Macro Output Settings

PowerGenome can write model-case inputs for two capacity expansion models: GenX (the default) and MacroEnergy.jl (Macro), in Macro's simpleCSVinputs format. This page documents the settings that control which format(s) are written.

GenX is written by default. Enabling Macro output adds the Macro simpleCSVinputs files in addition to (not instead of) the GenX inputs, so a single run_powergenome call can produce both formats at once. Writing both formats in one run reuses all the intermediate data processing, which is faster than running PowerGenome once per model. To write only Macro inputs, disable GenX (see genx_output).

The same options are available as command-line flags to run_powergenome: --macro, --genx, and --no-genx. Flags and settings values are combined per format (either one enables that format), and all flags and boolean settings are case-insensitive (--Macro, "TRUE", etc.).

macro_output

Type: bool Default: false CLI equivalent: --macro

When true, write a Macro simpleCSVinputs case (only the simpleCSV inputs format — not the Macro JSON format) in a macro_out/-style folder, matching the structure of the Macro examples (e.g. macroenergy/MacroEnergyExamples.jl/examples/multisector_3zone_simpleCSVinputs). The semantic mapping of generators, transmission, demand, fuel supply, and CO2 caps follows the GenX-to-Macro converter (EmilDimanchev/GenX_to_Macro; multistage runs follow the lb/multistage branch). Cross-sector assets (hydrogen, liquid fuels, CCS) are not yet emitted.

GenX output is not disabled by this setting — see genx_output.

genx_output

Type: bool Default: true CLI equivalents: --genx (enable), --no-genx (disable)

Controls whether PowerGenome writes the standard GenX Inputs/Inputs_pN files. GenX is the default output format, so this key is only needed to turn GenX off (for example, to write Macro inputs only) or to state it explicitly.

• genx_output: false with macro_output: true → Macro inputs only.
• genx_output: true with macro_output: true → both formats in one run.
• --genx forces GenX output on, and --no-genx forces it off — each flag overrides the settings value. Because --no-genx is a hard override, run_powergenome --macro --no-genx writes Macro inputs only without editing any settings file.

# Macro inputs only (settings-file approach)
macro_output: true
genx_output: false

Macro model-run settings

The following settings configure the Macro output beyond format selection. They are respected only when Macro output is enabled; existing behavior is unchanged when these keys are absent.

Setting	Type	Default	Writes to	Description
macro_discount_rate	float	0.045	settings/case_settings.json	Annual discount rate applied across stages.
macro_solution_algorithm	str	"Monolithic"	settings/case_settings.json	Solution algorithm for Macro.
macro_period_lengths	list[int]	derived	settings/case_settings.json	PeriodLengths, one entry per stage. Derived from PowerGenome's planning-period definitions (model_periods, or the paired model_first_planning_year/model_year); an explicit value overrides the derived one.
macro_constraint_scaling	bool	true	settings/macro_settings.json	Scale constraints for solver numerics.
macro_write_subcommodities	bool	true	settings/macro_settings.json	Write sub-commodity accounting rows.
macro_auto_create_nodes	bool	false	settings/macro_settings.json	Let Macro automatically create missing nodes.
macro_auto_create_locations	bool	true	settings/macro_settings.json	Let Macro automatically create missing locations.
macro_default_max_nsd	float	1.0	NSD fallback	Default non-served-demand quantity when no demand_segments_voll.csv is provided.
macro_default_voll	float	10000	NSD fallback	Default value of lost load ($/MWh) when no demand_segments_voll.csv is provided.
macro_default_fuel_price	float	0.0	fuel price fallback	Fallback fuel price when a fuel is missing from the fuel price table.

See Output File Format for the resulting Macro simpleCSVinputs folder layout, and the CLI Reference for the command-line flags.