Optimization with PowerModels.jl

Installation

If you are not yet using Julia, install it. Note that you need a version that is supported PowerModels, PyCall and pyjulia for the interface to work. Currently, Julia 1.5 is the most recent version of Julia that supports all these packages.

Note

You don’t necessarily need a Julia IDE if you are using PowerModels through pandapower, but it might help for debugging to install an IDE such as Juno. Also, PyCharm has a Julia Plugin.

  1. Add the Julia binary folder (e.g. /Julia-1.5.0/bin) to the system variable PATH. Providing the path is correct, you can now enter the julia prompt by executing julia in your shell.

  2. The library PyCall allows to use Python from inside julia. By default, PyCall uses the Conda.jl package to install a Miniconda distribution private to Julia. To use an already installed Python distribution (e.g. Anaconda), set the PYTHON environment variable inside the Julia prompt to e.g.: ENV["PYTHON"]="C:\\Anaconda3\\python.exe".

  3. Access the package mode by typing ]. Now install the packages: add Ipopt PowerModels PyCall.

  4. Test your PowerModels installation by executing test PowerModels. Alternatively, you can call using Pkg and then Pkg.test("PowerModels") Then, test if calling Python from Julia works as described here.

Note

If you cannot plot using PyCall and PyPlot in Julia, see the workarounds offered here.

  1. To call Julia from Python, install the pyjulia package with pip install julia. Afterwards, test if everything works by importing PowerModels from Python with: from julia.PowerModels import run_ac_opf. This takes some time, since Python starts a julia instance in the background, but it if the import completes without error everything is configured correctly and you can now use PowerModels to optimize pandapower networks.

  2. Additional packages are required to use the pandapower - PowerModels.jl interface with all features like TNEP or OTS. Install the “JSON” and “JuMP” packages with, e.g., julia -e 'import Pkg; Pkg.add("JSON"); Pkg.add("JuMP"); and maybe also julia -e ‘import Pkg; Pkg.add(“Cbc”); Pkg.add(“Juniper”)’ to get the TNEP and OTS libraries. Alternatively, install these packages by entering ] inside the julia console and calling add JSON add JuMP

  3. You can then finally test if the pandapower - PowerModels.jl interface works by navigating to your local pandapower test folder pandapower/pandapower/test/opf folder and run python-jl test_powermodels.py. If everything works there should be no error.

Additional Solvers

Optional additional solvers, such as Gurobi are compatible to PowerModels.jl. To use these solvers, you first have to install the solver itself on your system and then the julia interface. Gurobi is very fast for linear problems such as the DC model and free for academic usage. Let’s do this step by step for Gurobi:

  1. Download and install from Gurobi download (you’ll need an account for this)

  2. Get your Gurobi license at Gurobi license and download it (remember where you stored it).

  3. Activate the license by calling grbgetkey YOUR_KEY as described on the Gurobi license page.

  4. Add some Gurobi paths and the license path to your local PATH environment variables. In linux you can just open your .bashrc file with, e.g., nano .bashrc in your home folder and add:

# gurobi
export GUROBI_HOME="/opt/gurobi_VERSION/linux64"
export PATH="${PATH}:${GUROBI_HOME}/bin"
export LD_LIBRARY_PATH="${LD_LIBRARY_PATH}:${GUROBI_HOME}/lib"
export GRB_LICENSE_FILE="/PATH_TO_YOUR_LICENSE_DIR/gurobi.lic"
  1. Install the julia - Gurobi interface with julia -e 'import Pkg; Pkg.add("Gurobi");'

  2. Build and test your Gurobi installation by calling julia and then import Pkg; Pkg.build("Gurobi"). This should compile without an error.

  3. Now, you can use Gurobi to solve your linear problems, e.g., the DC OPF, with runpm_dc_opf(net, pm_model="DCPPowerModel", pm_solver="gurobi")

Usage

The usage is explained in the PowerModels tutorial.

pandapower.runpm_ac_opf(net, pp_to_pm_callback=None, calculate_voltage_angles=True, trafo_model='t', delta=1e-08, trafo3w_losses='hv', check_connectivity=True, pm_model='ACPPowerModel', pm_solver='ipopt', correct_pm_network_data=True, pm_time_limits=None, pm_log_level=0, pm_file_path=None, delete_buffer_file=True, opf_flow_lim='S', **kwargs)

Runs a non-linear power system optimization using PowerModels.jl.

Flexibilities, constraints and cost parameters are defined in the pandapower element tables.

