Inputs and Outputs

Inputs Table

The table below lists the input files from COPPER and provides further details on their data contents, units, and resolutions.

Note: all day and hour calculations and indices are based off of NASA's Day of the Year (DOY) calendar

Input File	Data	Description	Unit	Spatial Resolution	Temporal Resolution	Source
gridcells.csv
	grid_cell	A number identifying the grid cell	N/A	Each grid cell	Entire time series	Calculated from MERRA2 dataset
	lon/lat	Coordinates of the grid cell	N/A	Each grid cell	Entire time series	MERRA2 dataset
	ba	Balanciang area	N/A	Each grid cell	Entire time series	CODERS database
	pr	Province	N/A	Each grid cell	Entire time series	CODERS database
	distance_to_grid	Distance to the closest transmission grid cell	Km	Each grid cell	Entire time series	CODERS database
	population	Population contained in each grid cell	Population size in numbers of people	Each grid cell	Entire time series	CODERS database
	surface_area_ofs	Offshore surface area	Km2	Each grid cell	Entire time series	CODERS database
	surface_area_ons	Onshore surface area	Km2	Each grid cell	Entire time series	CODERS database
hydro_cf.csv	Hydro capacity factor	Provincial hydro capacity factor	%	Each province	Hourly	CODERS database
solarcf.csv	Solar capacity factor	Solar capacity factor for each grid cell. The default inputs were generated using the CorRES tool	%	Each grid cell	Hourly	Calculated using results from the CorRES tool
windcf.csv	Wind capacity factor	Wind capacity factor for each grid cell. The default inputs were generated using the CorRES tool	%	Each grid cell	Hourly	Calculated using results from the CorRES tool
Capacity_Values.xlsx	Capacity values - Excel	Provincial average capacity adjustment values for all generation technologies in all seasons. One sheet for each season. Used for qualifying capacity calculations in the model	%	Each province	Entire time series	CODERS database (generators table). Values for wind and solar technologies were recalculated for each season using the database's values and seasonality factor for each season (example: solar technologies are less reliable during winter time, so the adjustment factor applied is closer to zero during that season)
capacity_value_winter.csv	Capacity adjustment values	Capacity values for all generation technologies in the winter season. Used for qualifying capacity calculations	%	Each province	Entire time series	CODERS database (generators table)
capacity_value_summer.csv	Capacity values	Capacity values for all generation technologies in the summer season. Used for qualifying capacity calculations	%	Each province	Entire time series	CODERS database (generators table)
extant_capacity.csv	Existing capacity	Existing capacity in each balancing area for each period	MW	Each balancing area	Per period	CODERS database
extant_storage.csv	Existing storage	Existing storage in each balancing area for each storage type	MW	Each balancing area	At the start of model execution	CODERS database
extant_wind_solar.csv	Existing wind / solar capacity	Existing wind and solar capacity in each grid cell for each period	MW	Each grid cell	Per period	CODERS database
generation_type_data.csv
	min_cap_fact	Minimum capacity factor (not used)	%	All balancing areas	Entire time series	CODERS database
	max_cap_fact	Maximum capacity factor (not used)	%	All balancing areas	Entire time series	CODERS database
	efficiency	Efficiency of technology	%	All balancing areas	Entire time series	CODERS database
	fuel_type	Types of fuel available for use to the generator	N/A	All balancing areas	Entire time series	CODERS database
