Introduction
EGEAS, an EPRI product, developed in the early 1980s was the fore-runner of the current generation planning simulation and optimization models in the market and is still being used by a number of utilities and regional planning organizations. It currently runs on PC platform with the following operating systems: Microsoft Windows Vista, Windows 7, and Windows 8 (32-bit and 64-bit).
Background
EGEAS is a state-of-the-art modular production costing and generation expansion software package developed under EPRI sponsorship for use by utility planners develop and to evaluate integrated resource plans, avoided costs, and develop plant life management plans. It also has modules which accommodate demand-side management options and facilitate development of environmental compliance plans to meet mandated state and federal regulations. EGEAS contains three capacity optimization options that range from preliminary analysis tools based on screening curves to sophisticated non-linear optimization using generalized Benders decomposition and dynamic programming algorithms. Detailed probabilistic production costing algorithm is also available for production cost calculations and reliability analysis.
Key Features
- Dynamic programming algorithm to develop candidate portfolios from identified alternatives meeting a reliability constraint (e.g., maintain 10% capacity reserve margin).
- Conducts minimum present value revenue requirements (PVRR) or lowest electric rate economic ranking of candidate portfolios dispatched with an existing and future set of assets.
- Once data inputs are set-up, many different scenarios can be run to test different generation plans very easily and quickly.
- Simple economics based on present worth method - easy to understand and explain results.
- Used by many utilities and various regional planning organizations, and results are understood and well accepted by regulators.
Current Applications
- Integrated Resource Planning (IRP) studies.
- Regional Resource Forecasting (RRF) studies.
- Front-end screening tool for future resources.
- Existing asset retirement evaluations.
- Emission evaluations from power plants.
- Development of compliance plans to meet environmental regulations.
What’s new?
The software originally was developed in FORTRAN to run on mainframe computers in a batch mode, and later was converted to run on laptop computers. In the 1990s, Stone &Webster Management Consultants Inc. (SWMCI), a software licensee, developed a Graphical User Interface (GUI) to make the data input easier. In 2013, EPRI acquired legal rights to the EGEAS GUI. Version 10.0 of the EGEAS software package released in 2014 incorporated version 9.02 with the integrated EGEAS GUI.
In 2015, EPRI contracted with NG Planning LLC to develop EGEAS version 11.0 which incorporates two new enhancements: (i) an option for users to apply a penalty factor to the “dump energy” cost; and, (ii) the ability for users to specify Renewable Portfolio Standard (RPS) constraints as part of the optimization of the least-cost generation expansion plan.