Flexibilities can be defined in net.sgen / net.gen /net.load net.sgen.controllable if a static generator is controllable. If False, the active and reactive power are assigned as in a normal power flow. If True, the following flexibilities apply:

  • net.sgen.min_p_mw / net.sgen.max_p_mw

  • net.sgen.min_q_mvar / net.sgen.max_q_mvar

  • net.load.min_p_mw / net.load.max_p_mw

  • net.load.min_q_mvar / net.load.max_q_mvar

  • net.gen.min_p_mw / net.gen.max_p_mw

  • net.gen.min_q_mvar / net.gen.max_q_mvar

  • net.ext_grid.min_p_mw / net.ext_grid.max_p_mw

  • net.ext_grid.min_q_mvar / net.ext_grid.max_q_mvar

  • net.dcline.min_q_to_mvar / net.dcline.max_q_to_mvar / net.dcline.min_q_from_mvar / net.dcline.max_q_from_mvar

Controllable loads behave just like controllable static generators. It must be stated if they are controllable. Otherwise, they are not respected as flexibilities. Dc lines are controllable per default

Network constraints can be defined for buses, lines and transformers the elements in the following columns:
  • net.bus.min_vm_pu / net.bus.max_vm_pu

  • net.line.max_loading_percent

  • net.trafo.max_loading_percent

  • net.trafo3w.max_loading_percent

How these costs are combined into a cost function depends on the cost_function parameter.

INPUT:

net - The pandapower format network

OPTIONAL:

pp_to_pm_callback (function, None) - callback function to add data to the PowerModels data structure

pm_model (str, “ACPPowerModel”) - model to use. Default is AC model

pm_solver (str, “ipopt”) - default solver to use. If ipopt is not available use Ipopt

correct_pm_network_data (bool, True) - checks if network data is correct. If not tries to correct it

pm_time_limits (Dict, None) - Time limits in seconds for power models interface. To be set as a dict like

{“pm_time_limit”: 300.}

pm_log_level (int, 0) - solver log level in power models

opf_flow_lim (str, “I”) - Quantity to limit for branch flow constraints, in line with matpower’s

“opf.flowlim” parameter

“S” - apparent power flow (limit in MVA), “I” - current magnitude (limit in MVA at 1 p.u. voltage)

delete_buffer_file (Bool, True) - If True, the .json file used by powermodels will be deleted after

optimization.

pm_file_path (str, None) - Specifiy the filename, under which the .json file for powermodels is stored. If

you want to keep the file after optimization, you should also set delete_buffer_file to False!

pandapower.runpm_dc_opf(net, pp_to_pm_callback=None, calculate_voltage_angles=True, trafo_model='t', delta=1e-08, trafo3w_losses='hv', check_connectivity=True, correct_pm_network_data=True, pm_model='DCPPowerModel', pm_solver='ipopt', pm_time_limits=None, pm_log_level=0, **kwargs)

Runs a linearized power system optimization using PowerModels.jl.

Flexibilities, constraints and cost parameters are defined in the pandapower element tables.

Flexibilities can be defined in net.sgen / net.gen /net.load net.sgen.controllable if a static generator is controllable. If False, the active and reactive power are assigned as in a normal power flow. If True, the following flexibilities apply:

  • net.sgen.min_p_mw / net.sgen.max_p_mw

  • net.sgen.min_q_mvar / net.sgen.max_q_mvar

  • net.load.min_p_mw / net.load.max_p_mw

  • net.load.min_q_mvar / net.load.max_q_mvar

  • net.gen.min_p_mw / net.gen.max_p_mw

  • net.gen.min_q_mvar / net.gen.max_q_mvar

  • net.ext_grid.min_p_mw / net.ext_grid.max_p_mw

  • net.ext_grid.min_q_mvar / net.ext_grid.max_q_mvar

  • net.dcline.min_q_to_mvar / net.dcline.max_q_to_mvar / net.dcline.min_q_from_mvar / net.dcline.max_q_from_mvar

Controllable loads behave just like controllable static generators. It must be stated if they are controllable. Otherwise, they are not respected as flexibilities. Dc lines are controllable per default

Network constraints can be defined for buses, lines and transformers the elements in the following columns:
  • net.bus.min_vm_pu / net.bus.max_vm_pu

  • net.line.max_loading_percent

  • net.trafo.max_loading_percent

  • net.trafo3w.max_loading_percent

How these costs are combined into a cost function depends on the cost_function parameter.

INPUT:

net - The pandapower format network

OPTIONAL:

pp_to_pm_callback (function, None) - callback function to add data to the PowerModels data structure

pm_model (str, “DCPPowerModel”) - model to use. Default is DC model

pm_solver (str, “ipopt”) - The “main” power models solver

correct_pm_network_data (bool, True) - checks if network data is correct. If not tries to correct it

pm_time_limits (Dict, None) - Time limits in seconds for power models interface. To be set as a dict like

{“pm_time_limit”: 300.}

pm_log_level (int, 0) - solver log level in power models

pandapower.runpm(net, julia_file=None, pp_to_pm_callback=None, calculate_voltage_angles=True, trafo_model='t', delta=1e-08, trafo3w_losses='hv', check_connectivity=True, correct_pm_network_data=True, pm_model='ACPPowerModel', pm_solver='ipopt', pm_mip_solver='cbc', pm_nl_solver='ipopt', pm_time_limits=None, pm_log_level=0, delete_buffer_file=True, pm_file_path=None, opf_flow_lim='S', **kwargs)

Runs a power system optimization using PowerModels.jl. with a custom julia file.