	fixed_o_m	Fixed operation and maintenance costs	CAD$/MW-year	All balancing areas	Entire time series	CODERS database
	variable_o_m	Variable operation and maintenance costs	CAD$/MWh	All balancing areas	Entire time series	CODERS database
	capitalcost	Annualized capital cost of new capacity	CAD$/MW-year	All balancing areas	Entire time series	CODERS database
max_capacity_limits.csv
	MAX_SMR	Maximum SMR capacity per balancing area	MW	Each balancing area	Entire time series	CODERS database
	MAX_nuclear	Maximum nuclear capacity per balancing are	MW	Each balancing area	Entire time series	CODERS database
	MAX_bio	Maximum bio fuel capacity per balancing are	MW	Each balancing area	Entire time series	CODERS database
renewable_portfolio_max.csv	Solar/wind max capacity	Maximum solar and wind (offshore and onshore) capacity per province	MW	Each province	Per period	CODERS database
renewable_portfolio_min.csv	Solar/wind min capacity	Minimum solar and wind (offshore and onshore) capacity per province	MW	Each province	Per period	CODERS database
technology_evolution.csv	Price evolution factor	Decrease in technology price each period from base price	%	All balancing areas	Per period	CODERS database
transmission.csv
	Transmission line	Balancing areas which are connected by a transmission line	N/A	Each balancing area pair	Entire time series	CODERS database
	Distance	Length of the transmission line	Km	Transmission line	Entire time series	CODERS database
	Expansion limits	Expansion limit of the transmission line	MW	Transmission line	Entire time series	CODERS database
	Capacity	Capacity of each line per period	MW	Transmission line	Per period	CODERS database
fuel_type.csv
	fuel_type	Type of fuel that can be used by a generator in the model	N/A	Each balancing area	Entire time series	CODERS database
	fuel_category	Fuel group to which that fuel belongs	N/A	Each balancing area	Entire time series	User input
	fuel_co2	CO2-equivalent emissions for that fuel type	Mt CO2e	Each balancing area	Entire time series	CODERS database
	base_price	Initial price set for the fuel at the start of the simulation	CAD$	Each balancing area	Entire time series	CODERS database
trans_expansion_minimum_1000.csv	Transmission expansion limits	Limiting factor for transmission capacities. Sets a maximum of 1000 MW between some balancing areas	MW	Each balancing area	Entire time series	CODERS database
wind_solar_location_recon.csv	Reconstruction capacity	Wind/solar capacity available for reconstruction per grid cell	MW	Each grid cell	Entire time series	CODERS database
annual_growth.csv	Demand growth factor	Demand growth per period in each province (cumulative)	%	Each province	Per period	User input. Base values calculated from Canada Energy Futures report 2023 (using 2021 from the "Current Measures" scenario as a base year and calculating the average growth per COPPER period)
demand.csv	Canadian energy demand	Hourly demand series for each province	MW	Each province	Hourly	CODERS database (using 2021 as the base year)
obps_standards.csv	Output-Based Pricing System standards	OBPS tightening rates for each fuel type, province, and model period	%	Each province	Per period	See "Output-Based Pricing System Regulations" in the Appendix E: Policy Coverage for more details
price_evolution.csv	Projections of different costs on the model time-series	Price fluctiations for each generator type over the model periods for each cost type	%	N/A	Per period	CODERS database
reserve_margin.csv	Reserve margin	Reserve margin requirements for each province	%	Each province	Entire time series	CODERS database
us_demand.csv	Demand from the United States	Demand for interties with the US (import/export series)	MW	Each balancing area	Hourly	CODERS database

