plexos-to-pypsa-converter 0.0.9

PLEXOS-to-PyPSA Converter

PLEXOS-to-PyPSA converter

A Python tool for converting PLEXOS input XML files and their associated data to create equivalent PyPSA networks.

Installation

# Clone the repository
git clone https://github.com/open-energy-transition/plexos-to-pypsa-converter.git
cd plexos-to-pypsa-converter

# Install the package
pip install -e .

System Dependencies

Some models use RAR archives and require the unrar or unar command-line tool to be installed:

macOS:

brew install rar

Note: This is only required for models that use RAR archives (e.g., plexos-world-spatial). If you only work with ZIP-based models, this dependency is not needed.

Converted Features

The converter ports the following PLEXOS components to PyPSA:

Core Network Components

• Buses/Nodes - Network topology and zonal structure
• Snapshots - Time index for optimization periods
• Carriers - Energy types (electricity, gas, hydrogen, etc.)
• Loads - Demand assignment with flexible strategies

Generation Assets

• Conventional Generators - Thermal, nuclear, hydro plants
  • Capacity ratings and availability
  • Efficiency curves and heat rates
  • Capital and marginal costs
  • Fuel constraints and emissions
• Renewable Generators - Solar, wind, other VRE
  • Capacity factors from VRE profiles
  • Technology-specific parameters

Network Infrastructure

• Transmission Lines - AC lines with flow limits
• Links - DC connections and cross-sector links
• Transformers - Voltage level connections

Storage Systems

• Battery Storage - Electrochemical storage
• Pumped Hydro Storage - Pumped storage plants
• Generic Storage - Other storage technologies
  • Charging/discharging efficiencies
  • Energy and power constraints

Multi-Sector Components

• Gas Network - Gas buses, pipelines, and storage
• Hydrogen Systems - H2 production, storage, and demand
• Transport Sector - Electric vehicle integration

System Constraints

• Generation Constraints - Unit commitment constraints
• Transmission Constraints - Flow and capacity limits
• Policy Constraints - Renewable targets, emissions limits

Supported PLEXOS Models

The following table lists PLEXOS XML models that are being converted or will be converted to PyPSA networks:

Model Name	Source	Status	Download
AEMO 2024 ISP - Green Energy Exports	AEMO	🔴 Not yet converted	Download
AEMO 2024 ISP - Progressive Change	AEMO	🟡 In-progress	Download
AEMO 2024 ISP - Step Change	AEMO	🔴 Not yet converted	Download
CAISO IRP 2023 Stochastic (25 MMT)	CAISO	🟡 In-progress	Download
CAISO 2025 Summer Assessment	CAISO	🔴 Not yet converted	Download
NREL Extended IEEE 118-bus	NREL	🔴 Not yet converted	Download
SEM 2024-2032 Validation Model	SEM	🟡 In-progress	Download
European Power & Gas Model	UCC	🟡 In-progress	Download
PLEXOS-World 2015 Gold V1.1	UCC	🔴 Not yet converted	Download
PLEXOS-World Spatial Resolution	UCC	🔴 Not yet converted	Download
MESSAGEix-GLOBIOM-EN-NPi2020-500-Soft-Link	UCC	🟡 In-progress	Download

Status Legend:

• 🟢 Converted - Model successfully converted to PyPSA network
• 🟡 In-progress - Conversion currently underway
• 🔴 Not yet converted - Planned for future conversion

Model × Feature Coverage Matrix

The heatmap above shows the conversion status of different features across all models. Each cell represents the implementation status for a specific model-feature combination.

Input Files & Data Structure

Required Files

PLEXOS XML File

• Main model structure containing system topology, generators, buses, lines
• Contains object definitions and property mappings

CSV Data Files

Different data sources provide input CSV files in various formats, so we have built this converter to try and detect as many possible types/formats as possible, but note some customization might be needed.

The converter supports multiple CSV formats for time-series data:

Demand Data

1. Directory Format (AEMO-style):

   demand/
   ├── Bus_001.csv
   ├── Bus_002.csv
   └── Bus_003.csv
   

   Each file contains time-series demand for one bus.

2. Single CSV Format (CAISO/SEM-style):

   demand.csv:
   Datetime,1,2,3,Iteration
   2024-01-01 00:00,100,150,200,1
   2024-01-01 01:00,110,160,210,1
   

   Single file with columns for each zone/bus, supports iterations for stochastic modeling.

VRE Profiles

vre_profiles/
├── solar_zone1.csv
├── wind_zone1.csv
└── wind_offshore.csv

Renewable generation capacity factors (0-1) by technology and location.

Timeslice Data

timeslice.csv:
Timeslice,Property,Value
1,Peak_Hour,1
2,Off_Peak,0.8

Maps time-dependent properties for generators and other assets.

Quick Start

Basic XML Conversion

from src.network.electricity_sector import create_model_from_xml

# Convert a PLEXOS model with automatic data discovery
network = create_model_from_xml(
    xml_file_path="path/to/your/model.xml",
    demand_assignment_strategy="per_node"  # or "target_node", "aggregate_node"
)

# Save the PyPSA network
network.export_to_netcdf("output_model.nc")