Flexibilities, constraints and cost parameters are defined in the pandapower element tables.

Flexibilities can be defined in net.sgen / net.gen /net.load net.sgen.controllable if a static generator is controllable. If False, the active and reactive power are assigned as in a normal power flow. If True, the following flexibilities apply:

  • net.sgen.min_p_mw / net.sgen.max_p_mw

  • net.sgen.min_q_mvar / net.sgen.max_q_mvar

  • net.load.min_p_mw / net.load.max_p_mw

  • net.load.min_q_mvar / net.load.max_q_mvar

  • net.gen.min_p_mw / net.gen.max_p_mw

  • net.gen.min_q_mvar / net.gen.max_q_mvar

  • net.ext_grid.min_p_mw / net.ext_grid.max_p_mw

  • net.ext_grid.min_q_mvar / net.ext_grid.max_q_mvar

  • net.dcline.min_q_to_mvar / net.dcline.max_q_to_mvar / net.dcline.min_q_from_mvar / net.dcline.max_q_from_mvar

Controllable loads behave just like controllable static generators. It must be stated if they are controllable. Otherwise, they are not respected as flexibilities. Dc lines are controllable per default

Network constraints can be defined for buses, lines and transformers the elements in the following columns:
  • net.bus.min_vm_pu / net.bus.max_vm_pu

  • net.line.max_loading_percent

  • net.trafo.max_loading_percent

  • net.trafo3w.max_loading_percent

How these costs are combined into a cost function depends on the cost_function parameter.

INPUT:

net - The pandapower format network

OPTIONAL:

julia_file (str, None) - path to a custom julia optimization file

pp_to_pm_callback (function, None) - callback function to add data to the PowerModels data structure

correct_pm_network_data (bool, True) - checks if network data is correct. If not tries to correct it

pm_model (str, “ACPPowerModel”) - The PowerModels.jl model to use

pm_solver (str, “ipopt”) - The “main” power models solver

pm_mip_solver (str, “cbc”) - The mixed integer solver (when “main” solver == juniper)

pm_nl_solver (str, “ipopt”) - The nonlinear solver (when “main” solver == juniper)

pm_time_limits (Dict, None) - Time limits in seconds for power models interface. To be set as a dict like

{“pm_time_limit”: 300., “pm_nl_time_limit”: 300., “pm_mip_time_limit”: 300.}

pm_log_level (int, 0) - solver log level in power models

delete_buffer_file (Bool, True) - If True, the .json file used by powermodels will be deleted after

optimization.

pm_file_path (str, None) - Specifiy the filename, under which the .json file for powermodels is stored. If

you want to keep the file after optimization, you should also set delete_buffer_file to False!

opf_flow_lim (str, “I”) - Quantity to limit for branch flow constraints, in line with matpower’s

“opf.flowlim” parameter

“S” - apparent power flow (limit in MVA), “I” - current magnitude (limit in MVA at 1 p.u. voltage)

The TNEP optimization is explained in the PowerModels TNEP tutorial. Additional packages including “juniper”

pandapower.runpm_tnep(net, pp_to_pm_callback=None, calculate_voltage_angles=True, trafo_model='t', delta=1e-08, trafo3w_losses='hv', check_connectivity=True, pm_model='DCPPowerModel', pm_solver=None, correct_pm_network_data=True, pm_nl_solver='ipopt', pm_mip_solver='cbc', pm_time_limits=None, pm_log_level=0, opf_flow_lim='S', **kwargs)

Runs a non-linear transmission network extension planning (tnep) optimization using PowerModels.jl.

OPTIONAL:

julia_file (str, None) - path to a custom julia optimization file

pp_to_pm_callback (function, None) - callback function to add data to the PowerModels data structure

correct_pm_network_data (bool, True) - checks if network data is correct. If not tries to correct it

pm_model (str, “ACPPowerModel”) - The PowerModels.jl model to use

pm_solver (str, “juniper”) - The “main” power models solver

pm_mip_solver (str, “cbc”) - The mixed integer solver (when “main” solver == juniper)

pm_nl_solver (str, “ipopt”) - The nonlinear solver (when “main” solver == juniper)

pm_time_limits (Dict, None) - Time limits in seconds for power models interface. To be set as a dict like

{“pm_time_limit”: 300., “pm_nl_time_limit”: 300., “pm_mip_time_limit”: 300.}

pm_log_level (int, 0) - solver log level in power models