Grid Power Limitation

[BuntBaum]

Add "available_grid_power" State to Simulate Grid Constraints

Description:

First, I would like to express my appreciation for the fantastic work on the CityLearn Simulator. It has been an incredibly valuable tool for my research and development in building energy management. The flexibility and depth of the simulation capabilities are truly impressive.

Feature Request:

I am writing to request a new feature that would greatly enhance the realism and applicability of the CityLearn Simulator, particularly in scenarios involving grid constraints. Specifically, I propose the addition of a new state variable called "available_grid_power" to the simulator.

Motivation:

In real-world scenarios, the power available from the grid to a building can be subject to limitations. For instance, under normal conditions, the power supply may be effectively unlimited up to the connection's capacity. However, during periods of grid stress or regulatory actions (e.g., as stipulated by §14a ENWG in Germany), the power supply to individual buildings may be curtailed. These scenarios necessitate a more resilient control solution for Distributed Energy Resources (DERs) to ensure the safety and comfort of occupants during such constraints.

Proposed Implementation:

1. New State Variable:

   • Add a new state variable available_grid_power to each building's state.
   • This variable can range from 0 (representing a complete blackout) to infinity (representing no constraint).

2. Configuration Options:

   • Allow users to set the maximum grid power capacity for each building, reflecting the connection capacity.
   • Provide mechanisms to specify available_grid_power per time step via:
     • A CSV file input, where each row corresponds to a time step and columns to each building.
     • A stochastic model to generate random available_grid_power values, simulating realistic grid constraints.

3. Integration with Existing Systems:

   • Ensure that the energy management algorithms within CityLearn can adapt to changes in available_grid_power, modifying their behavior to optimize for resilience and occupant safety during grid constraints.

Benefits:

• This feature would enhance the simulator's realism, making it a more powerful tool for developing and testing control strategies for DERs under varying grid conditions.
• It would provide a valuable testing environment for regulatory compliance and emergency preparedness.
• Researchers and practitioners would be able to explore the impact of grid constraints on building energy systems more comprehensively.

Once again, thank you for the excellent work on CityLearn. I am excited about the potential for this new feature to further enrich the simulation capabilities and am eager to see its implementation.

Best regards,
Tobi

[nagyzoltan]

Thanks! I'll let @kingsleynweye respond properly, but I think this is on our roadmap somewhere