Running an OnSSET scenario

After GIS-extraction and calibration of the input file, it is finally time to run a scenario using OnSSET to identify the least-cost technologies to meet access targets. This is done using the Jupyter Notebook called 2. OnSSET_Scenario.ipynb which is found among the main OnSSET codes.

To launch the Jupyter Notebook, open Anaconda Prompt and run:

cd PATH
conda activate onsset_env
jupyter notebook

Replace PATH with the location where you downloaded and extracted the main OnSSET code.

First, open the 1. OnSSET_Calibration notebook.

This notebook runs the electrification scenarios and determines the least-cost technology for each settlement.

Run all cells from top to bottom.

Start by running the first cells to import the required packages.

Step 1 – GIS Data Selection

Select the following files when prompted.

  • First: OnSSET_InputFile_Calibrated.csv - The calibrated input csv file created in the previous step

  • Then: bj-2-pv.csv (the first two letters are the country code, so the exact name depends on your country) - This file contains hourly solar resource values and can be downloaded from Energydata.info for 58 countries around the globe. These files have been created using data from Renewables.ninja.

  • Then: bj-2-wind.csv (the first two letters are the country code, so the exact name depends on your country) - This file contains hourly wind resource values and can be downloaded from Energydata.info for 58 countries around the globe. These files have been created using data from Renewables.ninja.

  • Finally: Choose a GIS-dataset of existing and planned (if there are lines that are already commissioned/under construction and should be included in the analysis) MV lines

_images/scenario_gis_data_selection.png

Step 2 – Modelling Period and Electrification Rate

In this section, you define the end year of the analysis and the target national electrification rate by that year.

Step 3 – Country-Specific Data

In this step, you can define country-specific demographic and techno-economic parameters. Check the units closely to ensure you enter data in the correct format.

For an overview of the key techno-economic parameters, please refer to the Excel-file called OnSSET v.2.0 – non-GIS modelling parameters which is included with the OnSSET code.

Step 4 – Run the Scenario

This step runs the electrification model and calculates the least-cost technology for every settlement.

Important

This process may take several minutes to hours depending on:

  • Country size

  • Computer performance

  • Dataset resolution

Step 5 – Results, Summaries, and Visualization

This section displays:

  • Summary tables

  • Charts

  • A technology map showing electrification solutions

_images/scenario_results_example.png

Example visualization of scenario results.

Picture source: OnSSET teaching material https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.457403 (CC-BY 4.0)

Step 6 – Export Results

  1. Name your scenario in the first cell.

  2. Run the next cell.

  3. Click OK in the pop-up window.

  4. Select the folder where results should be saved.

Run the final two cells to export:

  • Settlement-level results

  • National summary results

The file named Results can be used to generate maps in QGIS, as described in the next section.