Outputs Table

The output structure in the results folder is divided into three sub-folders:

• key_inputs: containing input files which had a greater impact in the observed results;
• processed_results: containing the output files in a format that allows for linkages with othe SESIT models, such as SILVER, or CIMS;
• unprocessed_results: containing the raw outputs from COPPER.

The table below lists the raw output files from COPPER and provides further details on their data contents, units, and resolutions.

Output File	Data	Description	Unit	Spatial Resolution	Temporal Resolution
XXX_scenario_output_summary_IAMC_names.csv	Scenario table in IAMC format	Table with the model's variables information in the IAMC format	Various	Per balancing areas	Per period
value_comparison.csv	Postprocessing comparison with model outputs	Table with the model's variables values from the solver ("model_value"), and the postprocessing operations in COPPER ("value")	Various	Various	Various
capacity_solar.csv	Solar capacity	Resulting solar capacity in each time slice for each year	MW	All balancing areas	Per period
capacity_solar _recon.csv	Reconstructed solar capacity	Reconstructed capacity for solar at the end of the model execution	MW	All balancing areas	Per period
capacity_storage.csv	Storage capacity	Resulting capacity for storage in each time slice for each year	GWh	All balancing areas	Per period
capacity_thermal.csv	Thermal capacity	Resulting capacity for thermal technologies for each province for each year	MW	Per balancing area	Yearly
capacity_transmission.csv	Transmission capacity	Resulting capacity for transmission technologies for each province for each year	MW	Per balancing area	Yearly
capacity_wind_ons.csv	On-shore wind capacity	Resulting capacity for transmission technologies for each province for each year	MW	All balancing areas	Per period
capacity_wind_ofs.csv	Off-shore wind capacity	Resulting capacity for off-shore wind in each time slice for each year	MW	All balancing areas	Yearly
day_renewal_binary.csv	Hydro capacity renewal as a binary	Daily hydro capacity renewal as a binary value	N/A	Per balancing area	Yearly
dayrenewalout.csv	Hourly hydro generation	Daily hydro renewal capacity output per hour	GWh	Per balancing area	Yearly
daystoragehydroout.csv	Daily hydro storage output	Daily hydro storage output per hour	GWh	Per balancing area	Per period
load_shedding.csv	Load shedding	Load shedding per hour per period per balancing area	MW	Per balancing area	Per hour
model.lp	Model linear program	Linear program description of the model in a file that can be used by linear solvers	N/A	N/A	N/A
month_renewal_binary.csv	Renewal binary	Monthly hydro capacity renewal binary	N/A	Per balancing area	Yearly
monthstoragehydroout.csv	Hourly generation	Monthly hydro storage output per hour	GWh	Per balancing area	Per hour
new_ABA_generation_mix.csv	New ABA installed capacity	New installed capacity per balancing area per period	MW	Per balancing area	Yearly
obj_value.csv	Objective value	Total system costs	CAD$	All balancing areas	Over the entire time scope of the model
Qualifying_capacity_summer.csv	Qualifying capacity	Qualifying capacity of each generation type for the summer time per balancing area and year	MW	Per balancing area	Yearly
Qualifying_capacity_summer.csv	Qualifying capacity	Qualifying capacity of each generation type for the winter time per balancing area and year	MW	Per balancing area	Yearly
Results_summary.xlsx	Results summary	Summary of Canada’s generation mix for each modeled generation type	MW	All balancing areas	Yearly
retire_thermal.csv	Retired Thermal	Retired thermal capacity for each generation type	MW	Per balancing area	Yearly
ror_renewal_binary.csv	Renewal binary	Run-of-river capacity renewal binary	N/A	Per balancing area	Yearly
solarout.csv	Solar output	Output from solar generation	MW	Per balancing area	Yearly
storageenergy.csv	Stored energy	Energy stored for each storage type	GWh	Per balancing area	Yearly
storagein.csv	Stored energy input	Input of energy stored for each storage type	GWh	Per balancing area	Yearly
storageout.csv	Stored energy output	Output of energy stored for each storage type	GWh	Per balancing area	Yearly
supply.csv	Total energy supply	Total energy supplied by each generation type	MW	Per balancing area	Yearly
Total_installed_ABA.csv	Total installed ABA capacity	Total new installed capacity by balancing area	MW	Per balancing area	Yearly
transmission.csv	Energy transmission	Total energy transferred between balancing areas	MW	Per balancing area	Yearly
windofsout.csv	Wind off-shore output	Output of off-shore wind capacity	MW	Per balancing area	Yearly
windonsout.csv	Wind on-shore output	Output of on-shore wind capacity	MW	Per balancing area	Yearly
solver_report.txt	Solver report	Summary of solver messages	N/A	N/A	N/A

Linkage Files Table

The table below lists the files from COPPER which are used for linkage purposes with other energy models from the M3 platform. This table provides more details on the data contents of each file and their use in linked workflows. More information about the linked workflows can be found in Appendix B to this to documentation.

File Name	Data	Description	Unit	Spatial Resolution	Temporal Resolution	Links to Model
AT_splits.csv	Demand desagregation for Atlantic Provinces	Proportion of total demand being allocated to each Atlantic Province in each year of the model	%	Per province	Yearly	CIMS
df_load_observed_2021.csv	Base year load for bulk load shape	Hourly demand load on the grid of each province for the year of 2021	MWh	Per province	Hourly	CIMS
df_tech.csv	Load shape assumptions specified by end-use and/or technology	Load shapes assumptions are applied by end-use and/or technology to build the bulk load shape from the bottom up	%	Per province	Hourly	CIMS