created constraint OC2_OperatingCostsFixedAnnual.
   2020-09-Sep 15:13:19.611 Created constraint OC3_OperatingCostsTotalAnnual.
   2020-09-Sep 15:13:19.613 Created constraint OC4_DiscountedOperatingCostsTotalAnnual.
   2020-09-Sep 15:13:19.614 Created constraint TDC1_TotalDiscountedCostByTechnology.
   2020-09-Sep 15:13:19.614 Created constraint TDC2_TotalDiscountedCost.
   2020-09-Sep 15:13:19.615 Created constraint TCC1_TotalAnnualMaxCapacityConstraint.
   2020-09-Sep 15:13:19.616 Created constraint NCC1_TotalAnnualMaxNewCapacityConstraint.
   2020-09-Sep 15:13:19.622 Created constraint RM1_ReserveMargin_TechnologiesIncluded_In_Activity_Units.
   2020-09-Sep 15:13:19.637 Created constraint RM2_ReserveMargin_FuelsIncluded.
   2020-09-Sep 15:13:19.648 Created constraint RM3_ReserveMargin_Constraint.
   2020-09-Sep 15:13:19.657 Created constraint RE1_FuelProductionByTechnologyAnnual.
   2020-09-Sep 15:13:19.664 Created constraint FuelUseByTechnologyAnnual.
   2020-09-Sep 15:13:19.669 Created constraint E5_DiscountedEmissionsPenaltyByTechnology.
   2020-09-Sep 15:13:19.673 Defined model objective.
   2020-09-Sep 15:13:27.161 Solved model. Solver status = Optimal.
   2020-09-Sep 15:13:27.368 Saved results for vdemandnn to database.
   2020-09-Sep 15:13:27.501 Saved results for vnewcapacity to database.
   2020-09-Sep 15:13:27.517 Saved results for vtotalcapacityannual to database.
   2020-09-Sep 15:13:27.897 Saved results for vproductionbytechnologyannual to database.
   2020-09-Sep 15:13:27.921 Saved results for vproductionnn to database.
   2020-09-Sep 15:13:27.942 Saved results for vusebytechnologyannual to database.
   2020-09-Sep 15:13:27.968 Saved results for vusenn to database.
   2020-09-Sep 15:13:28.091 Saved results for vtotaldiscountedcost to database.
   2020-09-Sep 15:13:28.091 Finished saving results to database.
   2020-09-Sep 15:13:28.107 Dropped temporary tables.
   2020-09-Sep 15:13:28.108 Finished scenario calculation.
   :Optimal

   Selected results are now saved in the database.

   Tip

   To change which results are saved and set other run-time options, see Calculating a scenario.

For a better understanding of what happens in scenario calculations - and guidance on building your own model - look through the rest of the documentation, particularly Model concept and the sections on Inputs and Outputs.