Output File Schemas¶

PowerGenome generates a folder of CSV files for each scenario/year case. These files conform to the GenX input format.

v6 vs legacy format

The output structure differs between GenX v6+ and the legacy format. Set genx_v6: true in your settings to use the v6 layout (default). The legacy format uses Generators_data.csv and Load_data.csv instead of separate resource-type files.

Folder layout¶

results/case_2030/
├── Demand_data.csv                          # Hourly or representative-period load
├── Fuels_data.csv                           # Fuel prices by time period
├── Generators_variability.csv               # Capacity-factor profiles
├── Network.csv                              # Transmission topology and limits
├── Period_map.csv                           # Maps representative periods to full year
├── Representative_Period.csv                # Weight of each representative period
├── Operational_reserves.csv                 # Reserve requirement parameters
│
├── resources/                               # One file per resource type
│   ├── Thermal.csv
│   ├── Vre.csv
│   ├── Storage.csv
│   ├── Must_run.csv
│   ├── Flex_demand.csv
│   ├── Hydro.csv
│   ├── Resource_energy_share_requirement.csv
│   ├── Resource_capacity_reserve_margin.csv
│   ├── Resource_minimum_capacity_requirement.csv
│   └── Resource_maximum_capacity_requirement.csv
│
├── Energy_share_requirement.csv             # RPS/CES zone-level targets
├── Capacity_reserve_margin.csv             # Planning reserve requirements
├── CO2_cap.csv                             # Emission cap constraints
├── Minimum_capacity_requirement.csv        # Minimum build mandates
└── Maximum_capacity_requirement.csv        # Maximum build limits

System files¶

`Demand_data.csv` / `Load_data.csv`¶

Hourly (or representative-period) electricity demand for each model zone.

Column	Description
`Time_Index`	Hour index (1-based)
`Demand_MW_z{N}`	Load in MW for zone N (one column per zone)
`Sub_Weights`	Weight (hours) assigned to this representative period row

`Fuels_data.csv`¶

Fuel prices for each planning period.

Column	Description
`Fuel`	Fuel name matching resource fuel assignments
`{zone}`	Price in $/MMBtu for that zone (one column per zone)
`CO2_content_tons_per_MMBtu`	Emission factor

`Generators_variability.csv`¶

Capacity factor time series for variable and hydro resources.

Column	Description
`Time_Index`	Hour index (1-based)
`{resource_name}`	Capacity factor for that resource (one column per VRE/hydro resource)

`Network.csv`¶

Transmission network topology and line parameters.

Column	Description
`Network_Lines`	Line ID
`z{N}`	Zone incidence (+1 sending, -1 receiving, 0 not connected)
`Line_Max_Flow_MW`	Maximum forward flow
`Line_Min_Flow_MW`	Maximum reverse flow (negative)
`Line_Loss_Percentage`	Fractional transmission loss
`Line_Max_Reinforcement_MW`	Maximum allowed capacity expansion
`Line_Reinforcement_Cost_per_MWyr`	Annualized expansion cost ($/MW-year)
`CapRes_Excl_{N}`	Capacity reserve zone exclusion flag

`Period_map.csv`¶

Maps each representative period to the full-year hours it represents (only present when time-domain reduction is used).

Column	Description
`Period_Index`	Row index
`Rep_Period`	Representative period number
`Rep_Period_Index`	Hour within the representative period
`Time_Index`	Full-year hour this row represents

`Representative_Period.csv`¶

Weight (number of hours of the full year) each representative period represents.

Column	Description
`Rep_Period`	Representative period number
`Sub_Weights`	Hours this period represents in the full year

Resource files (v6 format)¶

Each file contains only resources of that type. Columns common to all resource files:

Column	Description
`Resource`	Unique resource name
`Zone`	Integer zone index
`Existing_Cap_MW`	Installed capacity at start of planning period
`New_Build`	1 = new build allowed, 0 = fixed
`Max_Cap_MW`	Maximum buildable capacity (-1 = unlimited)
`Min_Cap_MW`	Minimum required capacity
`Inv_Cost_per_MWyr`	Annualized investment cost ($/MW-year)
`Fixed_OM_Cost_per_MWyr`	Fixed O&M cost ($/MW-year)
`Var_OM_Cost_per_MWh`	Variable O&M cost ($/MWh)
`Reg_Cost`	Regulation cost ($/MW)
`Rsv_Cost`	Spinning reserve cost ($/MW)

`Thermal.csv`¶

Additional columns for thermal generators (tag THERM = 1 or 2):

