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JGCRI / gcam-core

GCAM -- The Global Change Analysis Model
http://jgcri.github.io/gcam-doc/
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Regional biomass LCOE to overnight capital cost #109

Open fkanyako opened 4 years ago

fkanyako commented 4 years ago

Hi All,

I need help with the conversion from LCOE to overnight capital cost for "region biomass" in GCAM. I have my data in LCOE ($2010/kWh), but GCAM takes input as overnight capital cost (1975$/kW):

I want to convert from my LCOE ($/kWh) to the overnight capital cost ($/kW) and use this as input so that when GCAM calculate the LCOE within the model, it is consistent with my LCOE.

Here a formula from the paper: "Cost of Power or Power of Cost: A U.S modelling perspective: LCOE = (fuel cost / plant efficiency) + (capital investment capital recovery factor + fixed O&M cost )/(8760 capacity factor)} +variable O&M cost.

If this is the formula GCAM uses internally in the electricity sector, then from the equation above I have all the data I need to calculate the capital cost from my LCOE except the fuel cost: "fuel cost calculated endogenously ". How should I make this conversion?

I will appreciate any help I can get to make this conversion. Thank you

Franklyn

kvcalvin commented 4 years ago

Hi Franklyn,

First, I'm assuming that you are talking about biomass power plants in GCAM and not the "regional biomass" sector. I'm also assuming that your LCOE is the complete cost, including fuel, and not simply a levelized capital cost. If either of those assumptions are false, please let me know as the guidance below won't work.

You will need to separate the fuel cost from the rest of the LCOE in order to use it in GCAM. GCAM will calculate the fuel portion endogenously, so it does not need to be read in and if it is included in other aspects of the cost there will be double counting. If you do not know the fuel cost, you could use the cost that GCAM calculates (based on the power plant efficiency and the price of biomass). The benefit of this is that the total LCOE calculated in GCAM after you update the assumptions will match the value from your data. However, this could cause problems if your data is inconsistent with GCAM's (i.e., if your LCOE isn't large enough, you will get a negative or very small capital cost after you deduct the other costs).

fkanyako commented 4 years ago

Hi Kate Thank you for the quick response. The rest of the assumptions are true except the LCOE I have is a levelized capital cost as it doesn't include the fuel cost. Can I still follow the approach above since the fuel cost is already separated from the rest of the LCOE?

Also in the GCAM query, under "Markets and Prices General", the "Prices: technology fuel cost" query doesn't really have the fuel cost in that section. Where do I locate this?

Thank you

nurf004 commented 2 years ago

Hi @kvcalvin I'm interested in your statement: "However, this could cause problems if your data is inconsistent with GCAM's (i.e., if your LCOE isn't large enough, you will get a negative or very small capital cost after you deduct the other costs)." If this case happens, what is the solution? Fuel costs is relatively significant so when I try to reflect my LCOE, I get a negative and small capital cost. Thank you.