Operation of the micro-grid trading simulator

1. First the user has to copy a text file (should be named as mg1.txt) in the program
folder. This text file contains the hourly generation/demand data of a microgrid (tabseparated
values) for one day (i.e. 24 time-steps). Units are assumed as kWh. The data
should be in a format like:
80.00 23.00 82.00 22.00 80.00 23.00 81.00 24.00
As an alternate option, the user can simply edit the already available mg1.txt file in
the program folder with its own microgrid data.

2. The data is stored in an array ‘mg[0] [48]’.

3. The user is asked for required number of dummy microgrids, say N. on the basis of
user input, the program generates N number of array from mg[1] [48], mg[2] [48],…
mg[N] [48]. At this moment, program is designed so it could generate up to 1000
microgrids. With little modification in the program, it could generate more.

4. The user is prompted for variability in size of dummy microgrids from the given
microgrid: (1-low, 2-medium, 3-high)
- If ‘low’: the program generates a random number Vs. (Vs = 0.5~1.5)
- If ‘medium’: the program generates a random number Vs (Vs = 0.3~3.0)
- If ‘high’: the program generates a random number Vs (Vs = 0.1~10.0)

5. The user is asked if the impact of equipment failure is to be considered: (yes/no)
- If ‘yes’: the program generates a number ‘eff’ i.e. either ‘0’ or ‘1’. (eff = 0.0 or
eff = 1.0).. The Code has been modified in a way so it does not generate ‘0’
very often.
- If ‘no’: the program always takes (eff = 1.0)

6. The user is asked if the intermittence of renewable energy sources is to be
considered: (yes/no)
- If ‘yes’: the program generates a random number ‘ref’. (ref = 0.7~1.0)
- If ‘no’: the program always takes (ref = 1.0)

7. The user is asked for the national grid electricity price in pence/kWh. It is given the
name ‘ngsp’.
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8. The user is asked for the microgrid electricity price in pence/kWh. It is given the
name ‘mgsp’.

9. The user is asked if the day/night price plan is to be considered (yes/no). The
program folder contains two more files, dnp0.txt and dnp1.txt. These correspond to
day/night price plans.
- If ‘yes’: the program makes an array ‘dnp[24]’ taking input from dnp1.txt.
- If ‘no’: the program makes an array ‘dnp[24]’ taking input from dnp0.txt.

10. Once the program has taken the required data from the user, it will generate values
for each dummy microgrid in the mg[N][48] array in the following manner:
mg[N][0]=mg[0][0] x vs x eff x ref
mg[N][2]=mg[0][2] x vs x eff x ref
mg[N][46]=mg[0][46] x vs x eff x ref
Supply data of dummy grids
mg[N][1]=mg[0][1] x vs
mg[N][3]=mg[0][3] x vs
Mg[N][47]=mgone[47] x vs
Demand data of dummy grids

11. Now after all dummy microgrid arrays have been generated, a two dimensional
array is generated which is trade[gn][gh], where gn corresponds to grid number and
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gh corresponds to hour of the day. It is calculated by taking the difference of demand
and supply in each hour in a grid.
trade [gn][gh] = (mg[gn][(gh*2)-2])-(mg[gn][(gh*2)-1])

12. If ‘trade [gn][gh]>0’, its value is added in the available electricity pool (exp)
whose initial value is ‘0.0’ in every hour.

13. A random number ‘traderand’ is generated and if (trade[traderand][gh])<0), then
the randomly selected grid’s demand shall be met from the pool. If the pool can not
satisfy its demand, then its demand will be met from the national grid.