Column	Description
`Heat_Rate_MMBTU_per_MWh`	Average heat rate
`Fuel`	Fuel name
`Start_Cost_per_MW`	Cold-start cost ($/MW)
`Start_Fuel_MMBTU_per_MW`	Fuel consumed per start (MMBtu/MW)
`Min_Power`	Minimum stable output fraction
`Ramp_Up_Percentage`	Maximum hourly ramp-up fraction
`Ramp_Dn_Percentage`	Maximum hourly ramp-down fraction
`Up_Time`	Minimum up-time (hours)
`Down_Time`	Minimum down-time (hours)
`CO2_Capture_Fraction`	Fraction of CO₂ captured (for CCS resources)

`Vre.csv`¶

Variable renewable energy resources (VRE = 1):

Column	Description
`Num_VRE_Bins`	Number of capacity bins for this VRE type

Profiles are written to Generators_variability.csv.

`Storage.csv`¶

Battery or other storage resources (STOR = 1 or 2):

Column	Description
`Existing_Cap_MWh`	Installed energy capacity
`Max_Cap_MWh`	Maximum energy capacity (-1 = unlimited)
`Min_Cap_MWh`	Minimum energy capacity
`Inv_Cost_per_MWhyr`	Annualized energy capacity investment cost
`Fixed_OM_Cost_per_MWhyr`	Fixed O&M per MWh of energy capacity
`Eff_Up`	Charging efficiency
`Eff_Down`	Discharging efficiency
`Self_Disch`	Self-discharge rate per hour
`Min_Duration`	Minimum storage duration (hours)
`Max_Duration`	Maximum storage duration (hours)
`Max_Charge_Cap_MW`	Maximum charge power capacity (-1 = unlimited)
`Existing_Charge_Cap_MW`	Installed charge power capacity

`Must_run.csv`¶

Must-run resources (MUST_RUN = 1): same common columns, no additional columns required.

`Flex_demand.csv`¶

Flexible demand resources (FLEX = 1):

Column	Description
`Max_Flexible_Demand_Advance`	Max hours demand can be shifted earlier
`Max_Flexible_Demand_Delay`	Max hours demand can be shifted later
`Flexible_Demand_Energy_Eff`	Round-trip efficiency of demand shifting

`Hydro.csv`¶

Hydropower resources (HYDRO = 1):

Column	Description
`Hydro_Energy_Share_Max`	Maximum fraction of annual energy in any period
`Hydro_Energy_Share_Min`	Minimum fraction of annual energy in any period

Policy files¶

`Energy_share_requirement.csv`¶

Zone-level RPS or CES targets.

Column	Description
`ESR_{N}`	Minimum clean energy fraction for requirement N

Resource contributions are set in Resource_energy_share_requirement.csv.

`Capacity_reserve_margin.csv`¶

Planning reserve requirements per zone.

Column	Description
`CapRes_{N}`	Reserve margin fraction for zone N

`CO2_cap.csv`¶

Emission caps by zone.

Column	Description
`CO_2_Cap_Zone_{N}`	Type of cap (1 = absolute, 2 = rate-based, 3 = fraction)
`CO_2_Cap_Limit_{N}`	Cap value (metric tonnes or fraction)

`Minimum_capacity_requirement.csv` / `Maximum_capacity_requirement.csv`¶

Min/max capacity build requirements per zone and technology group.

Column	Description
`MinCapReqConstraint` / `MaxCapReqConstraint`	Constraint ID
`Constraint_Description`	Human-readable label
`Min_MW` / `Max_MW`	Required capacity in MW

Resource policy attribute files¶

These live in resources/ and link individual resources to policy constraints.

`Resource_energy_share_requirement.csv`¶

Column	Description
`Resource`	Resource name
`ESR_{N}`	Fraction of generation counting toward ESR N (0–1; or >1 for above-market CES credit)

`Resource_capacity_reserve_margin.csv`¶

Column	Description
`Resource`	Resource name
`CapRes_{N}`	Contribution fraction for reserve zone N

`Resource_minimum_capacity_requirement.csv` / `Resource_maximum_capacity_requirement.csv`¶

Column	Description
`Resource`	Resource name
`MinCapTag_{N}` / `MaxCapTag_{N}`	1 if resource counts toward constraint N, else 0

Output File Schemas¶

Folder layout¶

System files¶

Demand_data.csv / Load_data.csv¶

Fuels_data.csv¶

Generators_variability.csv¶

Network.csv¶

Period_map.csv¶

Representative_Period.csv¶

Resource files (v6 format)¶

Thermal.csv¶

Vre.csv¶

Storage.csv¶

Must_run.csv¶

Flex_demand.csv¶

Hydro.csv¶