Description:

Based on the general structure of electricity markets, a simulator for pool-model electricity markets was designed and developed to enhance trainees' or students' understanding of the different functions of power markets. The simulartor has a browser/client/server structure based on a dot-net framework for calculating market clearing prices and despatching generation capacities for each participating generation company. Further applications include testing the effects of transmission constraints, exploring the interaction among the distributed units, and managing network congestion and other main tasks of wholesale electricity markets. Also, the simulator:

• has a user-friendly graphical interface and a virtual power market for classroom teaching; 
• has been designed to be adaptive for studying different market behaviours, and guided study/experiments have been prepared; and
• is flexible and extensible for students to simulate and visualize the operation of the day-ahead and real-time electricity markets with a pool structure; and 
• It can be used to calculate market clearing prices, despatch generation capacities for each participating generating company and investigate main features of wholesale electricity markets.
   

Intended Educational Value:

This item will enable students to:

1. identify the rationale and key issues for restructuring the electricity supply industry;
2. explain the market structures and framework of electricity markets; and
3. explain and evaluate the market clearing prices in electricity markets.

Example of Application:

Each group of students, representing a market participant in an electricity power market, submits a bid (through the students' computers) to the computer of the lecturer (who acts as the system operator) for the determination of system clearing prices through the computer communication net.

Evauation/ Comments:

The modular design of the simulator makes its expansion possible.
 

(Note: For access to this simulator, please contact Dr. C.W. Yu (eecwyu@inet.polyu.edu.hk)